January 17 / 13.55 Newbury

13.55

Good To Soft

DJB Cleaning Ltd Handicap Chase (For The Harwell Trophy) (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 7f 86y
  • Class 3
  • 13 runners
SKY
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DJB Cleaning Ltd Handicap Chase (For The Harwell Trophy) (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier)

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 9P44-3 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 12st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Rather lost his way last season after his November win but last month's reappearance third at Chepstow was a step back in the right direction; had wind surgery soon afterwards and is also now tongue tied for the first time; off 1lb lower than his last winning mark, he has to be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

Fern Hill

12st 0lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Two small-field wins around 3m on good in the autumn; went off the boil subsequently but very much back on his game when second of 11 at Chepstow 17 days ago; raised 5lb for pulling clear of the rest but it looks justified given the third was successful back at Chepstow last week.

6/4

2nd

3

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

Fern Hill

11st 11lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Two small-field wins in the autumn but his form has dipped and he was last to complete at Huntingdon most recently (2m7f, heavy).

16/1

Form: 44-3P1

Last run: 22 days

W: 12st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
With new stable this term and the switch to blinkers from cheekpieces seemingly worked when he won at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) three weeks ago under Alice Stevens; the blinkers are now replaced by first-time visor; going back up 4lb does not look harsh.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

27th Jan 2024

Good

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:50 Doncaster

Stellar Magic

10st 13lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Billy Aprahamian

Bounced back quickly from a disappointing run (in cheekpieces) to open chasing account in first-time blinkers at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) last month; not one to rely upon heavily but recent 4lb rise ought to be manageable if he responds well to a first-time visor.

11/2

2

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

13:28 Wincanton

Stellar Magic

12st 2lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Billy Aprahamian

Very respectable third on seasonal/stable debut at Huntingdon (2m7f, good to soft) last month but ought to have been suited by the soft ground when pulled up at Ludlow three weeks ago and today's headgear switch needs to perk him up.

20/1

Form: 3P6P-9 D

Last run: 68 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Ran no race when one of the market leaders for last season's Welsh National (10lb lower today) and has achieved little in his only three subsequent appearances; cheekpieces are given a go.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 2

15:00 Exeter

Ask Me Early

10st 7lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

2-3 at Exeter and the return to this track offers a glimmer of hope; has the same mark as for his 9l win in this last year but he's failed to shine on either run this term and was pulled up last time; something to prove.

10/1

6

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 2

15:00 Exeter

Ask Me Early

10st 7lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

2-3 at Exeter and the return to this track offers a glimmer of hope; has the same mark as for his 9l win in this last year but he's failed to shine on either run this term and was pulled up last time; something to prove.

10/1

4

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 162y

Class 3

15:45 Wincanton

Ask Me Early

11st 5lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

midfield, dropped to rear 9th, lost touch 17th

14/1

Form: -114P7

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Won over about 3m1f at Ludlow (good to soft) last May and followed up at Newton Abbot (3m2f, soft; 2lb higher today) in October; right out of form in his three starts since, however.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:57 Ludlow

Jet Plane

12st 6lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Still in front when falling on his return to hunter chasing in January but ran miserably at Leicester next time where soft ground was no excuse; had been in good form in handicaps before those setbacks and would take some beating if back on song.

6/4

3rd

2

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:50 Leicester

Jet Plane

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Good form in handicaps this winter includes a Leicester success; still in front when falling at Warwick returned to hunter chasing last time; retains all of his ability and is top on the figures in this field.

1/2

2

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:18 Warwick

Jet Plane

12st 6lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Commendable second in last season's Aintree Foxhunters' (2m5f, good to soft) and as good as ever in recent 2m4f handicaps; stays 3m well and won't be fazed if the ground turns soft (unraced on heavy); ought to be hard to beat on return to hunter chasing.

6/5

Form: 3584-7 CD

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Front-runner whose only win in the last three years came in this race in 2022; 6lb lower today, having had patchy form since; could be all the better now he has a run behind him this term, but brings mixed messages.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

18th Jun 2024

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:35 Stratford

Storm Control

12st 2lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Has performed well in some valuable handicaps over the years but has seen little action in recent times and needs to stage a revival; front runs.

