December 23 / 13.40 Newcastle

13.40

Good To Soft

bet365 Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 2m 4f 19y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
bet365 Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.50
  • Place: £4.10

Form: 3/13P- D

Last run: 359 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Absent since running as though something was amiss just under a year ago but won in pretty good style on chasing debut at Kelso (2m7f, good to soft) last autumn, after a similar layoff, and is only 2lb higher here; cheekpieces removed after one use.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

14:10 Ayr

Brayhill

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: James Ewart

raced in second, bad mistake 8th

11/2

5th

2

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

14:10 Ayr

Brayhill

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: James Ewart

raced in second, bad mistake 8th

11/2

4

13th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

14:05 Newcastle

Brayhill

11st 1lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: James Ewart

raced in third, lost position briefly 6th, reminders and dropped to last before 8th, detached and struggling from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out

8/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 34-344 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Four-time chase winner (once here); well handicapped on some of last season's form and ran big until until stamina drained away in closing stages at Wetherby (3m, heavy) last month; can make presence felt here, providing that hard race has not left its mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

13:35 Market Rasen

Ladronne

11st 12lb

J: Miss Venetia Thompson

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Veteran who has looked as good as ever for his new stable this season, winning twice (2m5f/3m1f); probably doesn't have much margin for error off current mark but reverts to chasing after a respectable hurdle run and is suited by this C&D.

3/1

5th

10

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

16:22 Wetherby

Ladronne

11st 4lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

12yo who has been better than ever over fences this season following a stable switch, with wins at Sedgefield (2m5f, soft) and Catterick (3m1f, good to soft); this is a rare run over hurdles but he has a lower mark in this sphere, in which he scored twice in 2020; likes it here; one to consider.

8/1

2nd

7

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

17:05 Doncaster

Ladronne

11st 7lb

J: Jack Power

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Won this in 2024 (soft) and he's been better than ever this season following a stable switch, with wins at Sedgefield (2m5f, soft) and Catterick (3m1f, good to soft; last time); back up to a career-high mark and he's back up in grade but he could yet have more to offer for this yard; respected.

3/1

Form: 942-23 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 12st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Three-time chase winner who was placed over 2m3f on consecutive outings at Chepstow in October (soft/good to soft); remains on a workable mark and will be dangerous if last month's wind op has any positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Nocte Volatus

10st 11lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Justified favouritism in the 2025 Stayers' Veterans' Chase Final at Sandown (good) most recently, taking record over 3m to 2-3; in top form aged 11 and still unexposed at this distance.

13/2

Form: 622-21 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on final three starts for Nicky Richards and, following a break, went one better on stable debut at Ayr (2m4f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) last month; moves up in grade here but further progress is possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

13:23 Ayr

Everyday Champagne

11st 12lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Below par since the summer of 2024, although he has made the frame on several occasions; not entirely disgraced when third at Perth (2m4f, good) in September; likely to be thereabouts again but others appeal more for the win.

8/1

2

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

13:23 Ayr

Everyday Champagne

11st 12lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Below par since the summer of 2024, although he has made the frame on several occasions; not entirely disgraced when third at Perth (2m4f, good) in September; likely to be thereabouts again but others appeal more for the win.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: P/15-7 D

Last run: 202 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Won Down Royal beginners' chase (2m4f, soft) for Henry de Bromhead last Boxing Day but both runs in Ireland this year were disappointing and he was sold for £7,000 in the summer; needs to have been revitalised by switch to new stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:50 Cartmel

Innovated

11st 11lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Won over fences in Ireland in 2022 but has looked badly out of sorts on all five starts for current stable since December 2023; swaps cheekpieces for blinkers here; needs to prove some ability remains.

50/1

3

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

16:40 Hexham

Innovated

11st 8lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Very lightly raced for his age but was badly out of form for this stable when last seen in 2023-24 season and returns from 426-day absence with a lot to prove.

33/1

Form: 2/54/1

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Off for over 900 days before keeping on strongly to beat three rivals at Musselburgh (2m, soft) last month; contests stronger race here but remains well handicapped on old form and could have untapped potential over 2m4f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

8th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 10y

Class 3

16:45 Sandown

Mint Gold

11st 1lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

Has made the frame on his last four starts but he's operating at a lower level than in the past, having no obvious excuses over 2m at Musselburgh (C&D winner) last month; has slipped to his last winning mark but others are preferred.

14/1

4th

5

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

15:35 Musselburgh

Mint Gold

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

towards rear, some headway 4 out, went fourth 2 out, no impression

12/1

4th

5

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

15:35 Musselburgh

Mint Gold

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

towards rear, some headway 4 out, went fourth 2 out, no impression

12/1

Non-runners

Dalyotin

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.50
Straight Forecast £30.03
Trifecta £102.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Nocte Volatus

TOPSPEED:

Mint Gold

Daily Mail:

Ladronne

The Star:

Everyday Champagne

D Express:

Innovated

Daily Mirror:

Brayhill

RP RATINGS:

Nocte Volatus

POSTDATA:

Nocte Volatus

The Times:

Nocte Volatus

The Guardian:

Nocte Volatus

Telegraph:

Mint Gold

Daily Record:

Mint Gold

The Sun:

Ladronne