October 28 / 14.04 Kelso

14.04

Good To Soft

Clifford, Martin & Sarah Firth Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 7f 96y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Clifford, Martin & Sarah Firth Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 80/25-

Last run: 203 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
3-4 in Irish points last November-January and returned to racing under rules with two encouraging hurdle runs at Carlisle (2m3f) in the spring; upped in trip for this seasonal/handicap/chase debut and, with Brian Hughes booked, looks very interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

14th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Busty Boy

11st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Daragh Bourke

Only 1-22 under rules and clearly hard to win with but he arrives in form having placed in a second successive Highland National here (3m6f, good) last month; just as effective over this shorter distance.

7/2

2nd

6

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Busty Boy

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Daragh Bourke

Only 1-21 overall and clearly hard to win with, but he was runner-up in this 12 months ago and returns in form having been running well from 2m4f to 3m; in the mix.

5/1

3rd

4

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Busty Boy

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Daragh Bourke

Sole win under rules came in a handicap chase in 2023 (2m7f, soft); stays 3m6f but nearly won over this far at Carlisle on his reappearance and not disgraced since.

6/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: P422-4 C BF

Last run: 171 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Course winner over hurdles; 0-6 over fences but placed twice over C&D, including third off 2lb higher in this race a year ago; below form when last seen in May but a major player if back on song in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

26th Oct 2024

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

14:10 Kelso

Domandlouis

11st 5lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Pulled up here on latest outing in May and now 0-10 over fences but was placed in last two editions of this race (good to soft/soft) and has slipped to a dangerous mark; headgear removed.

11/2

8

8th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

14:40 Kelso

Domandlouis

10st 8lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Good-ground hurdle winner at this meeting two years ago and, although 0-9 over fences, it's easy to overlook last two below-par efforts on heavy; no surprise should he do much better this time.

6/1

8

8th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

14:40 Kelso

Domandlouis

10st 8lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Good-ground hurdle winner at this meeting two years ago and, although 0-9 over fences, it's easy to overlook last two below-par efforts on heavy; no surprise should he do much better this time.

6/1

Form: 4699-

Last run: 183 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on handicap hurdle debut in April and not seen again since but remains very unexposed, and his Irish point promise in 2021-22 offers some hope on this chasing debut; goes beyond 2m4f for first time under rules.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:05 Uttoxeter

Pats Dream

11st 11lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

held up in rear

15/8

2nd

2

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:05 Uttoxeter

Pats Dream

11st 11lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

held up in rear

15/8

1st

5

27th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:00 Market Rasen

Pats Dream

11st 4lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Made it fourth-time lucky over fences when justifying favouritism on stable/seasonal debut at Ayr (2m5f, good) 25 days ago; up 7lb for that narrow win but he showed a good attitude to hold off the runner-up and this step back up in trip should be fine; key player.

7/4

OUR TIP

Form: 418P5-

Last run: 207 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Finished with strong late burst to snatch Lingfield maiden hurdle (2m3f, heavy) last December but subsequent handicap hurdle form was disappointing; makes chasing debut after 207-absence and with some questions to answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

No Tackle

10st 11lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Won in a refitted visor at Lingfield (2m6f) in November and runner-up on next three outings, which represents career-best form; still on a fair mark and drying ground won't bother him at all.

9/2

2nd

3

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

No Tackle

11st 8lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Two-time course winner, the latest here (2m6f, soft) last February, and got back on the scoresheet at Lingfield (2m6f, good) in November; runner-up on both starts since (2m6f, good to soft; here last time); solid candidate.

7/4

Form: 33114- D

Last run: 220 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 6yo who began this year with two handicap hurdle wins (2m5f, heavy/2m7f, good to soft); not seen since slightly disappointing run in March but still looks a good candidate for chasing this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:05 Ludlow

Horacio Apples

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

took keen hold, held up in rear

16/1

1st

9

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:05 Ludlow

Horacio Apples

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Came good over fences with comfortable success at Bangor (2m4f, heavy) in December and will be fine over today's longer trip, but began this year with two disappointing efforts and may find today's ground too lively; had wind op last month.

16/1

3rd

1

21st Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 4

15:05 Doncaster

Horacio Apples

12st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

towards rear

6/1

Form: P224PP

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in three 3m chases this season (all on good ground) but suffered a slump in form last month (pulled up twice) and it takes a leap of faith to support him here; cheekpieces removed after one use.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

4th Oct 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:05 Hexham

So Be It

11st 4lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: William Young Jnr

Yet to win in 12 attempts over fences (and in 14 runs pointing) but fair second in a C&D handicap off this mark last time (good); each-way chance.

14/1

2nd

6

15th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:27 Hexham

So Be It

11st 6lb

J: Derek Fox

T: William Young Jnr

0-16 under rules; on a handy mark based on 2023 form but hard to fancy judged on his recent form in points.

25/1

6th

7

28th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

14:04 Kelso

So Be It

10st 13lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: William Young Jnr

led, headed but prominent 12th, outpaced and dropped to last 4 out, soon weakened

20/1

Non-runners

No Regrets, Warriors Story

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.20
Straight Forecast £14.37
Tricast £56.24
Trifecta £78.80

Selections

POSTDATA:

No Regrets

The Times:

Horacio Apple's

SPOTLIGHT:

Busty Boy

TOPSPEED:

Domandlouis

Telegraph:

Horacio Apple's

Daily Mail:

Horacio Apple's

D Express:

Horacio Apple's

The Star:

Busty Boy

The Guardian:

No Regrets

Daily Mirror:

No Regrets

The Sun:

No Regrets

Daily Record:

No Regrets