October 29 / 14.57 Bangor-on-Dee

14.57

Good To Soft

Weatherbys Stallion Book Novices’ Handicap Chase (For The Sir Charles Lowther Plate) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7393.4
  • 2m 4f 72y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Weatherbys Stallion Book Novices’ Handicap Chase (For The Sir Charles Lowther Plate) (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 3111F- BF

Last run: 193 days

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Made the most of his age allowance in winning back-to-back handicap hurdles by wide margins and was going easily off this mark when falling the final time; has to be of interest on this switch to fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

1st Mar 2025

Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Billytherealbigred

10st 8lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Often front-runner; overall strike-rate is 5-10; has form figures of 112 since switched to fences, latest effort in notable novice handicap at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) where he beat all bar significant stablemate Jagwar who is a major Cheltenham Festival hope; the type to progress further and Toby Wynne's useful claim offsets a 3lb rise; strong contender.

5/1

2nd

8

25th Jan 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 2

12:40 Cheltenham

Billytherealbigred

10st 10lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Likeable 5yo with a 5-9 strike-rate; unbeaten over fences, making all at Bangor (2m4f, soft) in October and strong at the finish when following up at Exeter (2m1f, soft) in December; jumped left throughout on second occasion and should be suited by this return to a left-handed track; up in grade today but still has youth on his side and a 7lb rise may not stop him.

4/1

2nd

8

25th Jan 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 2

12:40 Cheltenham

Billytherealbigred

10st 10lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Likeable 5yo with a 5-9 strike-rate; unbeaten over fences, making all at Bangor (2m4f, soft) in October and strong at the finish when following up at Exeter (2m1f, soft) in December; jumped left throughout on second occasion and should be suited by this return to a left-handed track; up in grade today but still has youth on his side and a 7lb rise may not stop him.

4/1

33/1

  • Place: £7.60

Form: 2112-P D

Last run: 182 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Strike-rate of 5-15 over hurdles and it was always going to be tough at Punchestown last time; left Tom Lacey for £16,000 during the summer; there are chasers in the family.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

4th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:30 Uttoxeter

Immortal Fame

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Deborah Cole

2m4f winner here over hurdles and fences with a little give underfoot, and possible excuses on both starts since his most recent success elsewhere (holding ground, pace battle); remains above any winning mark.

7/1

4th

2

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Immortal Fame

11st 13lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Deborah Cole

Five-time hurdle winner who has raced exclusively over fences since joining Deborah Cole in the middle of 2024, scoring a further four times, including over 2m4f here last season; off the mark for the current campaign when shading a close finish at Market Rasen (3m, soft) in February but pulled up when favourite at Hereford since and now back over timber.

9/1

1

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

15:10 Hereford

Immortal Fame

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Deborah Cole

Three wins last term; got off the mark for the season when winning by a head at Market Rasen last time (3m, soft; first two clear); up 3lb; chance.

11/4

5/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 207-21 D

Last run: 126 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Only his third run over fences when arriving late on the scene at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) and a 3lb rise is neither here nor there; highly likely he has more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

4th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

17:25 Huntingdon

Icare Grandchamp

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Landed his third success over fences at Plumpton (2m1f, soft) in February; shaped as if his stamina gave out when third of five finishers here (2m4f, good to soft) last month; may be worth another chance back in trip on better ground.

4/1

3rd

6

1st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 3

14:45 Huntingdon

Icare Grandchamp

10st 6lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Justified favouritism at Plumpton (soft) dropped back to 2m1f last time, building on a solid Haydock effort and taking chase record to 3-8; versatile and steadily progressive sort who gained his other wins over 2m4f/2m5f on good ground; respected.

7/4

1st

4

9th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 219y

Class 4

15:15 Plumpton

Icare Grandchamp

11st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Seven runs over fences have produced two wins and as many seconds; bumped into a progressive rival last time at Haydock (2m4f, good to soft) and should have a part to play.

