February 04 / 13.50 Musselburgh

13.50

Good To Soft

Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 1m 7f 182y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
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Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 25-522 D

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner who was second in two four-runner chases towards end of last year, more recently at Hereford (2m, good) behind a next-time-out winner; did well to recover from very bad jumping error that day and has good claims off same mark here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

15:34 Chepstow

Beau Balko

11st 2lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Paul Nicholls

Largely consistent 7yo who was runner-up three consecutive times after his Wincanton win (2m4f, good) in November; slightly below form when dropped back to 2m at Newbury last month but this move back up in trip will suit and his current mark is workable.

8/1

3rd

8

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

15:34 Chepstow

Beau Balko

11st 2lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Paul Nicholls

Largely consistent 7yo who was runner-up three consecutive times after his Wincanton win (2m4f, good) in November; slightly below form when dropped back to 2m at Newbury last month but this move back up in trip will suit and his current mark is workable.

8/1

4th

3

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

17:00 Newbury

Beau Balko

11st 12lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Paul Nicholls

Consistent type, in frame all six starts this term, including over C&D; respectable fourth of 14 in Greatwood Gold Cup over 2m4f here last time; acts on any ground; should be in the thick of things again.

4/1

6/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: /54/1F CD

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Returned from mammoth absence with C&D (soft) win in November and didn't run badly at Newcastle (2m4f, good) six weeks ago, albeit well held before last-fence fall; still well handicapped on old form and enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

8th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 10y

Class 3

16:45 Sandown

Mint Gold

11st 1lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

Has made the frame on his last four starts but he's operating at a lower level than in the past, having no obvious excuses over 2m at Musselburgh (C&D winner) last month; has slipped to his last winning mark but others are preferred.

14/1

4th

5

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

15:35 Musselburgh

Mint Gold

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

towards rear, some headway 4 out, went fourth 2 out, no impression

12/1

4th

5

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

15:35 Musselburgh

Mint Gold

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

towards rear, some headway 4 out, went fourth 2 out, no impression

12/1

Form: 0-4733 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Seems to have arrested his decline on last two outings, more recently when third of five in first-time visor at Kelso (2m1f, heavy) in December, but is patently not the force of old and others have more appealing profiles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

16:32 Perth

Ganapathi

11st 12lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Sandy Thomson

Runner-up three times in a row in February-April, including in a quite valuable series final at Carlisle (2m4f, good) and when losing out only narrowly to Half Shot at Kelso (2m7f, good); subsequent 22l defeat over C&D came in a stronger race than this; one to consider.

9/1

6th

8

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:17 Perth

Ganapathi

10st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Sandy Thomson

After dropping down the weights he's run really well to finish second on his last three starts (2m4f/2m7f, good/good to soft); edging back up the handicap but every chance he'll be thereabouts once more.

6/1

6th

8

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:17 Perth

Ganapathi

10st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Sandy Thomson

towards rear

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 21125F CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Ended last year with below-par C&D run (bled from the nose) and was beaten when falling over 2m4f here on New Year's Day; needs to get back in the groove but has very good chasing strike-rate (7-25) and his current mark is workable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

14th Jun 2024

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 4

19:35 Market Rasen

Cedar Hill

12st 0lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

held up in rear

8/1

4th

3

4th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

13:50 Musselburgh

Cedar Hill

11st 10lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Ended last year with below-par C&D run (bled from the nose) and was beaten when falling over 2m4f here on New Year's Day; needs to get back in the groove but has very good chasing strike-rate (7-25) and his current mark is workable.

4/1

Form: 54-3P4 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Very well handicapped on some of his 2022 form and made encouraging seasonal debut when third of five over C&D (good to soft) in November, but two disappointing efforts have followed and he needs to turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

22nd Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 51y

Class 4

13:50 Catterick

Dreams Of Home

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Martin Todhunter

Useful chaser at best for Donald McCain but last win was almost two years ago and he's struggled in two hurdle runs for new yard this autumn; on reduced mark back over fences but he has something to prove and all of his rules wins have been at shorter trips; cheekpieces added.

16/1

4th

7

22nd Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 51y

Class 4

13:50 Catterick

Dreams Of Home

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Martin Todhunter

Useful chaser at best for Donald McCain but last win was almost two years ago and he's struggled in two hurdle runs for new yard this autumn; on reduced mark back over fences but he has something to prove and all of his rules wins have been at shorter trips; cheekpieces added.

16/1

Form: 2-1115 D

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Enjoyed productive 2023, winning four 2m1f chases at Kelso (good to soft-soft); will find this easier than latest assignment at Newbury but is away from his happy hunting ground again today and remains on a career-high mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

22nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 4

15:35 Kelso

Bollingerandkrug

11st 3lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

in rear, fell 7th

9/2

5th

4

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

13:10 Kelso

Bollingerandkrug

10st 9lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

10yo who wasn't at his best last year but all six of his wins have come here and his third of six over C&D (good to soft) in November was a step back in the right direction; another 2lb lower today; in calculations.

11/2

3rd

2

9th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 4

11:38 Kelso

Bollingerandkrug

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

raced in last, awkward jump 4th, nudged along 6th, struggling from 7th

7/2

Form: 3/225P C

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Started off for current stable with two seconds at Hexham (2m4f/1m7f) in the autumn but looked out of sorts in two Kelso races at end of last year and arrives here with questions to answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

7th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

16:40 Ayr

Overcourt

11st 10lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Stuart Coltherd

Winless over fences but he wasn't disgraced when fourth of seven in C&D handicap 24 days ago; possibilities off a 3lb lower mark.

20/1

4th

4

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

14:10 Ayr

Overcourt

11st 7lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Stuart Coltherd

didn't always jump with fluency, in touch with leaders, lost position and towards rear 8th

20/1

4th

4

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

14:10 Ayr

Overcourt

11st 7lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Stuart Coltherd

didn't always jump with fluency, in touch with leaders, lost position and towards rear 8th

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.80
Straight Forecast £13.12
Trifecta £60.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Beau Balko

D Express:

Ganapathi

TOPSPEED:

Cedar Hill

RP RATINGS:

Mint Gold

POSTDATA:

Beau Balko

WEST COUNTRY:

Beau Balko

The Times:

Beau Balko

Telegraph:

Beau Balko

The Sun:

Beau Balko

Daily Record:

Beau Balko

Daily Mirror:

Ganapathi

The Star:

Cedar Hill