February 15 / 15.52 Leicester

15.52

Heavy

Happy 70th Birthday Veronica Camp Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3696.7
  • 1m 7f 201y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Happy 70th Birthday Veronica Camp Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 14-P14

Last run: 22 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
He has won on heavy ground (selling hurdle) and he got off the mark over fences at the second attempt when making all at Market Rasen last month (2m1f, good to soft; tongue tied for the first time); stamina perhaps stretched at Catterick three weeks ago (2m3f, soft) and he's one to consider back at 2m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

13th Feb 2025

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

15:49 Leicester

Hokelami

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Two chase wins wins at 2m1f (good to soft and soft) in early 2024; back on latest winning mark as a result of some lesser efforts, in cheekpieces last twice, but has something to prove at present.

14/1

Form: 24-U44 D

Last run: 58 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Won his first two chase starts (first two runs for Gary Moore) at Lingfield (2m4f, good to soft and 2m, soft) in November 2022; yet to fire after a summer break but he's had a wind operation since finishing a remote fourth at Wincanton in December; tongue tie now tried; declared 3.50 Fontwell Wednesday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

13th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:50 Chepstow

Walk In The Wild

10st 6lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary Moore

Not beaten far when third of four at Doncaster (2m3f, soft) last month and remains very well handicapped on last season's form but has basically become disappointing; needs latest headgear switch to perk him up.

7/1

8

13th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:50 Chepstow

Walk In The Wild

10st 6lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary Moore

Not beaten far when third of four at Doncaster (2m3f, soft) last month and remains very well handicapped on last season's form but has basically become disappointing; needs latest headgear switch to perk him up.

7/1

Form: 3/4/0P

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Modest form in three runs for Dan Skelton; absent for 784 days prior to two modest efforts for new yard this winter, pulled up at 50-1 on handicap and chase debut five weeks ago; dropped 6lb and returninng to 2m may help but he's not solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

11:45 Market Rasen

Lustleigh

10st 8lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

held up in last, pushed along 3 out, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out

14/1

7

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

11:45 Market Rasen

Lustleigh

10st 8lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

held up in last, pushed along 3 out, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out

14/1

11th

8

19th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 5

19:00 Exeter

Lustleigh

11st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Polly Gundry

Not devoid of ability in three starts for Dan Skelton; cause for optimism from his second chase start, when second at Ludlow (2m, soft) in February; below that level at Taunton (2m, soft) since but if you can forgive that he could be competitive now 2lb lower.

7/1

Form: 335135

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
26th time lucky when easily winning a 2m3f handicap chase at Exeter in December; respectable efforts since and he's not discounted dropping to 2m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

19th Jul 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:50 Newton Abbot

Time To Bite

12st 1lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Better chaser than hurdler and forgiven latest heavy defeat in a strong handicap; his last hurdle run was four starts back when beaten a neck at Wincanton (2m5f, good); could run well, though some stamina reservations over quite this far.

13/2

10th

9

28th Jun 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

15:27 Uttoxeter

Time To Bite

10st 8lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Chase record is 9-35, the most recent win in veterans' event at Fakenham (3m, good) on penultimate start; consistent sort but faces a stiffer task off current mark in this valuable and competitive affair; similar type to Hold Your Fort.

20/1

3rd

2

27th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:53 Newton Abbot

Time To Bite

11st 13lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Admirable veteran who recorded his ninth chase win when making all to score from 2lb out of the weights at Fakenham (3m, good) this month; this is tougher off 4lb higher but he seems as good as ever as an 11yo and three of his wins have come at this track; key player.

9/4

Form: 5-3425 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 2lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Just one win since 2019 but 2m on heavy ground suits and he ran well for second at Plumpton in December; form dipped last time and suspicion a couple will prove stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Lingfield

Shaws Cross

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Andy Irvine

Runner-up at Plumpton (2m3f, good to soft) in December and respectable fourth in his last two runs but this 13yo is now 1-24 over fences and that win was over two years ago; down the list.

7/1

4th

11

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:48 Lingfield

Shaws Cross

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Andy Irvine

Veteran who scored over hurdles here (heavy) in 2019 and broke a long losing run two years ago over fences at Plumpton; no joy since but, even though he's 2lb out of the weights today, he's regularly shown enough to be given a place chance.

16/1

4th

11

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:48 Lingfield

Shaws Cross

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Andy Irvine

Veteran who scored over hurdles here (heavy) in 2019 and broke a long losing run two years ago over fences at Plumpton; no joy since but, even though he's 2lb out of the weights today, he's regularly shown enough to be given a place chance.

16/1

Form: 47-46P

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Sent off a single-figure price for all five of his handicap runs but he's not achieved a great deal, including after wind surgery; drops back to 2m on ground he's not faced before; interesting to see if his backers persevere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

21st Feb 2024

Soft

1m 7f 212y

Class 5

16:40 Ludlow

Key Factor

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Henry Oliver

Still a maiden and has failed to improve for the switch to chasing this term, though he is seemingly thought capable of better judged on his market position in those races; 5lb out of the weights.

10/1

0

11

4th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

15:58 Hereford

Key Factor

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Henry Oliver

Modest form over hurdles and hasn't shown significant improvement in two runs over fences; others stronger.

14/1

Verdict

Key Factor hasn’t lived up to market expectations in handicaps as yet but more testing ground may help and this race is desperately weak. Time To Bite can call upon fairly recent winning form and is the second choice but HOKELAMI is tentatively preferred back down to 2m. Walk In The Wild, who missed an engagement on account of heavy ground on Wednesday, is also too well handicapped to be ignored after a wind op.[Paul Smith]