August 31 / 16.30 Newton Abbot

16.30

Good

William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £6416.41
  • 2m 4f 216y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: -24252 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Nothing like the force of old but runs this track very well and will be very well suited by today's ground; ahead of Begin The Luck when second to a next-time-out winner over C&D (good) nine days ago and another 1lb lower today; probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

14th Nov 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:40 Taunton

Kauto The King

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Ten chase wins since last seen over hurdles in 2020, the latest when digging deep at regular haunt Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in August; below-form fourth of five at Wincanton last time but still looks the main threat to Tuxedo Junction.

15/8

3rd

1

14th Nov 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:40 Taunton

Kauto The King

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Ten chase wins since last seen over hurdles in 2020, the latest when digging deep at regular haunt Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in August; below-form fourth of five at Wincanton last time but still looks the main threat to Tuxedo Junction.

15/8

4th

6

27th Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 2

14:42 Wincanton

Kauto The King

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Joe Tizzard

held up in rear, not fluent 1st, in touch with leaders 7th

5/1

Form: 12-2PP C

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Won from the front off today's mark at Warwick (2m4f, good; beat Opening Bid) in October but looked out of sorts when pulled up on last two appearances and it takes a leap of faith to support him here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

20th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

18:36 Stratford

Bagheera Ginge

11st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Front-runner who is 2-3 since fitted with a visor this season, with both wins gained over 2m6f here (good to firm); may not have things all his own way today and this drop back in trip is probably not ideal but further progress is not out of the question.

5/1

1st

1

29th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:10 Stratford

Bagheera Ginge

12st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Front-runner who returned from seven-month break with 7l win in first-time visor over C&D (good to firm) last month; only 3lb higher than for that success but he failed to repeat the form when a remote fifth at Worcester (2m7f, good); that was another blip in his patchy profile and he needs to bounce back again.

6/1

Form: -724P5 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Five-time chase winner (once over C&D): posted two good efforts at Uttoxeter in June (2m5f/2m, good) and has good claims if judged on those but ran very poorly at Stratford last month and was well behind a couple of these when fifth over C&D nine days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

14th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

16:30 Newton Abbot

Opening Bid

12st 1lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Chris Down

Multiple winner over hurdles and fences; went down narrowly after a break at Uttoxeter (2m5f, good) and he's hard to knock, other than the handicapper knowing all about him.

13/2

1st

1

14th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

16:30 Newton Abbot

Opening Bid

12st 1lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Chris Down

Multiple winner over hurdles and fences; went down narrowly after a break at Uttoxeter (2m5f, good) and he's hard to knock, other than the handicapper knowing all about him.

13/2

2nd

1

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:45 Uttoxeter

Opening Bid

11st 12lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Down

led, headed 3 out, hit 2 out, kept on well

8/1

Form: 13/121 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Awarded race outright after initially dead-heating at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) last month and is now 2-3 over fences; could still have significant improvement to come and needs to be taken very seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:30 Warwick

Get Up Mush

10st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

He's returned from an absence this season and, after three defeats on soft ground, better could have been expected on good to soft at Wincanton recently; however, he's in top hands and well handicapped on his three 2024 wins on good/good to soft (including here), and may bounce back at some stage.

4/1

6th

6

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:40 Wincanton

Get Up Mush

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

Nearly a stone worse on genuinely soft ground judged on peak RPRs, so there's a case to say this is his first realistic opportunity since returning from a 15-month absence over Christmas; last success came over this trip off 3lb higher, and it will be harder to excuse another sub-par effort today.

8/1

5th

2

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

14:55 Southwell

Get Up Mush

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Switch to fences and handicaps did the trick when he won three of his five starts in 2024; he hasn't got back to that level in two outings this term and has a question to answer at present; of interest only with market support.

10/1

Form: -52293 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
4-13 over fences (including a C&D win); behind Kauto The King and not quite at his best when third over C&D (good) nine days ago but he went close off a similar mark to today's here in June and enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

26th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 4

19:09 Plumpton

Begin The Luck

12st 0lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Daisy Hitchins

Largely reliable veteran and a three-time winner since December, latterly over C&D in April; touched off at Fontwell 20 days ago, with I Shut That d'Or about 5l back in third; nudged up 1lb but likely to make his presence felt again.

2/1

2nd

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:42 Fontwell

Begin The Luck

11st 13lb

J: Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Veteran who has won three times over fences since December including at Plumpton (2m4f, good) 17 days ago; that was in a small field and his main rival made a bad mistake at the last but he still looks feasibly treated and is versatile ground-wise; respected.

5/1

1st

2

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:17 Plumpton

Begin The Luck

11st 7lb

J: Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Reliable sort who scored at Leicester (2m4f) in March; not discredited when fifth in 2m5f handicap chase at Newton Abbot 15 days ago so ought to be in the shake-up eased 1lb.

3/1

Form: F7/4P- D

Last run: 212 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on old form for Dan Skelton and returns to racing under rules after winning three small-field points this spring; has a lot more on his plate today, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

31st Aug 2024

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

16:30 Newton Abbot

Lakota Warrior

11st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: D Summersby

in touch with leaders, lost ground before 4th, soon in rear, not fluent 8th

7/1

4

1st Feb 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 5

16:15 Wincanton

Lakota Warrior

12st 2lb

J: Mr Darren Edwards

T: D Summersby

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser when trained by Dan Skelton; won a point last year and it was a useful hunter chase in which he was beaten only 11l at Taunton recently; may need more here but not dismissed.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: U22-3P D

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 13lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Not getting any younger but has made the frame in three slow-ground chases (2m6f-3m2f) since returning from a long absence in February and will also be suited by today's quicker surface; pulled up with a circuit to go over hurdles last month (jockey felt something was amiss) but could have a say if all is well here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd May 2025

Good

3m 4f 165y

19:37 Downpatrick

Champagne Court

12st 0lb

J: Mr A P Kennedy

T: A J Kennedy

Veteran won six races between 2018 and 2022 when trained by Jeremy Scott; still has an appetite for racing, twice runner-up in points for this rider in April; one length in front of Grange Soldier at Dromahane last time.

20/1

2

23rd May 2025

Good

3m 4f 165y

19:37 Downpatrick

Champagne Court

12st 0lb

J: Mr A P Kennedy

T: A J Kennedy

Veteran won six races between 2018 and 2022 when trained by Jeremy Scott; still has an appetite for racing, twice runner-up in points for this rider in April; one length in front of Grange Soldier at Dromahane last time.

20/1

7th

2

31st Aug 2024

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

16:30 Newton Abbot

Champagne Court

11st 13lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

in touch with leaders

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £38.30
Straight Forecast £34.00
Trifecta £141.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Get Up Mush

The Times:

Begin The Luck

D Express:

Lakota Warrior

WEST COUNTRY:

Kauto The King

TOPSPEED:

Opening Bid

RP RATINGS:

Get Up Mush

POSTDATA:

Get Up Mush

Telegraph:

Get Up Mush

The Guardian:

Get Up Mush

Daily Mail:

Get Up Mush

Daily Mirror:

Get Up Mush

The Sun:

Get Up Mush

The Star:

Get Up Mush

Daily Record:

Get Up Mush