January 08 / 14.25 Taunton

14.25

Soft

Major Denis Burton Royal Welsh Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6574.84
  • 2m 0f 12y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
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Major Denis Burton Royal Welsh Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25

Form: 435-F2 D BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Fell on seasonal/chase debut in November but bounced back quickly and ran big race from the front when clear second to Dr T J Eckleburg over C&D (soft) last month; only 2lb higher today and can make another bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

15:05 Punchestown

Keep Running

10st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Had wind op prior to Carlisle in October, when pulled up and found to have a wound on his right hind; major improvement when easily making all at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) and Ffos Las (2m, soft), the latter effort marked up as he jumped to the right; couldn't dominate upped to 20.5f at Kempton but is on the shortlist back in trip.

16/1

13

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

15:05 Punchestown

Keep Running

10st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Had wind op prior to Carlisle in October, when pulled up and found to have a wound on his right hind; major improvement when easily making all at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) and Ffos Las (2m, soft), the latter effort marked up as he jumped to the right; couldn't dominate upped to 20.5f at Kempton but is on the shortlist back in trip.

16/1

2nd

5

22nd Feb 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

16:10 Kempton

Keep Running

10st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Had wind op prior to Carlisle in October, when pulled up and found to have a wound on his right-hind; major improvement the next twice when easily making all at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) and Ffos Las (2m, soft); deserves extra credit for latest win as he jumped to the right at that left-handed track; seemed fine at 2m4f last March; thriving and could prove tough to catch.

9/2

Form: -U4412 D

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Battled on well to win from the front at Hereford (2m, good) in November, after a break, and his second at Fakenham (2m, good to soft) a fortnight later was also a good effort, but he moves up from Class 5 today and others appeal more; cheekpieces (worn once over hurdles last May) refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 5

15:35 Fakenham

Extraordinary Man

11st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: David Bridgwater

Has modest strike-rate and is very inconsistent but has slipped to a good mark and ran well over C&D on his only previous visit Fakenham; cheekpieces (missing when tailed off at Fontwell last month) are refitted here; can be dangerous if in the right mood.

4/1

3

1st Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 5

15:35 Fakenham

Extraordinary Man

11st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: David Bridgwater

Has modest strike-rate and is very inconsistent but has slipped to a good mark and ran well over C&D on his only previous visit Fakenham; cheekpieces (missing when tailed off at Fontwell last month) are refitted here; can be dangerous if in the right mood.

4/1

5th

4

7th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Extraordinary Man

10st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: David Bridgwater

held up in last but in touch with leaders, disputing fourth 4 out, weakened 3 out

13/2

Form: 2235-U D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Ended last season with a disappointing hurdle run but was in the process of running well before unseating rider at third-last fence at Southwell (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago; went close on only previous visit to Taunton and should be fine on today's ground; cheekpieces refitted; could have a say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Couldbeaweapon

11st 12lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Has won his last two handicap chases, at Southwell (2m4f, good) and last time a conditional riders' event at Sedgefield by 17l (2m5f, good; clear leader fell four out); went up 10lb for that even though he wasn't sure to have won; can run off his old mark here; contender.

5/6

3

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Couldbeaweapon

11st 12lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Has won his last two handicap chases, at Southwell (2m4f, good) and last time a conditional riders' event at Sedgefield by 17l (2m5f, good; clear leader fell four out); went up 10lb for that even though he wasn't sure to have won; can run off his old mark here; contender.

5/6

1st

2

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

14:30 Sedgefield

Couldbeaweapon

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Pretty consistent and the front two were clear when off the mark over fences (1-14) at Southwell (2m4f, good) 17 days ago; has gone up 8lb but Tom Midgley takes away 3lb out of that with his claim.

13/8

Form: 731312 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner, more recently when keeping on well to collar Keep Running over C&D (soft) last month; went down fighting when clear second of four in quite valuable contest at Ludlow (2m, soft) a fortnight later and remains well handicapped on last season's hurdling form; good chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

14

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Dr T J Eckleburg

10st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Runs off a mark 10lb lower than when fifth of 14 in this last year, beaten just over 13l; he's run a couple of reasonable races this season but hasn't shown enough to suggest he's the one to be on today.

33/1

3rd

5

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 2

15:40 Chepstow

Dr T J Eckleburg

10st 9lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Led close home to win this race off 5lb higher a year ago (soft ground) and was seemingly perked up by cheekpieces when third on both outings last month; made up considerable ground from the rear at Sandown (1m7f, soft) on latter occasion and has strong claims here if the headgear continues to aid him.

15/8

3rd

9

31st Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

14:02 Sandown

Dr T J Eckleburg

10st 3lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Acts on any ground; half-length second off 4lb higher in this contest 12 months ago; out of sorts this term until posting a resurgent effort, behind solid rivals, in first-time cheekpieces at Windsor most recently; enters calculations in the retained headgear.

11/2

Non-runners

Kalkas

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.90
Straight Forecast £6.28
Trifecta £19.40

Selections

POSTDATA:

Dr T J Eckleburg

SPOTLIGHT:

Keep Running

RP RATINGS:

Extraordinary Man

WEST COUNTRY:

Couldbeaweapon

Telegraph:

Couldbeaweapon

Daily Mail:

Keep Running

The Sun:

Keep Running

TOPSPEED:

Extraordinary Man

The Guardian:

Extraordinary Man

The Times:

Dr T J Eckleburg

D Express:

Dr T J Eckleburg

Daily Mirror:

Dr T J Eckleburg

The Star:

Dr T J Eckleburg

Daily Record:

Dr T J Eckleburg