December 17 / 12.45 Southwell

12.45

Soft

Event Signage @ signsolutions.org Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4858.52
  • 1m 7f 182y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
SKY
View Course
Event Signage @ signsolutions.org Handicap Chase

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

OUR TIP

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91

Form: /214-0 D BF

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won a heavy-ground novice hurdle at Leicester last December for Alex Hales; failed to give his running when favourite for a handicap hurdle at Carlisle on final run and now kicks off over fences for Olly Murphy; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

Gardener

10st 6lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Bidding for a C&D hat-trick having won here on last two starts (soft/good); has gone up 9lb but has run well off much higher marks in the past; could go well.

6/1

1st

3

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Gardener

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Five races for his new trainer and back on track, following three third places with a tenacious C&D win (soft) under Charlie Maggs in 14-runner race 19 days ago; back up 4lb but one to consider seriously.

100/30

1st

4

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Gardener

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Ended his time with Olly Murphy under a cloud but back on track for his new handler and he posted a solid third of eight in 2m3f handicap at Catterick last month; considered from an easing mark.

9/1

Form: 492-45

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a 2m maiden hurdle but ran just okay on his switch to handicaps at Chepstow last month (2m3f); half-brother to the stable's Welsh National winner Secret Reprieve so no surprise to see him sent chasing sooner rather than later; may need further but respected all the same.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

23rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

16:33 Sedgefield

Secret Plan

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Evan Williams

held up in rear, not fluent 1st, lost ground back straight, no telling impression

11/2

0

5

30th Jan 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

14:10 Chepstow

Secret Plan

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Evan Williams

No match for winner when remote second of four on last months chasing debut at Southwell (2m, good to soft) but remains very lightly raced, and this half-brother to connections' Welsh National winner Secret Reprieve could be seen in a much better light over today's trip; interesting.

7/2

2nd

4

17th Dec 2023

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

12:45 Southwell

Secret Plan

11st 2lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Runner-up in a 2m maiden hurdle but ran just okay on his switch to handicaps at Chepstow last month (2m3f); half-brother to the stable's Welsh National winner Secret Reprieve so no surprise to see him sent chasing sooner rather than later; may need further but respected all the same.

3/1

Form: 50/4-3

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Failed to progress over hurdles for Stuart Crawford and was picked up for £16,000; returned from a long absence to run respectably at Sedgefield (2m1f maiden hurdle, soft) and could be interesting if building on that now sent chasing (started off in points).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Apr 2024

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:35 Southwell

Arlo

11st 4lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

took keen hold, led, weakened quickly and headed before 2 out

10/1

1

4th Apr 2024

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:35 Southwell

Arlo

11st 4lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

No wins in 12; nothing positive to report in two chases during the winter and probably needs to improve on his fourth in a maiden hurdle at Sedgefield, after which he was pulled up in a handicap hurdle with cheekpieces tried; now goes in blinkers.

10/1

2

17th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

14:07 Huntingdon

Arlo

12st 0lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

11-race maiden; fair fourth in a maiden at Sedgefield last time (2m1f, soft) on his return to hurdling having had two unsuccessful runs over fences; cheekpieces now tried.

12/1

Form: 32235- D

Last run: 252 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Only 1-10 over hurdles and he's 12lb higher than for his sole win (2m, soft); looks on a tough mark for chase debut but this might not take much winning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Couldbeaweapon

11st 12lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Has won his last two handicap chases, at Southwell (2m4f, good) and last time a conditional riders' event at Sedgefield by 17l (2m5f, good; clear leader fell four out); went up 10lb for that even though he wasn't sure to have won; can run off his old mark here; contender.

5/6

3

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Couldbeaweapon

11st 12lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Has won his last two handicap chases, at Southwell (2m4f, good) and last time a conditional riders' event at Sedgefield by 17l (2m5f, good; clear leader fell four out); went up 10lb for that even though he wasn't sure to have won; can run off his old mark here; contender.

5/6

1st

2

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

14:30 Sedgefield

Couldbeaweapon

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Pretty consistent and the front two were clear when off the mark over fences (1-14) at Southwell (2m4f, good) 17 days ago; has gone up 8lb but Tom Midgley takes away 3lb out of that with his claim.

13/8

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.40
Straight Forecast £4.64
Trifecta £10.40

Selections

D Express:

Arlo

SPOTLIGHT:

Secret Plan

WEST COUNTRY:

Couldbeaweapon

The Times:

Gardener

POSTDATA:

Secret Plan

The Star:

Secret Plan

Telegraph:

Couldbeaweapon

Daily Mirror:

Arlo

The Sun:

Arlo

Daily Record:

Arlo