April 22 / 18.30 Kempton

18.30

Good

Sri Lanka Paradise Island Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £9505.8
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 11 runners
RTV
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Sri Lanka Paradise Island Handicap Chase

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.90

Form: /11-1P CD BF

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Began chasing career with two 2m5f Hereford wins (good/good to soft) in autumn 2022 and returned from long absence to complete his hat-trick over C&D (soft) in February; didn't fire on heavy ground at Newbury last month but remains open to further progress if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Highstakesplayer

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Tom Lacey

held up in rear, midfield 4th, prominent 8th, pressed winner approaching last, kept on

4/1

2nd

2

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Highstakesplayer

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Tom Lacey

held up in rear, midfield 4th, prominent 8th, pressed winner approaching last, kept on

4/1

7

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Highstakesplayer

10st 8lb

J: David Bass

T: Tom Lacey

Record of 4-8 over fences; admittedly 0-3 this term and failed to show his form the last twice; good second over C&D on seasonal debut and has place possibilities on that effort.

10/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 453241 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Veteran who capitalised upon some significant help from the handicapper when winning under Oscar Palmer at Newbury (2m7f, good to soft) last month; evidently in good heart but not the obvious type to follow up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

22nd Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

18:30 Kempton

Fidux

11st 6lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Alan King

midfield, headway 4th, outpaced 2 out, kept on well and went second towards finish

8/1

2nd

10

22nd Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

18:30 Kempton

Fidux

11st 6lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Alan King

midfield, headway 4th, outpaced 2 out, kept on well and went second towards finish

8/1

1st

10

23rd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

17:00 Newbury

Fidux

11st 1lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Alan King

Hasn't won since the summer of 2021 but he's capable of putting that right and has been close up under Oscar Palmer in his last two races (at about 3m); another with each-way hopes.

9/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 78-3P9

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Pulled up Boxing Day, having bled from the nose, and returned from break with low-key hurdle run last month; however, caught the eye making good late headway for third on seasonal debut at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) in December and has slipped to an attractive mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

21st Jun 2024

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

15:55 Market Rasen

Karl Philippe

12st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Back on track with two good runs at Kempton (3m, good) this spring, the latter a win; probably still on a workable mark after 5lb rise but didn't find much at business end at Perth recently; now sports cheekpieces.

10/1

4th

3

9th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:42 Perth

Karl Philippe

11st 4lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

pressed leader, led before 6th, headed just before 13th, hit 13th, lost position before 3 out

4/1

1st

2

6th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Karl Philippe

12st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

jumped slightly right throughout, led, raced in second when headed 2nd, ridden after 3 out, pressed leader 2 out, led narrowly last

7/2

Form: 442321

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Steadily progressive 7yo who was placed in his first three chases before weaving through some traffic to lead close home at Ascot (2m5f, good) last month; recent 4lb rise does not look excessive and he could quite plausibly have untapped potential over 3m; must be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

14:35 Uttoxeter

Kings Threshold

11st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Emma Lavelle

Below form in Kim Muir at Cheltenham in March but showed career-best form when winning at Newbury (3m2f, good) just after Christmas and will be a danger to all here if back at that level in first-time cheekpieces.

8/1

16th

9

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Kings Threshold

11st 6lb

J: Mr H C Swan

T: Emma Lavelle

9yo who has a good strike-rate over fences and produced a career-best performance to win at Newbury (3m2f, good) in December when last seen; has also won on soft ground; had just five rivals to beat on that latest start but he was impressive and is not ruled out now 6lb higher.

25/1

Form: 312266 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 8yo who was runner-up off today's mark at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) and Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) on first two starts for James Owen this season; didn't run badly at last month's Cheltenham Festival and is a contender in these calmer waters.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 76y

Class 2

15:05 Musselburgh

Grozni

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sandy Thomson

With James Owen for 18 months (Scottish National fourth in April) before joining this yard; Borders National win at Kelso (4m, soft) in December was his best form for nearly two years and he kept jumping to his right, so reverting to a right-handed track today may well help; back up 5lb but shortlisted.

9/2

5th

7

25th Oct 2025

Good

3m 2f 39y

Class 2

15:55 Kelso

Grozni

10st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sandy Thomson

Only 1-10 (hurdles win) during his spell with James Owen but ran respectably in the Scottish National on last appearance; sold for £24,000 since; headgear removed; heed the market signals.

10/1

4th

18

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Grozni

10st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: James Owen

Won over hurdles in December in a first-time visor, which he also wore next time and returns today; well held with first-time blinkers in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham one month ago, taking sixth in that 3m2f race for the second year running; new trip but he's not persuasive.

50/1

Form: 133-4P D

Last run: 164 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner for Jane Williams last season, latterly off mark 3lb higher than today's at Ludlow (3m, good); left that stable after two poor performances in the autumn but it will be interesting to see whether Kim Bailey can coax him back to form; had another wind op (his third) last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

13

13th Nov 2024

Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 3

12:25 Bangor-on-Dee

Le Cameleon

11st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey

Exposed chaser with a record of 5-24; below par in his three runs for Kim Bailey but has time on his side to turn things around and he should be well handicapped.

