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

1st

4

17th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

17:05 Stratford

Bagheera Ginge

11st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Made all in small field at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) in September but absent since running poorly in Sedgefield marathon three weeks later and needs to resume in peak form to have a chance off current mark; swaps usual cheekpieces for first-time visor.

7/1

4

19th Oct 2025

Good

3m 5f 48y

Class 2

16:06 Sedgefield

Bagheera Ginge

10st 10lb

J: Mr Jamie Neild

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

First chase win was in October 2023 and the second wasn't until last month but he thoroughly dominated a four-runner race at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) on that latest outing, returning to his best; unraced beyond that and needs to find a bit extra given he's back up 7lb, so connections enlist 7lb-claiming amateur who's already won a hurdle race for them this week.

9/2

1st

5

29th Sep 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

16:16 Newton Abbot

Bagheera Ginge

11st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Returned from layoff with low-key hurdle run in May but has finished close up in two Worcester chases (both 2m7f, good) since; remains on a good mark and is also suited by this track; major player if stamina holds out over this new trip.

15/8

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