March 02 / 16.05 Newbury

16.05

Soft

Bet Racing In Running At BetVictor Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Jacky Upton Trophy) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £16186.26
  • 2m 7f 86y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
SKY
View Course
Bet Racing In Running At BetVictor Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Jacky Upton Trophy) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38

Form: 14-421 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Second run over fences was disappointing but he responded two months later with improved form to win a five-runner handicap over C&D (again on heavy); switching back to a left-handed track may have helped that day; up 3lb but still looks the sort with more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

19th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

13:50 Lingfield

Makinyourmindup

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Made low-key return from long layoff when remote fourth at Chepstow (2m7f, good to soft) last month but well handicapped on form shown in February/March 2024 and has possibilities on first attempt at a marathon trip.

12/1

2nd

1

31st Mar 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 3

15:40 Plumpton

Makinyourmindup

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Second run over fences was disappointing but he's come back with wins in two small-field handicaps over 2m7f at Newbury (again on heavy); raised another 5lb but he's on the up and today's extra yardage may well help.

13/8

Form: 12/52F D BF

Last run: 38 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Bumper and 3m maiden hurdle winner; chasing this term, second of five over C&D (soft) in December; made most and still upsides the winner, miles clear of the third, when getting the second last all wrong at Chepstow (near 3m, heavy) on latest outing; back up 1lb since and that leaves him on a tempting mark, with improvement still possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

2nd Mar 2024

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

16:05 Newbury

Pulling Stumps

10st 10lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Bumper and 3m maiden hurdle winner; chasing this term, second of five over C&D (soft) in December; made most and still upsides the winner, miles clear of the third, when getting the second last all wrong at Chepstow (near 3m, heavy) on latest outing; back up 1lb since and that leaves him on a tempting mark, with improvement still possible.

3/1

0

1

24th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:00 Chepstow

Pulling Stumps

11st 13lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

led, went clear with winner before 3 out, joined when fell 2 out

100/30

Form: 642-16

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 8yo; showed plenty of resolution to win handicap at Exeter (2m3f, heavy) on New Year's Day, but put firmly in his place in a warm race at Cheltenham five weeks ago; probably on a good mark but this sort of trip is something new.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 3

16:55 Chepstow

Charles Ritz

11st 6lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Tom George

Last month's near-5l third at Kempton was his most convincing effort to date both over 3m and on good ground, but also took his record in handicaps off marks in the 120s to 0-8; still needs to find a bit more.

6/1

3rd

4

14th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:28 Kempton

Charles Ritz

11st 6lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

Has won on good to soft and heavy; made light of an absence when winning at Southwell in December but he found little at Ludlow (also 2m4f) last month and has yet to distinguish himself over this far; reservations remain; yard won this in 2019.

9/2

4th

3

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

14:58 Ludlow

Charles Ritz

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

His second win over fences when returning from a long absence to take a 2m4f handicap at Southwell (good to soft; won on heavy) in mid-December; that race fell apart in behind but a 4lb rise isn't the end of the world.

11/2

Form: P-U351 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Sent chasing this season; let down by his jumping on penultimate start but switching from cheekpieces to blinkers worked on latest, in which he easily won from the front in a six-runner handicap at Kempton (3m, soft) despite two mistakes; up 9lb, with another 2lb out of the handicap, but it's hard to pin down just how much he had in the tank in that breakthrough win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

16:25 Southwell

Heaven Smart

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

In good form over fences in the autumn, bar a blip at Perth in October; 0-11 over hurdles but twice finished second in this sphere and often runs well after a break; entitled to respect.

9/2

1

21st Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:35 Perth

Heaven Smart

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

Showed the benefit of a wind op when dominating from the front here (2m4f, good) last month, his second start for Laura Morgan, and ran big race in defeat under penalty at Southwell (2m4f, good) a few days later; effectively another 5lb higher today but sure to be suited by the move back up in trip; good chance.

7/4

1

2nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell

Heaven Smart

12st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

All-the-way Kempton 3m winner in early 2024 and, with stamina to spare at intermediate trips and the benefit of wind surgery, was played equally aggressively in victory at Perth last week (good); 2lb badly in under the penalty but still superbly handicapped on that previous winning form.

9/4

Non-runners

Egbert, Hitching Jacking

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.60
Straight Forecast £5.25
Trifecta £8.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Makin'yourmindup

POSTDATA:

Egbert

The Guardian:

Pulling Stumps

D Express:

Heaven Smart

TOPSPEED:

Charles Ritz

Telegraph:

Egbert

RP RATINGS:

Makin'yourmindup

WEST COUNTRY:

Makin'yourmindup

The Times:

Makin'yourmindup

Daily Mail:

Makin'yourmindup

Daily Mirror:

Makin'yourmindup

The Sun:

Makin'yourmindup

The Star:

Makin'yourmindup

Daily Record:

Makin'yourmindup