December 26 / 13.15 Market Rasen

13.15

Good To Soft

Mal & Mo Fox Memorial Vase Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 7f 191y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Mal & Mo Fox Memorial Vase Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 0465-5

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Won a point; ordinary form over hurdles but showed improved form on chase debut when fifth at Newcastle last month (2m7f, soft); each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

13:52 Ffos Las

Benny Baloo

10st 7lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Has won over fences but two disappointing runs after an absence included a heavy defeat behind Esperti and his struggles continued back over hurdles here last month; has dropped to a good mark but with questions to answer now.

33/1

7

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

13:35 Ffos Las

Benny Baloo

10st 13lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Well beaten on stable debut in September but that came after a long absence and he's well handicapped on old form for Tim Easterby; gained both wins on good to soft ground but can handle soft; market may guide.

12/1

5th

4

19th Sep 2025

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

16:55 Newton Abbot

Benny Baloo

11st 5lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Won over fences at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) for Tim Easterby on Boxing Day 2023 and was still in good form when last seen in spring 2024; changed hands for £9,000 last summer; entitled to benefit from this outing.

16/1

5/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 66P2P-

Last run: 258 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Won Irish point in February 2022; modest efforts over hurdles for Laura Morgan; now tried chasing with first-time cheekpieces on first run for new yard; worth a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

15th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:27 Hexham

Artic Breeze

10st 12lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Lucinda Russell

Irish point winner (soft ground); placed on good to soft in both a 2m novice hurdle and a 3m novices' handicap chase at Market Rasen; well beaten and pulled up in two further starts; still early days and not written off from a workable mark.

16/1

6

21st May 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:28 Hexham

Artic Breeze

11st 0lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Eight-race rules maiden who needs to jump much better than when down the field at Ayr in February last time out; however, prior to that he was a fairly encouraging second on his chase and stable debut at Market Rasen on Boxing Day and he's not ruled out.

8/1

6

21st May 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:28 Hexham

Artic Breeze

11st 0lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Eight-race rules maiden who needs to jump much better than when down the field at Ayr in February last time out; however, prior to that he was a fairly encouraging second on his chase and stable debut at Market Rasen on Boxing Day and he's not ruled out.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 80-7

Last run: 79 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish; placed in two points in 2022; modest form over hurdles; might do better now going chasing with cheekpieces tried.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

Noche Negra

11st 10lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Jumped well when scoring on his stable debut at Warwick (2m4f, soft) in late 2024 but he hasn't recaptured that form in three runs following a year's absence, pulling up on his last two starts.

11/1

6

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:20 Stratford

Noche Negra

11st 9lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Jumped well when scoring on his stable debut at Warwick (2m4f, soft) in late 2024 but he hasn't recaptured that form in two runs following a year's absence, latterly when found to have an irregular heartbeat back at Warwick in January; cheekpieces back on but risky at present.

12/1

Form: 777FF-

Last run: 262 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Modest form over hurdles; has fallen on both runs over fences but was 5l clear when coming down two out at Newton Abbot on second occasion (3m2f, soft; form franked); interesting contender on return from a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

14

22nd Aug 2024

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

17:30 Newton Abbot

Via Dante

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

0-11 under rules; kept on well for second over fences at Fakenham (3m, good) in April and didn't run badly on soft ground last month, but makes only limited appeal on this return to hurdling; 1lb wrong; tongue-tie added.

16/1

6th

10

17th Jul 2024

Good

3m 2f 13y

Class 5

15:40 Uttoxeter

Via Dante

10st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Fell on his first two attempts over fences, but had the race at his mercy at Newton Abbot (3m2f, soft; from 3lb higher) on the second occasion; has failed to sparkle since - usually labouring in rear - although there was a glimmer of spark at Fakenham over Easter.

11/2

2nd

6

1st Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

15:42 Fakenham

Via Dante

10st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: David Pipe

Unlucky not to open his account at Newton Abbot (3m2f, soft) just under a year ago and ran well when fourth at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) on Boxing Day, after a layoff, but was struggling from fairly early stage at Chepstow in January and can't be supported with any confidence after that.

7/1

Form: 614-84

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Fair hurdler; well beaten in a similar event at Worcester in May on only run over fences (2m7f, good); also well beaten back over hurdles last time, after a break; others stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

15:32 Hereford

Glance From Clover

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

In second place when falling four out at Warwick (3m5f) last month; opened his chase account with a 5l win over C&D (soft) the time before and that form has been boosted since; respected.

5/2

3

14th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

15:32 Hereford

Glance From Clover

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

In second place when falling four out at Warwick (3m5f) last month; opened his chase account with a 5l win over C&D (soft) the time before and that form has been boosted since; respected.

5/2

Form: 478-6

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
In the frame in two Irish points in 2021; mainly modest form over hurdles, including on handicap debut here in November (2m4f, good to soft); stable in fine form and he's likely to fare better now upped in trip and switched to fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

16th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

14:52 Southwell

Annaharvey Lad

11st 5lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Fairly promising fourth on hurdle debut in March 2023 and this lightly raced 8yo is one to watch in the betting following an absence; however, he made no impact when sixth late last year in his first two handicaps.

12/1

1st

5

16th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

14:52 Southwell

Annaharvey Lad

11st 5lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Fairly promising fourth on hurdle debut in March 2023 and this lightly raced 8yo is one to watch in the betting following an absence; however, he made no impact when sixth late last year in his first two handicaps.

12/1

6th

3

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

13:15 Market Rasen

Annaharvey Lad

11st 8lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sue Smith

In the frame in two Irish points in 2021; mainly modest form over hurdles, including on handicap debut here in November (2m4f, good to soft); stable in fine form and he's likely to fare better now upped in trip and switched to fences.

11/2

Form: /024-7

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles in France in June 2022 (2m3f, heavy) having already shown fair form over fences; good second in a handicap chase at Newcastle in March but not as good since; bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

11

12th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 172y

19:58 Sligo

Le Grand Vert

10st 0lb

J: Ms E Dunseath

T: Noel C Kelly

Three-time chase winner is rated 15lb lower in this sphere; won over fences at Ayr in February (3m, soft), his second win at that venue; 2lb wrong here though and all four wins on soft and heavy ground.

14/1

4

12th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 50y

17:07 Down Royal

Le Grand Vert

11st 12lb

J: Carl Millar

T: Noel C Kelly

Has a liking for Ayr with two of his three chase wins coming there, including in February (3m, soft); that win came after a moderate season; lacked the pace at an important stage at Sedgefield last time (3m3f, good); needs to do it away from Ayr.

11/1

4th

6

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 59y

Class 4

15:38 Sedgefield

Le Grand Vert

11st 2lb

J: Mr O McGill

T: Noel C Kelly

3-29 over fences; very inconsistent nowadays but won readily at Ayr (3m, soft) last month and a subsequent 4lb rise is manageable if he's in the right mood again here.

9/2

Non-runners

Dr Lockdown, Voice Of Hope

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.00
Straight Forecast £10.86
Tricast £73.03
Trifecta £88.10

Selections

POSTDATA:

Benny Baloo

SPOTLIGHT:

Annaharvey Lad

RP RATINGS:

Via Dante

Telegraph:

Noche Negra

Daily Mail:

Artic Breeze

Daily Mirror:

Dr Lockdown

Daily Record:

Glance From Clover

The Times:

Benny Baloo

The Guardian:

Benny Baloo

D Express:

Benny Baloo

The Sun:

Benny Baloo

The Star:

Annaharvey Lad