November 02 / 14.05 Ascot

14.05

Good

Byrne Group Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £56950
  • 2m 0f 167y
  • Class 1
  • 10 runners
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Byrne Group Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 23111- CD

Last run: 189 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Competitive without looking ahead of his mark last season until rattling off a hat-trick (2m1f-2m4f) in the spring on heavy and good ground, never more impressive than at Sandown the final time; went up another 7lb for that but something evidently clicked and he returns in a race his trainer has targeted in the past.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

14/1

  • Place: £5.10

Form: 31155- D

Last run: 194 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Hit the ground running over fences last season with two Newbury wins (2m, soft) and made light work of Martator on the first occasion; struggled on two visits to Kempton once the ground had dried up and conditions again have to be a concern; 2lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 62y

Class 2

14:25 Cheltenham

Issar dAiry

10st 4lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

led, ridden after 2 out, headed last, no extra run-in

9/2

2nd

5

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 62y

Class 2

14:25 Cheltenham

Issar dAiry

10st 4lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

led, ridden after 2 out, headed last, no extra run-in

9/2

4th

5

30th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 2

15:35 Newbury

Issar dAiry

11st 4lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Second-season chaser who posted a very solid effort (form has substance) at Ascot on reappearance and remains open to further progress; 2-2 over C&D and looks interesting back here.

4/1

20/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 11F34- D

Last run: 189 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Not always the most fluent of jumpers but still won three handicaps last season (1m7f-2m3f) before the handicapper seemed to get hold of him; even this slightly reduced mark could be troublesome at this level of competition.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

21st Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 2f 175y

Class 2

13:15 Ascot

Kotmask

10st 13lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

prominent, mistake 9th, joined leader 4 out, led 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, hit last, ridden out run-in

100/30

OUR TIP

Form: 214F2- D

Last run: 203 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Impressed in all departments when winning a 2m Grade 2 at Kempton last Christmas (good to soft); luckless afterwards, even at Aintree the final time where he pulled clear with top notcher Found A Fifty only to go down in a bobbing finish; a 4lb rise for nearly winning a Grade 1 is perfectly fair and Tom Bellamy gets a tune out of him; his class could count.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 62y

Class 2

14:25 Cheltenham

Master Chewy

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

jumped right on occasions, in touch with leaders, pushed along and went third 2 out, ridden and no extra run-in

11/4

3rd

1

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 62y

Class 2

14:25 Cheltenham

Master Chewy

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

jumped right on occasions, in touch with leaders, pushed along and went third 2 out, ridden and no extra run-in

11/4

5

7th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Master Chewy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, fell 6th

16/1

Form: 4-8832 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Knocking on two years since last successful and this is tougher than when second at Kempton 13 days ago (2m2f, good); well treated (even from 3lb out of the weights) on his close second here last November (after finishing fifth in this) but on all his subsequent form this task looks challenging.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

8th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 5f 150y

Class 5

14:45 Taunton

Frere DArmes

12st 6lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

prominent, not fluent 8th, soon lost ground, mistake 9th, bad mistake 11th, soon weakened

2/1

2

8th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 5f 150y

Class 5

14:45 Taunton

Frere DArmes

12st 6lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

prominent, not fluent 8th, soon lost ground, mistake 9th, bad mistake 11th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out

2/1

1

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

15:13 Fakenham

Frere DArmes

12st 0lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Never really got involved in valuable Ascot handicap last month and remains without a win since November 2022 but his clear second off this mark at Kempton (2m2f, good) in October was a good effort and he has possibilities if his stamina holds out; cheekpieces refitted.

5/1

Form: 315-0P D

Last run: 147 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Made all in competitive 2m1f handicap at Fairyhouse in January (soft) but has never been the easiest to predict and the wheels have come off big time; usual hood returns after it was omitted for his final run; opposable despite the lure of the Mullins/Townend factor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

30th Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 1f 0y

12:45 Fairyhouse

Uncle Phil

11st 9lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, lost ground before 2nd, towards rear before 7th

13/2

8th

2

30th Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 1f 0y

12:45 Fairyhouse

Uncle Phil

11st 9lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, lost ground before 2nd, towards rear before 7th

13/2

6th

2

2nd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Uncle Phil

11st 9lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Made all in competitive 2m1f handicap at Fairyhouse in January (soft) but has never been the easiest to predict and the wheels have come off big time; usual hood returns after it was omitted for his final run; opposable despite the lure of the Mullins/Townend factor.