11/8

Form: 244-04 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Won off a higher mark over hurdles; only fourth on his return to fences (0-6) at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft) when 1lb higher and there were no excuses.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

5th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

16:35 Market Rasen

Zestful Hope

11st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Charlie Longsdon

Five wins include two over fences; he'll need to run a lot better than he did in a handicap chase at Warwick a month ago (after 101 days away) and in any case he could be vulnerable to stronger stayers over this far.

10/1

4th

3

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

21:00 Warwick

Zestful Hope

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Charlie Longsdon

Five wins include two over fences, the latest at Huntingdon in October (2m4f, good) when 2lb higher; not so good in his five subsequent defeats and record when fresh is modest.

9/2

3rd

2

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 2f 208y

Class 4

16:40 Hereford

Zestful Hope

11st 13lb

J: James Bowen

T: Charlie Longsdon

Won this in 2025 (good to soft) and was also on target at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) in October; back on a good mark now and should be fine on today's forecast soft ground but has become far too inconsistent to rely upon.

6/1

Form: 11122- BF

Last run: 199 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Last season's productive campaign over hurdles came at a cost mark-wise but she signed off with good run in defeat at Chepstow; won her only point so entitled to make a chaser and she's an assured stayer over this far.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

21st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 1

15:00 Exeter

Lady Balko

11st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Made very good progress over hurdles then fences last year, with the latest of six wins gained in quite valuable mares' handicap chase at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft) in December; will be dangerous if in similar mood here but suffered a worrying slump in form on her two starts last month and needs a good boost from the new cheekpieces.

10/1

1

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

Lady Balko

12st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Sent chasing this term and twice made all in handicaps at Plumpton (3m2f) before always prominent to take one at Hereford (3m1f); ran poorly in mares' Listed race at Newbury 16 days ago when soft going should not have been a problem; needs to resume improvement and moves into the unknown stamina-wise.

6/1

1

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

Lady Balko

12st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Sent chasing this term and twice made all in handicaps at Plumpton (3m2f) before always prominent to take one at Hereford (3m1f); ran poorly in mares' Listed race at Newbury 16 days ago when soft going should not have been a problem; needs to resume improvement and moves into the unknown stamina-wise.

6/1

Form: 6405-7

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Competitive on occasions but went 0-7 over hurdles and finished last on his switch to fences at Wetherby (2m5f, good to soft); wasn't beaten far in fairness to him and could come on for the run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

13:30 Newcastle

Hawkseye View

11st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Made it 12th-time lucky over fences when scoring over C&D (good to soft; from 2lb lower) three starts back; excuses since - fell, and then out of depth in a valuable Class 2 Series Final at Carlisle; could bounce back with Danny McMenamin returning to the saddle.

11/4

10th

12

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

16:27 Carlisle

Hawkseye View

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Mid-race faller last weekend when bidding for a Newcastle double (maiden under rules previously); ran respectably over C&D in February; 4lb out of weights but could go well with a clear round.

8/1

3

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

16:35 Newcastle

Hawkseye View

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Point winner; won his first race under rules here last time (2m4f, good to soft; cheekpieces on for third time); seems equally effective at this trip and should go well off this 3lb higher mark.

7/2

Form: 25PP-1 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Maiden hurdler but made a winning start over fences at Ludlow (2m4f, good; fine on soft) where he jumped well and dug deep to prevail narrowly; raised a fair 3lb and it could be onwards and upwards.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

4th Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:32 Warwick

Iron DEx

11st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Ended last season in poor form but made quite encouraging reappearance when fourth (about 9l behind Ballynaheer) at Hereford (3m1f, good) three weeks ago; on very good mark now and has cheekpieces refitted today; dangerous to ignore.

4/1

2nd

4

4th Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:32 Warwick

Iron DEx

11st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Ended last season in poor form but made quite encouraging reappearance when fourth (about 9l behind Ballynaheer) at Hereford (3m1f, good) three weeks ago; on very good mark now and has cheekpieces refitted today; dangerous to ignore.

