May 12 / 15.15 Plumpton

15.15

Good

Emily Mellett 21st Birthday Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5809.1
  • 2m 3f 164y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Emily Mellett 21st Birthday Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 5P222-

Last run: 28 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Lost his way over hurdles last year but runner-up in three small-field chases since cheekpieces and tongue-tie were added in February; will be suited by today's good ground and a recent 2lb drop helps; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Toothless

10st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Won at Windsor (2m4f, good) on New Year's Day on second start back from an absence and runner-up to progressive winners on next two starts (2m4f, soft); could still have more to offer himself and he's high on the list.

3/1

2nd

3

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:45 Sandown

Toothless

11st 9lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Won at Windsor (2m4f, good) on New Year's Day on second start back from a long absence and close second at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) last month behind one who was completing a hat-trick; Jay Tidball, who has been on board on his last two starts, remains in the saddle; solid claims.

9/4

2nd

6

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

14:58 Ludlow

Toothless

11st 10lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

His second run back from a long absence when nicely on top in the finish at Windsor (2m4f, good; Jay Tidball claimed his 5lb); a 5lb rise isn't overly offputting but he does seem particularly effective on goodish ground.

5/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 22176- CD

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Won this race for Paul Henderson a year ago (good ground) and was a course hurdle winner (2m, good to soft) for new stable in the autumn; safely held in two competitive Class 3 hurdles since but can pose a potent threat in this grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

28th Sep 2024

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

17:10 Market Rasen

Small Bad Bob

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

raced in third, went fourth 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out

11/2

1st

1

27th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

15:50 Huntingdon

Small Bad Bob

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

prominent

5/1

1st

1

27th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

15:50 Huntingdon

Small Bad Bob

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

prominent

5/1

11/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 26522-

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Quirky customer who sometimes races too freely and/or displays an awkward head carriage; no match for comfortable winner when second of five over C&D (good) last month, after a break, but that still goes down as a pretty good effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

15:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Magistrato

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Deborah Cole

Ended last year in excellent form over fences, with latest fourth coming behind the seriously progressive Thistle Ask; whereas he's 5-18 in that discipline and only 1-13 over hurdles, he's probably a better horse now than when last seen in this discipline; 5lb lower than his chase mark; front runs.

20/1

5

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 1

14:55 Wetherby

Magistrato

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Deborah Cole

Front-runner who can be tough to reel in on his day and has left his rivals trailing in completing a hat-trick in small fields at about 2m4f (latest in a match); has gone up a collective 20lb but he loves this good ground and looks sure to make a bold bid.

7/2

4th

5

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 1

14:55 Wetherby

Magistrato

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Deborah Cole

Front-runner who can be tough to reel in on his day and has left his rivals trailing in completing a hat-trick in small fields at about 2m4f (latest in a match); has gone up a collective 20lb but he loves this good ground and looks sure to make a bold bid.

7/2

Form: 84624- D BF

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
0-5 over fences but kept on well for clear second at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) in March and wasn't beaten far when fourth of six over same C&D (good) last month, despite jumping left-handed; this switched to a left-handed track looks the right move; enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

17th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

16:43 Ayr

Eyed

11st 11lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Hughie Morrison

His chase form has been mixed this season but he faced a tough task from out of the handicap at the Cheltenham Festival (pulled up); runner-up at Kempton (2m5f) in November on last hurdle start and he was second over fences at this meeting 12 months ago (3m); might not be a forlorn hope today.

25/1

22

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Eyed

10st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Hughie Morrison

9yo who was progressive last season, winning three times (2m5f/3m, good/good to soft); he didn't run badly when fifth at Ascot (3m, soft) in January last time but is 9lb out of the handicap today, so faces a tough task.

66/1

5th

9

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 3

13:00 Ascot

Eyed

11st 0lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Hughie Morrison

Form dipped last time but otherwise a consistent sort and may rebound; however, looks considerably more exposed than some of these rivals and possibly has nothing in hand off current mark.

14/1

Form: 263P4- CD

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 5lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Gained three of his five chasing wins on good ground here (2m1f-2m3f) but is nothing like the force of old and was safely held when fourth over C&D (good) last month; younger rivals appeal much more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

12th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

15:15 Plumpton

Fairway Freddy

11st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

in touch with leaders, midfield before 7th

12/1

5th

7

12th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

15:15 Plumpton

Fairway Freddy

11st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

in touch with leaders, midfield before 7th

12/1

4th

7

31st Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:50 Plumpton

Fairway Freddy

11st 3lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

All seven wins (five chasing) on good or quicker ground; however, had his conditions when pulled up after a 62-day break at Hereford and now returns from a similar one.

10/1

Form: 2P352-

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Had rather mixed campaign last season but was seemingly boosted by a change of headgear when close second in first-time blinkers at Fakenham (2m, good) last month; still on a workable mark and will be fine over today's trip; contender if in the right mood again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

24th Sep 2024

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

16:15 Fontwell

Aviles

11st 11lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

in touch with leaders, lost position before 6th, reminders after 7th

10/1

6th

5

12th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

15:15 Plumpton

Aviles

11st 8lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

didn't always jump with fluency, in touch with leaders, lost ground after 9th

9/2

OUR TIP

Form: 35P10-

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Placed in two Irish points and a bumper last year and got his act together over hurdles at third attempt, keeping on strongly to cause 40-1 surprise at Taunton (2m, soft) in March; safely held in hot Sandown handicap hurdle since but drops in grade here and connections are evidently keen to launch his chasing career; cheekpieces removed after one use.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

13:45 Taunton

Just One Surf

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Low-mileage 5yo who won a maiden hurdle here (2m, soft) in March; absent since pulled up on chasing debut in May (2m3f) but could still have a good future over fences and is unexposed over this sort of trip.

12/1

Form: 564P8-

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Regressive 10yo who has not won since spring 2022; soundly beaten over hurdles here last month, after a break, and is 7lb out of the weights for this return to chasing; blinkered last time; usual cheekpieces back on today; revival needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

12th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

15:15 Plumpton

Beaufort West

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Andy Irvine

always behind, pulled up before 10th

25/1

8

12th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

15:15 Plumpton

Beaufort West

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Andy Irvine

always behind, pulled up before 10th

25/1

8th

10

14th Apr 2024

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 5

16:25 Plumpton

Beaufort West

10st 9lb

J: Thomasina Eyston

T: Andy Irvine

in touch with leaders

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.80
Straight Forecast £16.72
Tricast £79.41
Trifecta £87.90

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Toothless

POSTDATA:

Aviles

The Times:

Eyed

Daily Mirror:

Just One Surf

RP RATINGS:

Magistrato

SPOTLIGHT:

Small Bad Bob

WEST COUNTRY:

Toothless

The Sun:

Toothless

Daily Record:

Toothless

Telegraph:

Aviles

The Star:

Aviles

D Express:

Eyed