October 04 / 15.30 Hexham

15.30

Good

Martin Bowler Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6257.98
  • 1m 7f 133y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Martin Bowler Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.50
  • Place: £3.10

Form: -46733 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Back in good form over hurdles on last two outings, more recently when third in quite valuable Kelso handicap (2m5f, good) last month; not bred for fences but should cope with today's drop back in trip; interesting to see how he fares on chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

9th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 4

14:15 Musselburgh

The Churchill Lad

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

sweating, took keen hold, led, headed but prominent before 5th, mistake and lost position 8th, rallying when mistake 4 out, weakened before 3 out

4/1

1

9th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 4

14:15 Musselburgh

The Churchill Lad

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Front-runner who won on chase debut at Hexham (1m7f, good) in October and has run well in second the next twice (2m/1m7f, good to soft/good); he's fine at this trip (and on a variety of ground) and was effective here over hurdles; can make another bold bid.

4/1

2nd

2

8th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 4

14:45 Hexham

The Churchill Lad

11st 13lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Winning hurdler who has taken well to fences, beating Caithness by a head over C&D on debut last month before fair second off this 4lb higher mark at Carlisle (2m, good to soft); should go well again.

11/4

OUR TIP

5/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 3606-3 D

Last run: 131 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
2-10 over hurdles; creditable third in competitive Kelso handicap (2m, good to soft) on latest outing in May and makes chasing debut from a 2lb lower mark; contender if he jumps soundly on chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

14:03 Kelso

Caithness

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

It was only his second run over fences but he jumped well when pulling clear with the favourite at Wetherby (1m7f, good to soft) and a 6lb rise seems fair; good chance.

13/8

2

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

14:03 Kelso

Caithness

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

It was only his second run over fences but he jumped well when pulling clear with the favourite at Wetherby (1m7f, good to soft) and a 6lb rise seems fair; good chance.

13/8

5

27th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 36y

Class 2

14:45 Wetherby

Caithness

10st 13lb

T: Lucinda Russell

Form: 521243 BF

Last run: 3 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
In the frame on all three appearances since opening chase account at Market Rasen (2m1f, good) in July, including creditable second behind Beat Box at Market Rasen in August and when third at Sedgefield (2m, good to soft) on Tuesday; probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 133y

Class 4

18:20 Hexham

Dream Jet

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Brian Ellison

Has a decent record here (231413) but usually needs a run under his belt to hit form after a break; this will be his first run of the year but his course record means he cannot be ignored.

9/1

2

4th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 65y

Class 4

18:30 Sedgefield

Dream Jet

11st 13lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Brian Ellison

Career best when winning at Hexham (1m7f) in May, his third success over fences, all at about 2m; didn't match that despite finishing second next time but it was a solid return, back from a small break, when keeping on for fourth of seven at Market Rasen (2m1f, also good) 19 days ago; has weakened over this trip and beyond before but it looks worth exploring again.

7/2

2

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 4

18:23 Market Rasen

Dream Jet

11st 13lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Brian Ellison

C&D winner who produced a career best at Hexham (1m7f, good) in May when landing his third chase win but well-held when second of five finishers at Perth (2m, good) in June; consistent sort who may have benefitted from the short break and is not out of this.

4/1

Form: 7-1111 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
4-4 and in excellent form for Dan Skelton this season, the latest win gained by over 8l at Worcester (2m, good) last month; latest 6lb rise does not look excessive, and he had placed form at this track for his former stable; makes obvious appeal in current mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

Beat Box

12st 6lb

J: Mr Martin McIntyre

T: Anthony Ward-Thomas

Useful handicapper for Dan Skelton but looks regressive judged on his recent pointing exploits.

12/1

4th

4

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:34 Ffos Las

Beat Box

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

midfield, headway on outer before 4 out, weakened before 2 out

7/2

4th

4

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:34 Ffos Las

Beat Box

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

midfield, headway on outer before 4 out, weakened before 2 out

7/2

Form: 21426- D

Last run: 182 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Placed twice over fences in France in 2022-23 season and did well over hurdles for Jedd O'Keeffe last term (three wins); absent since running very respectably in a series final in April but can make her presence felt if fully tuned up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

24th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

17:22 Kelso

Ip Up

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

On a long losing sequence but she arrives in good nick, ridden aggressively when fifth in 2m Warwick handicap in March; she can make her presence felt after a break.

11/2

5th

1

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:58 Warwick

Ip Up

12st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Her losing sequence goes back 15 races to January 2024 but she's been running consistently well this season; versatile ground-wise and can be thereabouts once more.

5/2

2nd

4

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:52 Ludlow

Ip Up

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

3-18 over hurdles; continues to run consistently well and has reached the frame on all three starts this season, but she probably needs to find that little bit more to add to her score.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £35.20
Straight Forecast £39.79
Trifecta £77.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Beat Box

TOPSPEED:

Dream Jet

D Express:

Dream Jet

RP RATINGS:

Beat Box

POSTDATA:

Beat Box

The Times:

Beat Box

Telegraph:

Beat Box

The Guardian:

Beat Box

Daily Mail:

Beat Box

Daily Mirror:

Beat Box

The Sun:

Beat Box

The Star:

Beat Box

Daily Record:

Beat Box