December 23 / 13.50 Ascot

13.50

Good To Soft

Howden Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £18210.5
  • 2m 2f 175y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Howden Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 11-213 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Has improved on 2m4f and 2m2f chase wins in April with sterling efforts this autumn, winning at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) and close up under a penalty (same mark today) in an even better race here four weeks ago; having a longer break this time can suit and he still has potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Triple Trade

10st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Still on a good mark despite winning twice this season (2m/2m4f; soft/good) and was 11-2 for the veterans' final over C&D earlier this month, only to depart early; has a lot in his favour so merits each-way consideration.

16/1

12

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Triple Trade

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Two wins this season (2m/2m4f, soft/good) and 10l third behind an 8yo and a 7yo at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in January; 20l fourth in another competitive handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) in February but that form is working out well and he's back against fellow veterans today; chance.

11/1

4th

9

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Triple Trade

10st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Has a solid record (1313) over 2m/2m4f this season but gained the wins in Class 3 and finished 10l behind a couple of younger rivals, albeit not disgraced, in Class 1 at Cheltenham most recently; the 10yo looks under some pressure kept to this level.

12/1

11/2

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 15P2-0

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Hurdle/chase wins at 2m4f on soft, good and heavy; talented but found himself in front too soon at Sandown in April and all but ground to a halt on the run-in; well back on return to action in a warm Cheltenham handicap but this less demanding company and finish can suit; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 2

15:40 Chepstow

Harpers Brook

11st 4lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Quirky customer who tends to idle when striking the front and needs to be produced with a well-timed challenge; on a good mark now and Kielan Woods knows his foibles well but he's seemingly on the downgrade and always comes with extra risk.

11/2

5th

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

15:13 Doncaster

Harpers Brook

10st 12lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Back in better form, albeit wilted a bit late on, at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) last time and remains below last winning mark but continues to carry risk, being a quirky sort.

8/1

Form: 2/P-PP D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
High-class chaser at 2m4f-3m in his prime but he took a terrible fall at Wetherby two years ago and hasn't been the same since; easily excused a pulled-up run over hurdles in November and it's just possible he didn't act on the track when back over fences at Chepstow since, but the fitting of cheekpieces adds to the doubts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

1st Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 2

15:42 Sandown

Shan Blue

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

in rear, hit 1st

10/1

Form: 81P2P- C

Last run: 273 days

W: 10st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Form tends to yo-yo but wind problems could have something to do with it and he's had another surgery (his fourth) since pulling up at Newbury in March; capable of a big run on best 2m4f form but hard to predict.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 2

15:42 Sandown

Eden Du Houx

10st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

midfield

11/1

Form: PP11-P C

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Won five out of eight chase completions and was better than ever in the spring when winning here (2m1f, good to soft) and Plumpton (2m3f, soft); highly tried on Cheltenham reappearance where he never made a forward move and called it a day three out but this looks more his level; involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

11th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

16:45 Plumpton

Black Gerry

11st 6lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

His second over 2m4f (good) here 13 months ago reads well but he's become a hard horse to predict and previous ventures over 3m+ have amounted to little.

8/1

3rd

2

11th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

16:45 Plumpton

Black Gerry

11st 6lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

His second over 2m4f (good) here 13 months ago reads well but he's become a hard horse to predict and previous ventures over 3m+ have amounted to little.

8/1

8th

10

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:40 Newbury

Black Gerry

10st 6lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Last ran off this low a mark in spring 2022; Plumpton second (2m4f, good) last April reads well but he has been well beaten more often than not over the last two seasons.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: U16F-P

Last run: 56 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Useful for Willie Mullins, including when third of 15 finishers in the Galway Plate (2m6f, good; has won on soft/heavy) in July 2022; however, he has failed to complete in two starts this year, pulling up for new yard over hurdles in October, and has something to prove back over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

11

4th Feb 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 107y

15:20 Leopardstown

El Barra

10st 9lb

J: Charlie O’Dwyer

T: Conor O’Dwyer

Three-time winner over fences but pulled up in both runs this season and up against it.

100/1

0

1

23rd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 2f 175y

Class 2

13:50 Ascot

El Barra

12st 0lb

J: Charlie O’Dwyer

T: Conor O’Dwyer

Useful for Willie Mullins, including when third of 15 finishers in the Galway Plate (2m6f, good; has won on soft/heavy) in July 2022; however, he has failed to complete in two starts this year, pulling up for new yard over hurdles in October, and has something to prove back over fences.

20/1

Form: 122P-4 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
No frills about his handicap mark after two chase wins (2m, soft/2m3f, good) at the start of 2023 but he ran a very solid race when fourth of eight finishers in a better race than this on his return in November; major player off 2lb lower.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

28th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

16:48 Newton Abbot

Cap Du Mathan

12st 4lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Former useful handicapper and won a soft-ground 2m hunter chase early last year; back from an absence with a second at Ludlow and nothing wrong with his third in a deeper race than this at Cheltenham (2m4f); good chance.

13/8

2

28th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

16:48 Newton Abbot

Cap Du Mathan

12st 4lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Former useful handicapper and won a soft-ground 2m hunter chase early last year; back from an absence with a second at Ludlow and nothing wrong with his third in a deeper race than this at Cheltenham (2m4f); good chance.

13/8

3rd

5

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Cap Du Mathan

12st 1lb

J: Miss Natalie Parker

T: Paul Nicholls

took keen hold, midfield, in touch with leaders 7th, went third approaching last, not pace to challenge

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.70
Straight Forecast £11.91
Trifecta £75.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Triple Trade

RP RATINGS:

Cap Du Mathan

Daily Mail:

Black Gerry

D Express:

Eden Du Houx

Telegraph:

Shan Blue

WEST COUNTRY:

Triple Trade

The Times:

Triple Trade

The Guardian:

Triple Trade

Daily Mirror:

Triple Trade

The Star:

Triple Trade

Daily Record:

Triple Trade

TOPSPEED:

Cap Du Mathan

POSTDATA:

Cap Du Mathan

The Sun:

Cap Du Mathan