10/1

Abandoned

Form: -24532 D BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 8lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Losing run goes back to June 2021 but most performances over the last year would see him on the premises; second at Doncaster last month, when back from three months off and 10lb claimer Oscar Palmer was up for the first time; each-way player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

22nd Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

18:30 Kempton

Fidux

11st 6lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Alan King

midfield, headway 4th, outpaced 2 out, kept on well and went second towards finish

8/1

2nd

10

22nd Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

18:30 Kempton

Fidux

11st 6lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Alan King

midfield, headway 4th, outpaced 2 out, kept on well and went second towards finish

8/1

1st

10

23rd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

17:00 Newbury

Fidux

11st 1lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Alan King

Hasn't won since the summer of 2021 but he's capable of putting that right and has been close up under Oscar Palmer in his last two races (at about 3m); another with each-way hopes.

9/1

Form: U-4361 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Shot up the weights for winning easily at Taunton (2m7f, good) last February; lost his form in the spring/autumn but back near his best when winning a four-runner race at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft; back up 4lb today) five weeks ago; player if he remains at that level for in-form stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

17:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Stormy Flight

11st 13lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, reminder after 7th, struggling from 4 out, pulled up after 3 out

4/1

3

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

17:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Stormy Flight

11st 13lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, reminder after 7th, struggling from 4 out

4/1

6th

1

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 4

16:02 Newbury

Stormy Flight

12st 2lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

His second to Lowry's Bar at Exeter in December (2m3f; stays 3m+) reads really well and it wasn't a bad effort last time at Taunton (2m7f); an 11yo now but goes on any ground and he can't be discounted.

8/1

Form: 6-7526 C

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Chasing on last three starts, easily best of those when second at Hereford (3m1f, good) in November, a race in which only three finished; tailed off latest and had wind surgery soon afterwards; cheekpieces are enlisted; won off 1lb higher as a hurdler at this track (3m) in November 2022.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

17th Nov 2024

Good

3m 3f 71y

Class 1

14:55 Cheltenham

Abuffalosoldier

10st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Front-runner who reappeared with a rallying second at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last month and he's back in cheekpieces today, in which he showed improved form earlier this year (including 10l win at Newbury); only seven and there's every chance this trip will be within range; one to consider.

11/2

1st

9

17th Nov 2024

Good

3m 3f 71y

Class 1

14:55 Cheltenham

Abuffalosoldier

10st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

jumped well, made all, kept on well, ridden out, collapsed after finish, heart attack

11/2

4

22nd Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 3

16:28 Exeter

Abuffalosoldier

11st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Not an instant success over fences last season but won by 10l in first-time cheekpieces at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) in January and signed off with creditable fourth in valuable novices' handicap at Ayr (3m, soft) in April; respected.

3/1

Form: 312/52 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Easily best efforts on soft; won 3m maiden hurdle at Ludlow in February 2022; only three runs since (off 611 days before this season) and they were all handicaps, runner-up twice including in a five-runner race over C&D four weeks ago on his second chase start; that puts him in the picture.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

2nd Mar 2024

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

16:05 Newbury

Pulling Stumps

10st 10lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Bumper and 3m maiden hurdle winner; chasing this term, second of five over C&D (soft) in December; made most and still upsides the winner, miles clear of the third, when getting the second last all wrong at Chepstow (near 3m, heavy) on latest outing; back up 1lb since and that leaves him on a tempting mark, with improvement still possible.

3/1

0

1

24th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:00 Chepstow

Pulling Stumps

11st 13lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

led, went clear with winner before 3 out, joined when fell 2 out

100/30

Form: 833-11

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
3-7 over fences, the wins including under Harry Kimber at Fontwell (3m2f) and Hereford (3m1f) in his two starts this season; progressing nicely (raised another 8lb today); all his form of any consequence has been on good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:40 Wincanton

Hipop Des Ongrais

11st 6lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Dual good-ground scorer over today's sort of trip in autumn 2023, but in trouble too soon on his sole start since to be certain he derived sufficient benefit from it; returns to his last winning mark.

