17.05
HeavyWigley Group Challenger Staying Chase Series Final Handicap Chase (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £26015
- 3m 0f 0y
- Class 2
- 9 runners
Runners: 9 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Rain
Abandoned
Form: P-3P52
Last run: 26 days
W: 12st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 138
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 4 |
8th Feb 2025 Soft 3m 0f 52y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Has flattered to deceive over fences (1-12) and jumping mistakes played a part; a bit below his best on his two completions this autumn/winter and has now left Dan Skelton; blinkers replace his usual cheekpieces for this first hurdle race since March 2023; well handicapped judged on best efforts but he's now a 10yo. |
20/1 |
|
9th 4 |
8th Feb 2025 Soft 3m 0f 52y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Has flattered to deceive over fences (1-12) and jumping mistakes played a part; a bit below his best on his two completions this autumn/winter and has now left Dan Skelton; blinkers replace his usual cheekpieces for this first hurdle race since March 2023; well handicapped judged on best efforts but he's now a 10yo. |
20/1 |
|
2 |
16th Jan 2025 Good To Soft 3m 2f 162y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: -66413 D
Last run: 33 days
W: 11st 7lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 131
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
4th Dec 2024 Heavy 3m 1f 125y Class 2 |
11st 0lb |
Easy winner of a four-runner handicap off this mark at Catterick in February (3m1f, heavy); not run quite as well since; usually needs a race after a break. |
8/1 |
|
4th 4 |
4th Dec 2024 Heavy 3m 1f 125y Class 2 |
11st 0lb |
Easy winner of a four-runner handicap off this mark at Catterick in February (3m1f, heavy); not run quite as well since; usually needs a race after a break. |
8/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 3-P344
Last run: 26 days
W: 11st 7lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 131
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 5 |
23rd Jan 2025 Soft 2m 3f 85y Class 3 |
11st 3lb |
towards rear, not fluent 5 out, brief headway 4 out, soon no impression |
11/4 |
|
5th 5 |
23rd Jan 2025 Soft 2m 3f 85y Class 3 |
11st 3lb |
towards rear, not fluent 5 out, brief headway 4 out, soon no impression |
11/4 |
|
4 |
16th Dec 2024 Good To Soft 2m 4f 88y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
0-6 during his last campaign but he dropped down the weights and returned with encouraging second to a handicap blot at Stratford (2m3f, good to soft); could build on that latest run and he's one to consider. |
7/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 2-2311 D
Last run: 58 days
W: 11st 6lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 |
14th Oct 2025 Good 2m 5f 89y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
Hasn't been running well for a while now, since winning the Summer Plate over C&D in July 2024; too well handicapped to dismiss with confidence, though, and a tongue-tie belatedly returns. |
11/2 |
|
5th 2 |
5th Sep 2025 Good 3m 0f 30y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Won last year's Summer Plate at Market Rasen after an absence so his 99-day break was no excuse when never counting in that race in mid-July; the cheekpieces tried there are swiftly removed but he's not been running great for a while now. |
6/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 2126-2
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 2lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 126
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
16th Oct 2025 Good 3m 0f 110y Class 3 |
11st 9lb |
9yo who has won just one of his 17 chases but he's finished second in nine of them, including at Kelso (3m2f, good to soft) in March; also effective on good ground and he won here over hurdles; not ruled out on return. |
4/1 |
|
10th 14 |
3rd May 2025 Yielding 3m 7f 68y |
10st 8lb |
prominent, pressed leaders briefly 5th |
10/1 |
|
10th 14 |
3rd May 2025 Yielding 3m 7f 68y |
10st 8lb |
prominent, pressed leaders briefly 5th |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 6564P2 D
Last run: 24 days
W: 10st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 120
