January 26 / 14.25 Sandown

14.25

Good To Soft

Long Water Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £9105.25
  • 1m 7f 99y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Long Water Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

Form: 337-12 D BF

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced since being a good juvenile hurdler for Paul Nicholls; jumped well when a 4l winner on his return to fences (stable debut) in a 2m3f soft-ground handicap at Ascot but came up short in a small field at Exeter and was nudged up another 2lb for that; could also be a better horse over further these days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

Sir Psycho

10st 13lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

in touch with leaders

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4-1125 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Improved for the switch to fences, comfortably winning 2m handicap chases at Uttoxeter and Huntingdon (on good to soft) before bumping into one ahead of its mark at Plumpton (2m3f); Kempton last time wasn't so good but definite claims if forgiven that weak finish.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

General Medrano

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Very well in with Petit Tonnerre on their Doncaster clash in January, after which he ran okay in the Grand Annual before a disappointing run at Aintree; this mark isn't beyond him and he returns with his stable ticking along very nicely.

9/2

4th

6

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

General Medrano

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Very well in with Petit Tonnerre on their Doncaster clash in January, after which he ran okay in the Grand Annual before a disappointing run at Aintree; this mark isn't beyond him and he returns with his stable ticking along very nicely.

9/2

10th

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

General Medrano

11st 5lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Generally quite progressive over the winter and there shouldn't be much between him and Dr T J Eckleburg on Haydock form (2m, soft) in November; however he couldn't play a part in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March and he's been left on the same mark in another warm race.

10/1

Form: 3-2811 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in blinkers, positively ridden to win two chases over this trip on soft ground (here and Wetherby); has to deal with a collective 12lb rise and likely competition for early dominance, but hard to knock otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

12th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

15:52 Chepstow

Mount Tempest

10st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Sophie Leech

Ex-Dan Skelton; started off for Sophie Leech with two disappointing French hurdle runs this summer (wore cheekpieces) but caused a 50-1 shock when back over fences at Worcester (2m4f, good to soft; blinkers) last month; subsequent 4lb rise is not insurmountable if he's in the same form.

11/2

1st

10

15th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:00 Worcester

Mount Tempest

10st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sophie Leech

Last win for the Skeltons was off this mark last December (1m7f, soft) but he's offered little since, including in two French hurdles for current yard.

20/1

4

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Mount Tempest

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

towards rear

12/1

Form: 436-23 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Three hurdle wins; two good runs off this mark over fences (2m3f/2m), the latest at Cheltenham on heavy ground that he handles well; that was a fine effort in a good race but he did jump left on occasions and all his wins have come going that way round; no headgear until now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:32 Worcester

Fine Casting

12st 1lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Below par when returning to hurdling at Southwell (2m4f, good) in March; has dropped 2lb since finishing fourth at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) on his most recent chase start and has claims if able to reproduce the form of that or his Bangor success (2m4f, soft) last November; acts on a sound surface.

10/1

3rd

1

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Fine Casting

12st 0lb

J: Elliott England

T: Ben Pauling

Good and bad since returned to fences (1P4); runs off a lower hurdles mark but he is a 10yo and without a win in this discipline since 2022.

6/1

Form: 35-F21 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Record of 1-9 over hurdles but already looking a better chaser and, on just his third run in this discipline, he made all the running for a narrow success at Taunton (2m, soft; only did enough); raised in class off a 4lb higher mark but very much heading in the right direction.
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: 2-31F4 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Four runs over fences; enjoyed a straightforward win at Plumpton (2m1f, good to soft) in November and was then favourite when falling mid-race here the following month when Mount Tempest triumphed; only fourth at Kempton (ahead of General Medrano) but wasn't beaten far on good ground (probably appreciates it softer); prone to mistakes but considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Kotmask

10st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

His jumping has been an issue this season and he was soundly beaten at Newbury last time; however, two starts ago he was a close second of four there (2m, good to soft) and he has a good record at this track; might not be far away if finding some fluency.

4/1

3rd

2

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Kotmask

11st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Almost as good as ever this season and he kept on well when 1l second of four over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; a repeat of that form would see him go close, with a tongue-strap added for the first time in Britain, but a losing sequence is developing and he tends to make mistakes.

7/4

2nd

1

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:08 Newbury

Kotmask

12st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Resurgent in first-time blinkers when second to an improver at Sandown in January (good; fine on soft) and fell midrace back there last time; it's surprising to see cheekpieces back on (beaten 10l in December when tried in them once before) but he has a big effort in him off this mark.

8/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Keep Running

POSTDATA:

Mount Tempest

TOPSPEED:

Kotmask

WEST COUNTRY:

Fine Casting

Telegraph:

Sir Psycho

Daily Mail:

Mount Tempest

The Sun:

Mount Tempest

The Times:

Kotmask

RP RATINGS:

Keep Running

LAMBOURN:

Keep Running

Daily Mirror:

Keep Running

The Star:

Keep Running

Daily Record:

Keep Running

D Express:

Fine Casting

The Guardian:

Sir Psycho