33/1

9th

13

13th Nov 2024

Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 3

12:25 Bangor-on-Dee

Le Cameleon

11st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey

Exposed chaser with a record of 5-24; below par in his three runs for Kim Bailey but has time on his side to turn things around and he should be well handicapped.

33/1

9th

1

19th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:40 Worcester

Le Cameleon

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Kim Bailey

held up in rear, hampered 1st, not fluent 9th, lost touch 4 out

9/1

Form: 5266-P C

Last run: 71 days

W: 11st 9lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Well treated on old form and well suited by going right-handed over 3m on good ground; pulled up on belated seasonal debut at Exeter in February but the ground was heavy and he ran well to a point; worth a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

3m 3f 119y

Class 3

19:30 Stratford

Broken Quest

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Dennis

Only this year returned from a long absence and showed he was no back number with an 11l third at Aintree two weeks ago (3m1f, good); stamina for quite this far is by no means assured but he can't be ruled out.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 14P-PP D

Last run: 124 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Very creditable fourth in major handicap over C&D (good) in February 2023 but pulled up on all three subsequent appearances and comes with obvious risk attached on this first start for four months.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

15:45 Ludlow

Bobhopeornohope

11st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

led, clear before 5th

7/1

5

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

15:45 Ludlow

Bobhopeornohope

11st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

led, clear before 5th

7/1

Form: 71-35P C

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Good-ground specialist; not suited by the conditions when pulled up at Sandown last month and much better judged on very respectable fifth in major Ascot handicap (3m, good) in December; a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

2nd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

17:00 Exeter

Switch Hitter

11st 12lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: S Loxton

Very useful over fences in his prime for Paul Nicholls; last rules win was over two years ago but he's won points in his last three starts including a comfortable success (3m, good to firm) ten days ago; looks a major player now back in this sphere and yard won this in 2023 and 2024.

4/7

5

2nd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

17:00 Exeter

Switch Hitter

11st 12lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: S Loxton

Very useful over fences in his prime for Paul Nicholls; last rules win was over two years ago but he's won points in his last three starts including a comfortable success (3m, good to firm) ten days ago; looks a major player now back in this sphere and yard won this in 2023 and 2024.

4/7

5th

1

20th May 2024

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

16:43 Newton Abbot

Switch Hitter

12st 8lb

J: Miss Natalie Parker

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful handicap chaser on good ground when on song; pulled up on consecutive outings at end of last season and needs to prove his wellbeing, but is in much calmer waters for today's hunter chase debut.

4/6

Form: -48175 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 11lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Battled well to win small-field event at Plumpton (3m1f, soft) in January and bounced back from a lesser effort when close fifth in Ascot veterans' chase (3m, good) last month; still on a workable mark but others have more persuasive profiles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

22nd Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

18:30 Kempton

Larry

11st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary Moore

took keen hold, held up in rear, no impression before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

12/1

4

22nd Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

18:30 Kempton

Larry

11st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary Moore

took keen hold, held up in rear, no impression before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

12/1

7

24th Mar 2024

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Ascot

Larry

10st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary Moore

Twice well beaten over C&D this winter, including last time, but in between he won at Plumpton and he's a two-time C&D winner who was third in this race last year; has won on a variety of ground; not ruled out.

7/1

Form: -2771P D

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Kept on best in what turned out to be a fairly stern test over about 2m4f at Wetherby (soft) in January and also ran well in Grimthorpe at Doncaster (3m2f, soft) last month, albeit he tired in the straight and was eventually pulled up; also suited by good ground; can feature here if those two hard races have not taken a toll.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 2

16:15 Doncaster

Docpickedme

10st 10lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Richard Hobson

Doncaster form figures read 1P2114, the last five of which were over fences; not disgraced last time and this hurdles mark is 10lb lower, so a case can be made.

5/1

4th

5

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 1

14:05 Doncaster

Docpickedme

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Richard Hobson

Course form figures read 1P211, the last two wins coming in this race last year (good) and over C&D (good to soft) last month, both off a mark 2lb lower than today's; has also won on soft; respected given his record here.

7/1

13

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

Docpickedme

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Richard Hobson

9yo who has been inconsistent over the years but he's been better than ever the last twice, going very close at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in December before winning another competitive handicap there (3m, good) in January, albeit having a battle on his hands before being left clear at the final fence; that latest form still reads well and a 4lb rise isn't harsh; chance.

6/1

Non-runners

Hidden Heroics

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £48.00
Straight Forecast £45.34
Tricast £459.32
Trifecta £395.30

Selections

The Times:

King's Threshold

Telegraph:

Highstakesplayer

TOPSPEED:

Hidden Heroics

WEST COUNTRY:

Docpickedme

RP RATINGS:

Grozni

SPOTLIGHT:

Karl Philippe

The Guardian:

King's Threshold

The Sun:

King's Threshold

The Star:

King's Threshold

Daily Record:

King's Threshold

POSTDATA:

Hidden Heroics

Daily Mail:

Highstakesplayer

D Express:

Highstakesplayer

Daily Mirror:

Docpickedme