April 05 / 15.10 Fontwell

15.10

Heavy

AK Bets Doesn’t Refuse Payouts Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 3f 104y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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AK Bets Doesn’t Refuse Payouts Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 4P6461 CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Bounced back from poor performance to open account over C&D (heavy) last month, his third start over fences; raced rather lazily that day and appeared to be struggling on the final turn but produced a good finishing burst, and he remains well handicapped on some of his hurdling form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

31st Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

The Scorpion King

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Only four completed when a 16l third at Exeter (3m, good to soft) and that was another effort well below the form he showed in 2024; reduced mark is for good reason but this isn't a strong race, so hard to leave him out of calculations.

11/1

3rd

1

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:43 Exeter

The Scorpion King

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

Well handicapped on his wins in staying chases two seasons ago but this campaign needs to turn a corner and he'd prefer softer ground.

12/1

1

28th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:17 Chepstow

The Scorpion King

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

raced wide, towards rear, dropped to last before 11th

9/4

Form: 549581 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
0-5 over hurdles but made excellent start to chasing career, staying on remorselessly to win by 22l at Exeter (2m3f, heavy) 11 days ago; 3lb well in under 7lb penalty here, and could easily have more to offer over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:50 Wincanton

Joe Cotton

12st 1lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Jeremy Scott

Won at Fontwell (2m3f, good) last March and he finished in the first three in his next five starts; still looks on workable mark but he had a rare blip at Windsor (2m6f, soft) last month and he's never raced at shorter than 2m3f; bit to prove and others are preferred.

9/2

7th

11

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 3

16:05 Windsor

Joe Cotton

10st 10lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Consistent sort who won at Fontwell (2m3f, good) last March and has been in the first three on all five starts since, most recently runner-up here (2m4f, good); stays this far and versatile ground-wise; each-way player.

10/1

9

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:23 Newton Abbot

Joe Cotton

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

First-time blinkers did the trick when scoring at Fontwell (2m3f, good) in March and he was short of room at a crucial stage when close third at Plumpton (2m4f) the following month; now 8lb higher than for his last win but he's a reliable type who still has potential in this sphere; respected on his return.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: -U4433 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Regressive 8yo who has not won since November 2022; only beaten about 2l when third of four at Doncaster (2m3f, soft) last month and may be perked up by headgear switch here but others have more appealing profiles.
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: 45U/33

Last run: 262 days

W: 11st 6lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Placed in two Southwell chases (both 3m, good) in early part of last season and runner-up in three points this year (good to soft/soft); probably on workable mark for rules return but would appeal more on better ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

8th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

19:10 Fontwell

Touch Tight

10st 13lb

J: Mr Phillip York

T: Phil York

Placed twice over 3m at Southwell (good) last summer and returned from layoff with three point seconds in February/March, but stuggled to get competitive back under rules here (2m3f, good) last month and is difficult to enthuse over after that performance.

25/1

Form: 571432 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
2-16 over fences, the latter win gained over C&D (heavy) in February; made his jockey work very hard before eventually plugging on for a modest second of four here (2m2f, heavy) eight days ago and will probably needs to race with greater zest this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

6th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:42 Fontwell

Valirann Gold

10st 13lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Harriet Brown

Course winner; a lot of his form is over shorter but he proved his stamina for 3m when runner-up at Ffos Las two weeks ago (good); unlikely to be far away off the same mark.

5/1

2nd

10

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:42 Ffos Las

Valirann Gold

10st 5lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Harriet Brown

Produced a remarkable late surge to snatch what had looked an unlikely victory at Fontwell (2m5f, good to soft; blinkers removed) last month but this inconsistent 9yo tends to race lazily nowadays and got going too late when back at Fontwell a fortnight ago; other are much less risky.

12/1

Form: 22PP47

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on consecutive hurdling starts in the autumn (2m4f/2m3f) but was pulled up on chasing debut in Jannuary and reverts to fences after a below-par hurdle run last month; cheekpieces (worn for last two races) are removed; others look safer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

6th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

16:30 Ffos Las

Hi Riko

10st 2lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Carroll Gray

Ran quite well over hurdles here (2m4f, good to soft) on stable debut in November but not much has gone to plan since; well held when unseating rider on last month's return to fences and effectively 5lb higher from out of the weights today; others appeal much more.

14/1

8

6th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

16:30 Ffos Las

Hi Riko

10st 2lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Carroll Gray

Ran quite well over hurdles here (2m4f, good to soft) on stable debut in November but not much has gone to plan since; well held when unseating rider on last month's return to fences and effectively 5lb higher from out of the weights today; others appeal much more.

14/1

8

2nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:55 Exeter

Hi Riko

10st 3lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Carroll Gray

17-race maiden with form figures of P5P over fences and he was pulled up over hurdles in his final run during the winter; opposable back in this sphere after a short break.

20/1

Form: 337653

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
0-11 over fences and has very mixed record this season but ran big race before eventually fading into third behind The Scorpion King over C&D (heavy) last month and has possibilities if in the right mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

21st Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 5

13:35 Market Rasen

Concrete King

10st 3lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

held up in rear, raced wide when on turn after 2nd, headway from 3rd, lost position after 8th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out

10/1

5th

6

1st Jun 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

16:55 Hexham

Concrete King

10st 9lb

J: John Kington

T: L J Morgan

Has won four points, but 0-20 under rules (12 over fences); best recent run when second over 2m3f at Fontwell in March (heavy); quite interesting with visor replacing cheekpieces on stable debut.

11/1

7th

8

19th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

15:30 Fontwell

Concrete King

10st 11lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Neil Mulholland

Has very mixed record this season but ran well and looked the likely winner for a long way before weakening into third over C&D (heavy; just behind Mister Murchan) last month; 2lb lower today; can't rule out.

6/1

Form: 68-544

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 6yo who made reasonably encouraging handicap hurdle debut when fourth of seven at Huntingdon (2m3f, soft) last month, after a layoff; needs to build on that performance here but connections are evidently very keen to switch him to fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:17 Fontwell

Elzaaro

10st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Karen Jewell

prominent, in touch with leaders from 6th, headway 4 out, left in third 3 out, lost position approaching last, weakened final 110yds

16/1

5th

10

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:17 Fontwell

Elzaaro

10st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Karen Jewell

prominent, in touch with leaders from 6th, headway 4 out, left in third 3 out, lost position approaching last, weakened final 110yds

16/1

3rd

9

10th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Elzaaro

10st 2lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Karen Jewell

Little in the way of solid form and today's change of headgear isn't enough to tempt; 7lb out of the weights.

33/1

Verdict

The Scorpion King can probably cope with a 5lb rise for last month’s C&D win but he looked unenthusiastic for large parts of that race and ready preference is for JOE COTTON, who justified good market support with a wide-margin win on his recent chasing debut and is ahead of the handicapper under his penalty here. Chasing debutant Elzaaro is the dark horse.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Joe Cotton

Telegraph:

Walk In The Wild

RP RATINGS:

Concrete King

LAMBOURN:

The Scorpion King

WEST COUNTRY:

Joe Cotton

The Times:

Joe Cotton

The Guardian:

Joe Cotton

Daily Mail:

Joe Cotton

Daily Mirror:

Joe Cotton

The Star:

Joe Cotton

Daily Record:

Joe Cotton

D Express:

Walk In The Wild

The Sun:

Walk In The Wild

POSTDATA:

Concrete King