10/1

Form: 2U36-4 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
His reappearance run after wind surgery hardly got the blood pumping but it could be that he needed the run; interesting on his form here early last season, when third in this race and unfortunate not to win on his return visit (ahead when falling at the last); on a good mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

18th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Saint Segal

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Jane Williams

Last won in January 2023; the form pick judged on peak efforts, including three last winter; they were 2m or 2m1f but his never-dangerous fifth of nine over C&D on latest outing gave some renewed hope, given he was badly hampered at the start.

4/1

Form: U6119- D

Last run: 234 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 5yo who looked a horse to follow in going back-to-back in 2m/2m1f handicaps at Cheltenham and Leopardstown last winter; duly went off at only 11-2 for the Grand Annual where all hope was lost with a blunder three out; an upwardly mobile 5yo but softer ground would heighten interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Madara

10st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

in touch with leaders on outer

7/2

2nd

8

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Madara

10st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

in touch with leaders on outer

7/2

4th

12

16th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

14:20 Cheltenham

Madara

10st 2lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Campaigned at about 2m in Britain; registered two notable wins on soft ground last winter for Sophie Leech but has proved disappointing in two subsequent runs, latest for Keiran Burke; enough to prove back up in distance on debut for Dan Skelton.

16/1

Form: -1111P D BF

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Easy on the eye when bossing lesser opposition to win his first four over fences (2m-2m1f; good or faster) and an early mistake seemed to dent his confidence when pulled up at Newton Abbot; jumps well in the main but has got himself high in the weights ahead of his stiffest test to date over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

2nd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Matterhorn

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Paul Nicholls

Easy on the eye when bossing lesser opposition to win his first four over fences (2m-2m1f; good or faster) and an early mistake seemed to dent his confidence when pulled up at Newton Abbot; jumps well in the main but has got himself high in the weights ahead of his stiffest test to date over fences.

9/1

9th

4

2nd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Matterhorn

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Paul Nicholls

Easy on the eye when bossing lesser opposition to win his first four over fences (2m-2m1f; good or faster) and an early mistake seemed to dent his confidence when pulled up at Newton Abbot; jumps well in the main but has got himself high in the weights ahead of his stiffest test to date over fences.

9/1

1

22nd Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 2

15:55 Newton Abbot

Matterhorn

12st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Paul Nicholls

led, bad mistake and headed 3rd, not fluent 9th, pulled up quickly before 10th

2/5

Form: 7P33-2 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Three wins two seasons back included a verdict over Saint Segal when giving that one 13lb; ran poorly on sole previous visit to Ascot last November but it would be remiss not to grant him some respect after an encouraging return at Kelso.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

27th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 36y

Class 2

14:45 Wetherby

Malystic

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Peter Niven

held up in last, switched right before 9th, niggled along briefly home turn, fell heavily 4 out

4/1

1

27th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 36y

Class 2

14:45 Wetherby

Malystic

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Peter Niven

held up in last, switched right before 9th, niggled along briefly home turn, fell heavily 4 out

4/1

6

27th Dec 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Kempton

Malystic

10st 5lb

T: Peter Niven

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £121.40
Straight Forecast £99.00
Tricast £965.31
Trifecta £996.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Master Chewy

WEST COUNTRY:

Saint Segal

RP RATINGS:

Frere d'Armes

Daily Mirror:

Martator

D Express:

Saint Segal

The Star:

Saint Segal

TOPSPEED:

Master Chewy

The Times:

Master Chewy

Telegraph:

Master Chewy

The Guardian:

Master Chewy

Daily Mail:

Master Chewy

The Sun:

Master Chewy

Daily Record:

Master Chewy

POSTDATA:

Frere d'Armes