33/1

1st

2

29th Nov 2023

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

15:10 Hereford

Hipop Des Ongrais

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Successful in similar event at Fontwell (3m2f, good; off 7lb lower) on seasonal debut, adding to his wins at about 2m4f; still unexposed at this sort of distance and looks one for the shortlist.

7/2

Abandoned

Form: /2152/ D

Last run: 636 days

W: 11st 1lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
In peak form over hurdles (3m1f) when last seen but that was in April 2022; chase form (five attempts) is not so good but still gives him a fair shout off this career-low mark if he returns on song for stable that's among the winners; due to run Plumpton 2.25 yesterday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

3m 3f 119y

Class 3

19:30 Stratford

Trincomalee

11st 9lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Solid record at about 3m and improved for the step up to 3m5f when winning Fakenham's Norfolk National (good; effective on soft) by more than 5l after travelling strongly throughout; effectively 13lb higher now as he's gone up 6lb and they claimed 7lb last time, so that asks a question of him.

9/4

1st

5

7th May 2024

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

Trincomalee

11st 4lb

J: Dylan Whelan

T: Lucy Wadham

travelled strongly, towards rear, midfield 4th, went second 16th, not fluent when led 2 out, soon went clear, mistake last, ridden when jockey dropped whip on turn before last, kept on

9/2

1st

5

7th May 2024

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

Trincomalee

11st 4lb

J: Dylan Whelan

T: Lucy Wadham

travelled strongly, towards rear, midfield 4th, went second 16th, not fluent when led 2 out, soon went clear, mistake last, ridden when jockey dropped whip on turn before last, kept on

9/2

Form: 41-P51 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Upped to 3m when winning his handicap hurdle debut at Haydock in April and jumped to the front three out when scoring in clearcut style at Catterick (3m1f, again good to soft) in November on his second chase start; withdrawn twice since because of soft ground; tongue tied this season; up 5lb but he's a lightly raced sort who should still have potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 97y

Class 3

15:50 Haydock

Some Scope

11st 10lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Richard Hobson

Won from the front in first-time visor (kept since) at Doncaster in December; back to form when second at Newbury on latest start, his second run after his second wind operation; has a competitive mark but his inconsistency and going beyond 3m2f both introduce doubts.

5/1

2nd

7

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

16:45 Newbury

Some Scope

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Richard Hobson

Not easy to predict but he's only 2lb higher than when making all at Doncaster (3m, good) just after Christmas, and he probably went off too fast when beaten 33l there (3m2f, soft) three weeks ago; not discounted.

11/2

2nd

10

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 1y

Class 2

14:30 Doncaster

Some Scope

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Richard Hobson

Physical issues came to light after disappointing in a cross-country race last time; wore just a tongue-tie then but the visor that worked so well when a 3l winner here the time before now returns, as does Charlie Maggs with his claim; however, he has become hard to predict and underwent further wind surgery only recently.

15/2

Form: 1123-7 D

Last run: 55 days

W: 10st 3lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Three wins last term, including at Ffos Las (3m, good) and Taunton (2m7f, heavy) last March; heavy defeats on final start last season and the first this time round but worth a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

25th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

16:20 Exeter

Haldon Hill

11st 7lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Victor Dartnall

Won two in a row (good/heavy) prior to finishing second in this last year (good to soft); he's 5lb lower than 12 months ago and is one to watch in the betting, but this 11yo has been tailed off/pulled up on his two runs this season and a major turnaround is required.

10/1

0

9

22nd Jan 2024

Frozen

3m 1f 100y

Class 4

15:40 Warwick

Haldon Hill

11st 9lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Victor Dartnall

Back-to-back wins at Ffos Las (3m, good) and Taunton (2m7f, heavy) last March and only 3lb higher than for the latest of those; however, he's an 11yo now and his reappearance was underwhelming even if that was over 2m4f.

9/1

Verdict

This looks competitive. Hipop Des Ongrais may need good ground, while Pulling Stumps may need soft. They are two of the leading contenders but preference is for SOME SCOPE, the youngster of the party who brings clear potential after his Catterick win. Last-time-out winners Stellar Magic and Stormy Flight may fight it out for second, in that order.[Richard Austen]