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 6 |
10th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 3m 4f 85y Class 3 |
11st 5lb |
Bounced back to form in first-time blinkers at Bangor (3m5f, soft) last month, winning North Wales National under Lucy Turner; it's hard to tell whether the new headgear will continue to have a positive effect, and the forecast quicker ground here is probably not ideal, but he's still 5lb lower than when second in this race a year ago. |
3/1 |
|
1st 13 |
7th Feb 2025 Soft 3m 5f 142y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
Has a similar profile to stablemate Valleres in that he's lost his way but now tries new headgear off a much reduced mark; couldn't put a line through him. |
25/1 |
|
1st 13 |
7th Feb 2025 Soft 3m 5f 142y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
Has a similar profile to stablemate Valleres in that he's lost his way but now tries new headgear off a much reduced mark; couldn't put a line through him. |
25/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 583331
Last run: 7 days
W: 10st 9lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15 |
3rd May 2025 Yielding 3m 7f 68y |
10st 7lb |
in touch with leaders, prominent 7th |
15/2 |
|
15 |
3rd May 2025 Yielding 3m 7f 68y |
10st 7lb |
in touch with leaders, prominent 7th |
15/2 |
|
5th 5 |
8th Mar 2025 Good 3m 0f 37y Class 3 |
11st 2lb |
Three wins last year (2m2f-3m1f, heavy-good) and returned to his best with good second over C&D (heavy) last month in reapplied blinkers (retained); 2lb higher than last time and has solid claims. |
5/2 |
Abandoned
Form: -22511
Last run: 28 days
W: 10st 7lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 117
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 3 |
10th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 3m 4f 85y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Ended last season in excellent form, completing a hat-trick with clearcut success at Exeter (3m6f, heavy), but made nothing better than a satisfactory reappearance in October and was pulled up in Welsh Grand National on only subsequent appearance; still on a fairly tough mark and needs to get back in the groove. |
6/1 |
|
16 |
27th Dec 2024 Soft 3m 6f 130y Class 1 |
10st 2lb |
Ended last season in excellent form on heavy ground in blinkers, winning twice over 3m1f at Wincanton before drawing 6l clear over an extended 3m6f at Exeter; should have come on markedly since October reappearance and this is only his second run over a marathon trip; could have more to offer, though seemingly the deeper the ground the better it is for him. |
16/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 52/625 C BF
Last run: 26 days
W: 10st 4lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 114
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 7 |
1st Jun 2024 Good To Soft 3m 3f 119y Class 3 |
11st 9lb |
Solid record at about 3m and improved for the step up to 3m5f when winning Fakenham's Norfolk National (good; effective on soft) by more than 5l after travelling strongly throughout; effectively 13lb higher now as he's gone up 6lb and they claimed 7lb last time, so that asks a question of him. |
9/4 |
|
1st 5 |
7th May 2024 Good 3m 5f 24y Class 3 |
11st 4lb |
travelled strongly, towards rear, midfield 4th, went second 16th, not fluent when led 2 out, soon went clear, mistake last, ridden when jockey dropped whip on turn before last, kept on |
9/2 |
|
1st 5 |
7th May 2024 Good 3m 5f 24y Class 3 |
11st 4lb |
travelled strongly, towards rear, midfield 4th, went second 16th, not fluent when led 2 out, soon went clear, mistake last, ridden when jockey dropped whip on turn before last, kept on |
9/2 |
Verdict
Topweight BALLYGRIFINCOTTAGE was a close second at Sandown last month and can go one better today. The improving 8yo Sure Touch is bidding for a hat-trick and is second choice ahead of No Hub No Hoobs, who has won in good style at Wincanton the last twice. Your Own Story is another interesting contender.[Ben Hutton]
Selections
TOPSPEED:
Sure TouchWEST COUNTRY:
No Hubs No HoobsPOSTDATA:
Your Own StorySPOTLIGHT:
BallygrifincottageD Express:
Sure TouchThe Sun:
Sure TouchDaily Mirror:
Your Own StoryRP RATINGS:
BallygrifincottageThe Guardian:
No Hubs No HoobsDaily Record:
No Hubs No Hoobs