December 27 / 13.05 Chepstow

13.05

Good To Soft

Coral Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £18210.5
  • 2m 3f 98y
  • Class 2
  • 9 runners
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Coral Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00

Form: 323-81 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Smart hurdler in his prime but has a somewhat patchy record over fences; bounced back from very disappointing seasonal debut when making all in match race at Fontwell (2m5f, heavy; first-time blinkers) a fortnight ago and can cope with subsequent 2lb rise but others have more persuasive profiles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

Quel Destin

11st 12lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful hurdler/chaser in his pomp who is a three-time chase winner, with back-to-back wins coming in December 2023; below that level in limited appearances since, including after a third wind operation; nevertheless, he could still make his presence felt at this lower level.

9/2

4th

6

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Warwick

Quel Destin

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, not fluent 11th, prominent when jumped right 12th, not fluent 3 out, weakening when mistake last, lost third towards finish

14/1

4th

6

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Warwick

Quel Destin

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, not fluent 11th, prominent when jumped right 12th, not fluent 3 out, weakening when mistake last, lost third towards finish

14/1

Form: /3F2-2 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 158

Form & Verdict
Grade 1 chase winner; lightly raced over the last couple of years but returned from six-month break with very creditable second off today's mark in valuable Ascot handicap (2m1f, soft) in November; today's longer trip will also suit and he won't mind if the ground ends up soft/heavy; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

21st Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Lingfield

First Flow

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

A longer trip may be preferable but he was a good second off this mark at Ascot (2m1f, soft) in November on his reappearance, and filled the same position at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) last time; also effective on good/good to soft; this highly admirable 12yo can give another good account.

6/1

3

27th Dec 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Kempton

First Flow

11st 11lb

T: Kim Bailey

2nd

1

27th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

13:05 Chepstow

First Flow

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

prominent, led 3rd, headed after 3 out, kept on final 110yds

9/4

OUR TIP

Form: 2P5-3P D

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Struggled on atrocious ground at Aintree 18 days ago and needs to put that performance behind him but he stayed on well to take third from out of the weights in Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter (2m1f, good to soft; also effective on soft/heavy) last month and is 3lb lower here; ought to be very well suited by 2m3f on this left-handed track; player if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 3

15:40 Plumpton

War Lord

11st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Very useful chaser in his prime but last month's hurdling win at Fontwell (2m5f, good) came off a hugely reduced handicap mark and it's not easy to predict whether his revival will gather momentum.

4/1

1st

2

22nd Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

17:20 Fontwell

War Lord

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Has been through a quiet spell but he ran respectably when fourth at Worcester (2m4f, good; tongue-tie refitted) last time; likely to need more.

13/2

6

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Worcester

War Lord

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Very useful chaser in his prime but this year's efforts, in three hurdles and a chase, make him tough to recommend.

14/1

Form: 670-13 D BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Left clear to win easily on seasonal/chase debut at Carlisle (2m4f, soft) in October; seemed to find 3m on soft ground too taxing when well-held third at Cheltenham last month but didn't run badly there and remains unexposed over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

27th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

13:05 Chepstow

Good Risk At All

10st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Sam Thomas

didn't jump with fluency, pressed leaders, awkward jump 2nd, reminders after 8th, soon detached, weakened after 5 out, tailed off

13/8

Form: F5-663 C

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

13th Mar 2024

Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

15:30 Cheltenham

Funambule Sivola

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Outsider in this contest for the last two years, flattered when second in 2022 (race fell apart) and early faller in 2023; following Boothill's late fall, he inherited a remote second behind Edwardstone at Newbury last month when bidding for a third Game Spirit success; has the worst chance judged on this season's form.

100/1

2nd

3

10th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:40 Newbury

Funambule Sivola

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Has failed to threaten in handicaps on his four runs this season but was also below his best last term prior to a major revival when winning this race for the second consecutive year; four visits to Newbury have yielded three C&D wins (including on soft) and no surprise if he's bang there.

10/1

6th

1

27th Jan 2024

Good

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

11:50 Doncaster

Funambule Sivola

12st 0lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Landed this prize in 2022 and also has two subsequent Grade 2 chase wins on his CV; on the downgrade now but last month's Cheltenham third (2m, soft) was very respectable and today's faster ground will suit.

9/2

Form: 136-31 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

6th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Our Jet

11st 10lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Dan Skelton

The cheekpieces had been working well in handicaps at about 2m4f before he came up well short in a strong handicap at Cheltenham 19 days ago; didn't stay 3m here when trying it once before but conditions will be quicker this time and that should help.

10/1

5th

4

6th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Our Jet

11st 10lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Dan Skelton

held up in rear, some headway after 4 out, outpaced from 3 out

10/1

7th

10

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Our Jet

10st 8lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Dan Skelton

The cheekpieces are working well as he's been competitive in his last three races at about this distance; however, he's come up short in weaker races than this the last twice and Harry Skelton could have ridden him.

25/1

Form: 194-23 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

15:40 Exeter

Can You Call

11st 3lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Evan Williams

All wins have come on left-handed tracks, the latest comfortably at Cheltenham in December (2m4f, good to soft; 7lb lower); does have form going this way around and just appeared to have an off-day last time at Sandown; considered.

5/1

11

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 2

14:05 Fontwell

Can You Call

10st 9lb

T: Evan Williams

Just 1-12 over fences but was in good form last winter when last seen, finishing second on consecutive outings at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) and Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft), and Sean Bowen is a good booking here.

5/1

Form: /P4-6P C

Last run: 213 days

W: 9st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

7th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

19:42 Southwell

Witness Protection

12st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Struggled over fences after returning from a long absence and never counted on his belated return to hurdling at Cheltenham last month.

33/1

10th

2

7th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

19:42 Southwell

Witness Protection

12st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Struggled over fences after returning from a long absence and never counted on his belated return to hurdling at Cheltenham last month.

33/1

16

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 3

17:00 Cheltenham

Witness Protection

10st 12lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Martin Keighley

held up in rear, outpaced and cajoled along 5th, lost touch before 2 out

50/1

Form: 25-411

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Heros

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

disputed lead

12/1

2

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Heros

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

disputed lead, lost position and squeezed out 5th, dropped to rear 7th, struggling 9th, jockey looked down to see if something was amiss after 10th, soon eased and pulled up

12/1

4th

2

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 150y

Class 4

15:00 Taunton

Heros

11st 7lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Dual 2m2f course winner last season; not at best on either outing this term but ran well to a point in stronger race than this at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft) a fortnight ago and is sure to be suited by the return to this track; might be the answer.

11/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.60
Straight Forecast £23.92
Trifecta £49.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Good Risk At All

The Times:

First Flow

RP RATINGS:

War Lord

POSTDATA:

Quel Destin

Telegraph:

Good Risk At All

D Express:

Good Risk At All

The Star:

Good Risk At All

Daily Record:

Good Risk At All

TOPSPEED:

War Lord

Daily Mail:

Quel Destin

The Guardian:

First Flow

Daily Mirror:

First Flow

The Sun:

First Flow