December 01 / 14.25 Newbury

14.25

Good To Soft

Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £26015
  • 2m 3f 187y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
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Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.20
  • Place: £1.40

Form: /37-22 BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Unfortunate to bump into well-treated Nickle Back (declared 1:50) on chase debut; solid second in C&D contest (good to soft; off 6lb lower) since, beaten by only a neck and pulling well clear of remainder; looks capable of going one better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Kandoo Kid

10st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Negotiated these fences in dashing style when staying-on third in the 2m5f Topham (soft) last April and returned from wind surgery to win the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (upped to 3m2f, good to soft) in November from Broadway Boy; 7lb higher today; had a run at Newbury five weeks ago and, although there are slightly mixed signals with that display and whether he will be suited by this distance, he looks set for a bold show.

20/1

17

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Kandoo Kid

10st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Negotiated these fences in dashing style when staying-on third in the 2m5f Topham (soft) last April and returned from wind surgery to win the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (upped to 3m2f, good to soft) in November from Broadway Boy; 7lb higher today; had a run at Newbury five weeks ago and, although there are slightly mixed signals with that display and whether he will be suited by this distance, he looks set for a bold show.

20/1

8th

1

1st Mar 2025

Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Kandoo Kid

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Grand National hope who landed the big 3m2f handicap here (good to soft; sole outing this term) in November, taking Newbury record to 2121; not crying out for this drop back in trip but ran well in this race last year and warrants respect kept to a course that suits him well.

7/1

7/2

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 4340-3

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Has plenty of useful form at about 2m; unexposed at this sort of trip and could well build on his reappearance effort, namely third in the Grand Sefton at Aintree (2m5f); remains on a handy mark; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

Frero Banbou

10st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

10yo who won when upped to an extended 2m7f at Newcastle (good) in November and ran well when 10l second at Kempton (3m, good to soft) next time; however, below par at Doncaster (3m, good) subsequently and pulled up at Cheltenham (3m1f, good to soft) last month; needs to get back on track.

33/1

14

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

Frero Banbou

10st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

10yo who won when upped to an extended 2m7f at Newcastle (good) in November and ran well when 10l second at Kempton (3m, good to soft) next time; however, below par at Doncaster (3m, good) subsequently and pulled up at Cheltenham (3m1f, good to soft) last month; needs to get back on track.

33/1

20

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Frero Banbou

10st 10lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

10yo who was below par at Doncaster (3m, good) last time but had previously enjoyed a new lease of life following a step up in trip, winning at Newcastle (2m7f, good) then runner-up at Kempton (3m, good to soft); has a consistent record at Cheltenham and he's an each-way possible if back to form.

50/1

Form: 12778- D

Last run: 230 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Came up well short in 3m1f contests at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals; this return to 2m4f looks a plus on reappearance and he started last season in top form, including Wetherby win; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

21st Jun 2024

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

15:55 Market Rasen

Karl Philippe

12st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Back on track with two good runs at Kempton (3m, good) this spring, the latter a win; probably still on a workable mark after 5lb rise but didn't find much at business end at Perth recently; now sports cheekpieces.

10/1

4th

3

9th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:42 Perth

Karl Philippe

11st 4lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

pressed leader, led before 6th, headed just before 13th, hit 13th, lost position before 3 out

4/1

1st

2

6th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Karl Philippe

12st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

jumped slightly right throughout, led, raced in second when headed 2nd, ridden after 3 out, pressed leader 2 out, led narrowly last

7/2

Form: /U61/1 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 13lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 11yo who won selling handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (2m, good) last month on stable debut and return from long layoff; bought in for £11,500; on same mark back over fences but this is a much better race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

1st Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Worcester

Goose Man

11st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

prominent, lost position 5 out, rallied after 4 out, kept on

6/1

4th

4

2nd Jun 2024

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

16:15 Fakenham

Goose Man

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Returned from mammoth absence with easy win in selling hurdle for new stable in November and good fourth in Newbury handicap chase (2m4f, good to soft) the following month; not at same level when third in two hunter chases this year, though, and will need to up his game a bit.

12/1

3rd

5

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

17:10 Ludlow

Goose Man

11st 12lb

J: Mr Zac Baker

T: Jamie Snowden

jumped left on occasions, took keen hold, soon led, headed after 5 out, weakened 2 out

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: /3121-

Last run: 223 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Solid record last term included easy wins in novice handicap chases at Warwick and Ayr, both over 3m on good ground; had wind surgery (his third) since last run; drops back in trip but brings a progressive profile.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd Sep 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 3

16:30 Warwick

Sail Away

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won well off 4lb lower at Aintree in May (3m1f, good) and a 4lb higher mark doesn't look too damaging; strongly considered as fitness is unlikely to be an issue given his yard.

2/1

Form: 15122- D

Last run: 258 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Progressive sort whose record is solid in the main; good second at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) when last seen; one to keep a close eye on this term but he's perhaps not crying out for a drop back to 2m4f on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Iron Bridge

10st 13lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

A strong stayer but with a strike-rate of only 2-17 over fences and excuses are wearing thin; on the plus side, they were solid enough efforts on last two starts (3m4f/3m6f) and he nearly won off this mark on his reappearance (3m2f).

9/2

3rd

1

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:02 Exeter

Iron Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Struggled on heavy ground two starts ago (first-time cheekpieces) but quickly got back on track with battling second at Haydock (3m4f, good to soft) this month; remains on a workable mark and good ground also suits; ought to make his presence felt again.

7/2

2nd

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 3

14:45 Haydock

Iron Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Last win came here back in 2022 and he's not proving easy to catch right nowadays either, tried in cheekpieces when pulled up in 3m2f handicap chase at Wincanton in January; others are preferred.

7/2

Form: /P81-P CD

Last run: 196 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent in the last two years and comes with a degree of risk; however, won the Greatwood Gold Cup over C&D (good; off 4lb lower) in March and has possibilities returned to this scenario.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

17th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

The Big Bite

10st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Henry Oliver

Now 10lb lower than when winning major handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good) in first-time cheekpieces in March 2023 but looked out of sorts last season and arrives here with a lot to prove.

16/1

6

17th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

The Big Bite

10st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Henry Oliver

Now 10lb lower than when winning major handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good) in first-time cheekpieces in March 2023 but looked out of sorts last season and arrives here with a lot to prove.

16/1

2

10th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 34y

Class 3

15:00 Market Rasen

The Big Bite

11st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Henry Oliver

in touch with leaders, lost ground and struggling after 11th

11/1

Non-runners

Red Rookie, Whodini

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.50
Straight Forecast £7.56
Tricast £33.83
Trifecta £30.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kandoo Kid

Telegraph:

Iron Bridge

Daily Mail:

Sail Away

The Times:

Frero Banbou

TOPSPEED:

The Big Bite

LAMBOURN:

Goose Man

Daily Record:

Iron Bridge

RP RATINGS:

Kandoo Kid

POSTDATA:

Kandoo Kid

WEST COUNTRY:

Kandoo Kid

The Guardian:

Kandoo Kid

Daily Mirror:

Kandoo Kid

The Sun:

Kandoo Kid

The Star:

Kandoo Kid

D Express:

Sail Away