December 04 / 13.30 Ludlow

13.30

Good To Soft

McCartneys Ltd Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 1m 7f 212y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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McCartneys Ltd Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.30

Form: P555-2

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
A maiden after 16 starts but only her last five runs were in Britain for Venetia Williams and she was a long way clear of the others when second to a next-time-out winner on last month's seasonal debut at Warwick (2m, good to soft; first-time hood); obvious contender off same mark here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

15:37 Exeter

Ostrava Du Berlais

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Made encouraging seasonal debut over 2m4f in November but has been well beaten over that trip three times since; she's suited by good ground and can outclass this field if back on song but is unraced beyond about 2m5f and arrives with a fair bit to prove.

13/2

5th

2

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

Ostrava Du Berlais

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Dual chase winner in December 2024 and fairly consistent since, but she has struggled back up in class on last two starts, albeit they were some tough assignments; should appreciate this ease in class and she's capable of making her presence felt.

4/1

8th

8

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 42y

Class 2

14:25 Windsor

Ostrava Du Berlais

10st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Struggled in similar event at Cheltenham last time, ending a reasonably consistent spell of form; faces another difficult assignment and may need a return to calmer waters; gained her only wins in Class 4 and Class 5 in December 2024.

25/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: P431-2 C

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Scored here (2m, soft) on handicap hurdle debut in March and was creditable second in race that developed into a slog on seasonal/chase debut at Bangor (2m1f, soft) in October; given five weeks off to recover from those exertions and should still have more to offer over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

13:37 Southwell

Dromlac Jury

10st 4lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

Hurdle winner at Ludlow (2m, soft); two decent runs over fences this season, last time finishing fourth at Warwick (2m, soft); each-way chance.

4/1

2

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

15:40 Warwick

Dromlac Jury

11st 11lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

Won over hurdles (2m, soft) last March; five starts over fences and has run respectably in four of them, including when third of nine at Worcester (2m, good) on her return last month; winner was a good second at Aintree next time; respected from the same mark.

3/1

3rd

9

22nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

13:30 Worcester

Dromlac Jury

10st 5lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

0-4 over fences but ran well to be third in a Cheltenham handicap for mares in April, finishing close up behind Somespring Special who recently won well at Chepstow; lurks off the lowest weight and could play a part.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1-2441 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Lacked fluency on chasing debut at Fakenham in October but got into a much better jumping rhythm before cruising clear to win very comfortably at Southwell (2m, good) last month; could still be well treated after a 9lb rise and commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

17:40 Cartmel

Jolyjump

11st 10lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

Winning hurdler/chaser for the Moores and still fairly treated on his runner-up efforts at Southwell (2m, good to soft) and Plumpton (2m1f, good) in the spring; picked up for £16,000 last month and shortlisted on stable debut, especially if market positive.

6/1

4th

7

13th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:30 Worcester

Jolyjump

10st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

1-7 over fences and not the easiest to predict; still ran well last time at Plumpton (2m1f, good; first-time cheekpieces) where his jumping got ragged late on; hard to rule out.

3/1

Form: 247356 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Has rather mixed record since winning over hurdles for Dan Skelton in June but was in contention before sprawling on landing at penultimate fence on recent chasing debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good); not out of this if on another going day; cheekpieces removed after one use.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

15:55 Ludlow

River Robe

10st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Respectable third at Market Rasen last time but is far from guaranteed to go two places better, being the least productive contender in this field; overall strike-rate is just 1-25 and chase record is 0-6.

8/1

3rd

7

4th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 4

15:35 Market Rasen

River Robe

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

With Dan Skelton when gaining her only success and she's again out of the weights here; opposable.

25/1

8

19th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

15:05 Ludlow

River Robe

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

With Dan Skelton when gaining her only success and hard to envisage her doubling that tally here from well out of the weights.

66/1

Form: 773P00

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
0-23 under all codes when trained in Ireland and did not get competitive on last month's stable debut (over hurdles); might well come good for Dan Skelton at some stage but others in this line-up have much less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

19th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Ballydangan

10st 7lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Hugh Burns

Two wins at Hexham (3m, good to soft) last year and on a handy mark on that form; soft ground may not have suited here last time but he's now been well below par on his last two starts and has to get back on track.

12/1

4th

3

19th Feb 2026

3m 2f 59y

Class 5

15:08 Sedgefield

Ballydangan

11st 3lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Hugh Burns

Won twice over 3m at Hexham last year (good); pulled up when returning from a short break at Catterick last time; conditions perhaps not ideal and a bit to prove.

9/1

Form: 436-47

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Beaten about 22l when seventh of eight on last month's chase/handicap debut at Chepstow but travelled well to a point that day and was not given a hard time when beaten; remains unexposed; possible improver.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:52 Southwell

Jackpot Cash

11st 4lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won two chases and two hurdles on good/good to soft in 2025, including over this C&D last February; wasn't at his best in the autumn but wouldn't rule out completely.

8/1

3

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:30 Uttoxeter

Jackpot Cash

11st 13lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Did very well for new stable in first half of this year, winning two hurdles and two chases; unseated rider in a chase this month, after a break, but could plausibly still have more improvement to come; respected.

7/2

3

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:30 Uttoxeter

Jackpot Cash

11st 13lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Did very well for new stable in first half of this year, winning two hurdles and two chases; unseated rider in a chase this month, after a break, but could plausibly still have more improvement to come; respected.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.30
Straight Forecast £7.52
Trifecta £12.90

Selections

POSTDATA:

Ostrava Du Berlais

RP RATINGS:

Dromlac Jury

SPOTLIGHT:

Jolyjump

The Guardian:

Jolyjump

The Sun:

Jolyjump

Telegraph:

Dromlac Jury

D Express:

Dromlac Jury

Daily Mirror:

Dromlac Jury

The Times:

Ostrava Du Berlais

Daily Mail:

Ostrava Du Berlais

The Star:

Ostrava Du Berlais

Daily Record:

Ostrava Du Berlais