February 16 / 15.25 Kelso

15.25

Soft

Racing’s Best Ratings With Timeform Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £11706.75
  • 2m 5f 133y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Racing’s Best Ratings With Timeform Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 018-32 CD

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Won this race in 2022 and he landed the Premier Chase (2m7f Listed) here last March; has had only three runs since but he's finished runner-up in his last two starts including behind a major improver in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby (3m, soft) last time; has had wind surgery since then and he's a big player eased in grade after a short break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:50 Carlisle

Empire Steel

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sandy Thomson

Very well handicapped on old form and returned from layoff with quite encouraging run at Musselburgh (2m7f, good to soft) in January but ought to have been suited by the heavy ground when tailed off at Kelso last month and it's hard to know what to expect from him here.

5/1

5th

4

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 2

15:00 Kelso

Empire Steel

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Sandy Thomson

12yo who wasn't the force of old last season but he's dropped down the weights and returned from an absence with an encouraging fourth at Musselburgh (2m7f, good to soft) a fortnight ago; could show the benefit of that latest outing today, especially now back at a track where he is four from six.

9/2

4th

1

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

16:11 Musselburgh

Empire Steel

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Sandy Thomson

12yo who wasn't the force of old last season and was pulled up last January when last seen; however, he can go well fresh and returns on a reduced mark and with his trainer enjoying a productive winter; not discounted.

6/1

100/30

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 88-134 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Made it third-time lucky over fences when scoring at Carlisle (2m, soft) in October and he rallied well when a respectable fourth at Doncaster (2m, good) last month; still has potential in this sphere and he looks interesting back over this stiffer stamina test; his last hurdle win was at 2m2f and he went close over this trip in that sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

Nells Son

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Better known as a chaser nowadays, but won twice over hurdles over four years ago; no real promise back hurdling six weeks ago but had wind surgery since and his stable is enjoying a cracking spring.

14/1

8th

2

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

13:50 Uttoxeter

Nells Son

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Better known as a chaser nowadays, but won twice over hurdles over four years ago; not the force of old but is 5lb lower over hurdles compared to his chase mark; vulnerable to anything progressive.

33/1

1

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Nells Son

12st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

A smart winning chaser at his peak but not at his best this term, only fifth of six in 2m Windsor handicap chase 27 days ago; his mark is falling but this veteran still looks vulnerable conceding weight all round here.

12/1

Form: 5/25-P

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Four-time chase winner who is well treated on his old form, but he returned after 14 months off with a pulled-up effort at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) three weeks ago; was never involved at a big price in that race and he has something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

27th Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:18 Cartmel

Whoshotthesheriff

11st 13lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

11yo who is without a win since 2022 and has fallen on two of his last three starts, but it was a stumble rather than a bad jump that was to blame last month; he was going well in front at that stage (six out) and with a clear round it will be no surprise if he can exploit a handy mark.

10/1

1

24th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

19:08 Cartmel

Whoshotthesheriff

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Without a win since 2022 but was in process of running well before penultimate-fence fall at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft; refitted cheekpieces) two starts ago and had excuse when tailed off there last month (suffered overreach); blinkers tried today.

9/1

1

24th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

19:08 Cartmel

Whoshotthesheriff

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Without a win since 2022 but was in process of running well before penultimate-fence fall at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft; refitted cheekpieces) two starts ago and had excuse when tailed off there last month (suffered overreach); blinkers tried today.

9/1

Form: 1-1149

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Has won five handicaps (1m7f-2m4f) in the north since last January (one hurdle), but he's come back down to earth with laboured efforts at Cheltenham and Doncaster in last two starts; bit to prove again but he now drops back in trip/grade and has possibilities if he can get back near best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Richmond Lake

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

10yo whose 13-race losing sequence goes back to December 2023 but he's run some good races in the meantime (including on soft), most recently staying on for a neck second in the Peter Marsh here (extended 3m1f, good to soft); on that evidence he's well worth a crack at a marathon trip.

8/1

2nd

7

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:00 Haydock

Richmond Lake

10st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Ran really well when third in this last year (soft) and kept on for second at Aintree (2m4f, soft) last month, albeit no match for the winner; this 10yo has a good record here and, now 8lb lower than 12 months ago, he could be involved back up in trip.

10/1

Form: 2-52U3 C

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Two wins over fences here (2m7f, soft/good) last winter; good second over C&D in November but he unseated next time and wasn't at his best when third of seven at Haydock on his last outing; now returns to his favoured track but he needs to find more on this step up in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

14th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Ned Tanner

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

Dual winner over 2m4f on soft ground in 2024-25 season but has been rather inconsistent and didn't offer enough when fifth of seven over C&D (good) three weeks ago to suggest he's likely to cash in on his reduced mark now.

9/1

5th

7

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Ned Tanner

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

Dual winner over 2m4f on soft ground last season; has been rather inconsistent since wind surgery this term; has won over this trip, but perhaps better at shorter and has no easy task from 3lb out of the handicap.

12/1

3

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

16:41 Hexham

Ned Tanner

11st 11lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

He's down to a dangerous mark and showed some spark at Haydock in December three starts ago; however, two disappointing performances have followed from this 10yo and he needs to get back on track.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.10
Straight Forecast £7.17
Trifecta £52.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Empire Steel

The Times:

Nells Son

The Sun:

Richmond Lake

TOPSPEED:

Ned Tanner

D Express:

Nells Son

The Star:

Nells Son

RP RATINGS:

Empire Steel

POSTDATA:

Empire Steel

Telegraph:

Empire Steel

The Guardian:

Empire Steel

Daily Mail:

Empire Steel

Daily Mirror:

Empire Steel

Daily Record:

Empire Steel