February 17 / 14.35 Wincanton

14.35

Soft

Jenningsbet Christchurch Handicap Chase (For The Harry And John Dufosee Memorial Cup)

  • Prize money: £5677.07
  • 1m 7f 149y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
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Jenningsbet Christchurch Handicap Chase (For The Harry And John Dufosee Memorial Cup)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.67

Form: 45-741 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Both wins have come on heavy ground, last time justifying market confidence with ease to get off the mark over fences at Ffos Las (2m; just second run in reapplied blinkers); that came at a cost to the tune of 7lb, but may have turned a corner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:10 Fontwell

Hatos

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made the frame on final four starts last season, most recently when third of 12 here (2m3f, good) one month ago; remains on a workable mark but has stamina to prove over this much longer trip.

5/1

3rd

8

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:20 Fontwell

Hatos

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

All three wins have been on heavy ground; C&D second in January was also on soft but his two placed efforts over 2m4f at Wincanton since came on good to soft and good; ought to be thereabouts again but it is now over two years since his last win.

6/1

3rd

5

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

Hatos

10st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

All three wins have been on heavy ground but he ran well on good to soft over C&D last month when runner-up behind Universal Secret; nudged up 2lb but he usually races prominently and should go well again.

5/1

Form: 1P-85P C

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner (including here) now making his chase debut; perhaps found 2m5f a stretch in his penultimate handicap but it's been a quiet season thus far and cheekpieces are now added for this change in direction; hard to be confident and he's not entirely proven on ground this soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Toothless

10st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Won at Windsor (2m4f, good) on New Year's Day on second start back from an absence and runner-up to progressive winners on next two starts (2m4f, soft); could still have more to offer himself and he's high on the list.

3/1

2nd

3

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:45 Sandown

Toothless

11st 9lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Won at Windsor (2m4f, good) on New Year's Day on second start back from a long absence and close second at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) last month behind one who was completing a hat-trick; Jay Tidball, who has been on board on his last two starts, remains in the saddle; solid claims.

9/4

2nd

6

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

14:58 Ludlow

Toothless

11st 10lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

His second run back from a long absence when nicely on top in the finish at Windsor (2m4f, good; Jay Tidball claimed his 5lb); a 5lb rise isn't overly offputting but he does seem particularly effective on goodish ground.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 313124 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Had steadied the ship with a sequence of solid runs (including on soft) before finding no rhythm in his jumping and finishing a remote last of four at Taunton; still on a competitive mark if bouncing back and that's without taking into account Conor Ring's claim (regularly partnered by Adam Wedge).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

14

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Dr T J Eckleburg

10st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Runs off a mark 10lb lower than when fifth of 14 in this last year, beaten just over 13l; he's run a couple of reasonable races this season but hasn't shown enough to suggest he's the one to be on today.

33/1

3rd

5

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 2

15:40 Chepstow

Dr T J Eckleburg

10st 9lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Led close home to win this race off 5lb higher a year ago (soft ground) and was seemingly perked up by cheekpieces when third on both outings last month; made up considerable ground from the rear at Sandown (1m7f, soft) on latter occasion and has strong claims here if the headgear continues to aid him.

15/8

3rd

9

31st Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

14:02 Sandown

Dr T J Eckleburg

10st 3lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Acts on any ground; half-length second off 4lb higher in this contest 12 months ago; out of sorts this term until posting a resurgent effort, behind solid rivals, in first-time cheekpieces at Windsor most recently; enters calculations in the retained headgear.

11/2

Form: 412/44 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft; only heavy-ground run was in a Grade 1; missed all of last season; didn't run too badly on his belated return at Newbury before disappointing back there in late December; however, both those were better races than this and he's on a very good mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

17th Feb 2024

Soft

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:35 Wincanton

The Russian Doyen

12st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

prominent, reminder after 8th, pressed leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out

11/2

4th

2

30th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

13:15 Newbury

The Russian Doyen

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Jeremy Scott

Acts on soft; missed last season and seemed to need his reappearance run here four weeks ago; two-time C&D winner and ran well (clear second off just 1lb lower) in this race two years ago; possibilities.

9/2

4th

6

2nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 2

15:25 Newbury

The Russian Doyen

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

On a competitive mark on his 2021-22 form; off since and, while he returns with his stable in good form, it's a very hefty absence for this 10yo to try to defy.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.40
Straight Forecast £3.46
Trifecta £8.80

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Hatos

SPOTLIGHT:

The Russian Doyen

POSTDATA:

Hatos

WEST COUNTRY:

Hatos

The Times:

Hatos

Telegraph:

Hatos

The Guardian:

Hatos

Daily Mail:

Hatos

D Express:

Hatos

Daily Mirror:

Hatos

The Sun:

Hatos

The Star:

Hatos

Daily Record:

Hatos

RP RATINGS:

The Russian Doyen