April 08 / 15.38 Wincanton

15.38

Heavy

Family Raceday 21st April Free Entertainment Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 1m 7f 149y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
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Family Raceday 21st April Free Entertainment Handicap Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 215211 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Improving chaser who has won four of his last seven races and defied a new career-high mark with some authority at Wetherby (1m7f, soft); has another 9lb to contend with in a higher grade but he's a danger to all.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:15 Wincanton

Royal Mer

12st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Six chase wins, the latest here (1m7f, heavy) under Rian Corcoran 19 days ago; still on workable mark after recent 5lb rise and will be fine over today's longer trip but the faster ground is probably not in his favour.

9/2

1st

1

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:50 Wincanton

Royal Mer

12st 2lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Five-time chase winner who relishes testing ground; runner-up in his first two starts this season including a close call at Exeter (2m1f, good to soft), but his form cooled at Hereford last time; needs to step up again after that but he remains well treated on his old form.

7/2

3rd

1

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 4

15:00 Hereford

Royal Mer

11st 13lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Five-time chase winner who relishes testing ground; runner-up on both starts this term and looks sure to go close.

13/8

4/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 8113P4 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
The blinkers he had been wearing were absent when well held at Newbury 16 days ago; did pull up the time before at Chepstow but he had been improving prior to that and is only 4lb higher than for January's 8l success at Wetherby (1m7f, soft); blinkers refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

12th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

15:52 Chepstow

Mount Tempest

10st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Sophie Leech

Ex-Dan Skelton; started off for Sophie Leech with two disappointing French hurdle runs this summer (wore cheekpieces) but caused a 50-1 shock when back over fences at Worcester (2m4f, good to soft; blinkers) last month; subsequent 4lb rise is not insurmountable if he's in the same form.

11/2

1st

10

15th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:00 Worcester

Mount Tempest

10st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sophie Leech

Last win for the Skeltons was off this mark last December (1m7f, soft) but he's offered little since, including in two French hurdles for current yard.

20/1

4

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Mount Tempest

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

towards rear

12/1

Form: 246U34

Last run: 16 days

W: 12st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Prone to mistakes but this is a drop in class from good Newbury 2m4f handicaps won by a very useful type; handicapped to be winning races and expect positive tactics back at 2m for the first time since his bumper days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

23rd Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Gustavian

12st 0lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Solid performances in notable handicaps this season, winning the Badger Beers at Wincanton then fourth in the Stayers' Veterans' Final at Sandown and Ladbrokes Trophy over C&D; retains plenty of ability despite his advancing years; respected back down in class.

9/4

4th

8

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Kempton

Gustavian

10st 12lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Jumped well and dominated throughout in the Badger Beers at Wincanton (3m1f, good; handles softer) and gave it another good go off this 8lb higher mark at Sandown; assured competition for the lead here has to reduce his appeal.

25/1

7th

7

1st Mar 2025

Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

13:20 Newbury

Gustavian

10st 5lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

didn't jump with fluency, disputed lead, hit 5th

7/2

Form: 741124 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Didn't last home over 2m4f here last time when tried in a visor (with usual tongue-tie) though was below his best in blinkers (refitted today) the time before at Leicester; only 4lb higher than for his C&D win on heavy in February but needs to return to that level of form.
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: 544112 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
9yo who has never been in better form and off this career-high mark at Stratford (2m1f, heavy) he beat all bar a Skelton improver; raised in class here but every chance that he'll be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

8

25th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

15:35 Taunton

Force De Frap

11st 6lb

J: James Best

T: Emma-Jane Bishop

held up in rear, no impression from 4 out

20/1

6

26th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

16:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Force De Frap

11st 6lb

J: James Best

T: Emma-Jane Bishop

prominent, weakened after 2 out (usual 3 out), pulled up before last

25/1

5

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 12y

Class 4

14:40 Taunton

Force De Frap

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Emma-Jane Bishop

jumped left throughout, always behind, bad mistake 2nd, pulled up after 4 out

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.40
Straight Forecast £15.72
Trifecta £47.30

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Force De Frap

WEST COUNTRY:

Royal Mer

RP RATINGS:

Hatos

SPOTLIGHT:

Gustavian

The Times:

Royal Mer

Telegraph:

Royal Mer

The Star:

Royal Mer

The Guardian:

Force De Frap

D Express:

Force De Frap

Daily Mirror:

Force De Frap

The Sun:

Force De Frap

Daily Record:

Force De Frap

POSTDATA:

Hatos

Daily Mail:

Hatos