4/1

2nd

4

4th Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:32 Warwick

Iron DEx

11st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Ended last season in poor form but made quite encouraging reappearance when fourth (about 9l behind Ballynaheer) at Hereford (3m1f, good) three weeks ago; on very good mark now and has cheekpieces refitted today; dangerous to ignore.

4/1

Form: 3/21-2 D

Last run: 166 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won one of his three hurdle starts and finished clear second in a small field on his handicap debut (2m3f, good to soft) when the winner dominated from the front; very much bred for fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:55 Warwick

Baltray

12st 0lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Emma Lavelle

Yet to add to his maiden hurdle win in 2023 but fairly lightly raced in the meantime and ran quite well when third at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) last month; still unexposed over this sort of trip; raced mainly on good ground; could have a say.

6/1

3rd

2

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:20 Newton Abbot

Baltray

11st 11lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Emma Lavelle

Runner-up off 3lb higher at Stratford (2m6f, good) in October but he's struggled in both subsequent runs; hurdling record is now 1-10 and he has stamina to prove at this new trip after another break; down the list.

14/1

5th

4

9th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

16:30 Plumpton

Baltray

11st 9lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Emma Lavelle

1-9 over hurdles; absent since a poor performance in November but the form of his second off today's mark at Stratford (2m6f, good; handles good to soft) two starts ago has been well advertised by the winner in the meantime; can feature if fully tuned up.

7/1

Form: 33P24-

Last run: 241 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Won an Irish point but went 0-5 for Dan Skelton whom he left for £15,000; did show some promise in maidens and pedigree points towards likely improvement as a chaser.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

18:38 Huntingdon

Micro Millions

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Sheila Lewis

Winning pointer who is 0-5 over hurdles and 0-6 as a chaser; hasn't been threatening to put that right, with and without headgear; found a weak race here but could do with upping his game.

6/1

5th

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

18:38 Huntingdon

Micro Millions

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Sheila Lewis

Winning pointer who is 0-5 over hurdles and 0-6 as a chaser; hasn't been threatening to put that right, with and without headgear; found a weak race here but could do with upping his game.

6/1

5th

2

27th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:27 Warwick

Micro Millions

11st 11lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Winning pointer; ten defeats under rules divided between hurdles and fences; beaten 14l and about 10l in his last two races and needs extra.

10/1

Form: 13551- D

Last run: 190 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
All out to win a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Ffos Las in April (2m4f, good to soft), beating a subsequent winner; 7lb higher for this switch to fences but has the scope to do well in this discipline.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

16:37 Newbury

Valens Bruyee

11st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Rebecca Curtis

Cheekpieces back on for his last three races and competitive in two of those, over 2m4f and 3m; however, his profile is notoriously inconsistent and softer ground would be preferable.

12/1

3rd

4

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 4

15:35 Taunton

Valens Bruyee

11st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Returned to form and ran big race in defeat when back over hurdles in refitted cheekpieces at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) in December but was quickly back in the doldrums last month and now has it all to prove again.

16/1

8

15th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

16:08 Newbury

Valens Bruyee

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

midfield on outer, lost ground and towards rear 7th, pushed along when not fluent 4 out

6/1

Non-runners

One More Stroke, Im Ravenous

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £81.20
Straight Forecast £63.21
Tricast £373.50
Trifecta £679.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

I'm Ravenous

TOPSPEED:

Icare Grandchamp

Daily Mail:

Lady Balko

The Times:

Iron D'Ex

RP RATINGS:

Zestful Hope

The Star:

Billytherealbigred

D Express:

Hawkseye View

Daily Record:

Lady Balko

Telegraph:

Iron D'Ex

WEST COUNTRY:

I'm Ravenous

Daily Mirror:

I'm Ravenous

POSTDATA:

Zestful Hope

The Guardian:

Icare Grandchamp

The Sun:

Icare Grandchamp