13.04
HeavyN&L Franklin Developments Handicap Chase
- Prize money: £11882.25
- 2m 4f 88y
- Class 3
- 5 runners
Runners: 5 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Abandoned
Form: 343312 D
Last run: 17 days
W: 12st 0lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
1st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 7f 76y Class 2 |
11st 3lb |
With James Owen for 18 months (Scottish National fourth in April) before joining this yard; Borders National win at Kelso (4m, soft) in December was his best form for nearly two years and he kept jumping to his right, so reverting to a right-handed track today may well help; back up 5lb but shortlisted. |
9/2 |
|
5th 7 |
25th Oct 2025 Good 3m 2f 39y Class 2 |
10st 6lb |
Only 1-10 (hurdles win) during his spell with James Owen but ran respectably in the Scottish National on last appearance; sold for £24,000 since; headgear removed; heed the market signals. |
10/1 |
|
4th 18 |
12th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 3m 7f 176y Class 1 |
10st 5lb |
Won over hurdles in December in a first-time visor, which he also wore next time and returns today; well held with first-time blinkers in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham one month ago, taking sixth in that 3m2f race for the second year running; new trip but he's not persuasive. |
50/1 |
Abandoned
Form: P6-204 D
Last run: 23 days
W: 11st 3lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 119
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
25th Jul 2025 Good 2m 3f 207y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Dual C&D winner; went close off today's mark at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in March but this regressive 10yo was soundly beaten over fences when last in action and would appeal much more on slower ground. |
25/1 |
|
3 |
1st Jul 2025 Good To Firm 2m 3f 98y Class 4 |
12st 1lb |
Inconsistent 10yo who was well beaten when back over fences in May (2m6f), then unsuited by the drop back to 2m on his most recent start at Newton Abbot last month when a well-held third of six; on a good mark if the mood takes him now back up to a more suitable test. |
10/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
13th Jun 2025 Good 2m 0f 75y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
Went close over hurdles at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in March but this inconsistent and steadily regressive 10yo was well beaten when back over fences last month (2m6f); drops back to about 2m for first time since hurdle debut in 2020; has done all his winning on ground slower than good. |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 665-11 D
Last run: 14 days
W: 11st 1lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 117
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0 6 |
31st Jan 2024 Good To Soft 2m 4f 25y Class 3 |
11st 2lb |
Looked an exciting prospect (on the back of a wind op) when landing 2m4f handicap chases at Lingfield and Plumpton this winter but he beat only one at Plumpton last time; he remains with potential though and shouldn't be written off by any means. |
3/1 |
|
4th 5 |
7th Jan 2024 Soft 2m 3f 164y Class 3 |
10st 6lb |
Ex-French 6yo; unplaced all four hurdling starts for Venetia Williams last season but, following a wind op, is 2-2 since switched back to chasing this term, the latter win over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; should be fine on today's slower ground and has plenty of scope for further progress. |
9/4 |
Abandoned
Form: 21245-
Last run: 250 days
W: 10st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 114
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 3 |
7th May 2024 Good 3m 1f 44y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Win last February came off this mark but he's offered little in two runs over hurdles back from almost a year off, latterly for his new yard a fortnight ago; the return to fences needs to help. |
10/1 |
|
2nd 3 |
7th May 2024 Good 3m 1f 44y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Win last February came off this mark but he's offered little in two runs over hurdles back from almost a year off, latterly for his new yard a fortnight ago; the return to fences needs to help. |
10/1 |
|
5th 8 |
21st Apr 2024 Good 2m 5f 82y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
Sole career win came in a Ludlow handicap chase in February of last year (3m, good); beaten a long way into third on his return from an absence in a 2m4f novice at Huntingdon. |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 22-332
Last run: 23 days
W: 10st 5lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 107
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
19th Nov 2025 Soft 2m 3f 83y Class 5 |
11st 13lb |
0-11 over fences; well handicapped on some of his placed form for Sam Thomas in 2023-24 campaign but ran poorly on only appearance last season and made low-key reappearance for new stable last month; revival needed. |
12/1 |
|
4 |
30th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 2m 6f 125y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
0-10 over fences when trained by Sam Thomas; ran several good races in defeat and will be suited by today's trip/ground but was out of form when last seen last November; market may guide on stable debut. |
10/1 |
|
4 |
30th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 2m 6f 125y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
0-10 over fences when trained by Sam Thomas; ran several good races in defeat and will be suited by today's trip/ground but was out of form when last seen last November; market may guide on stable debut. |
10/1 |
Verdict
This deeper ground might be an issue for Grozni who ran so well in a fair handicap at Doncaster last time. BALLYBEEN again did precious little wrong when only narrowly failing to make all at Chepstow and this could be his day. Hat-trick seeker Oxygen is second choice.[Alistair Jones]