December 05 / 15.10 Wincanton

15.10

Good To Soft

Patricia Chacksfield 70th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3960.75
  • 3m 2f 162y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
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Patricia Chacksfield 70th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 32-4P8

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Yard won the most recent running, in 2022; well treated on his best 3m chase form but modest efforts since back from absence and well behind Jony Max at Warwick recently; one to watch now going in cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 57y

Class 5

15:27 Taunton

Marettimo

11st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Bill Turner

held up in rear, slow jump 2nd, headway 13th, weakened before 3 out

20/1

7th

5

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 57y

Class 5

15:27 Taunton

Marettimo

11st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Bill Turner

held up in rear, slow jump 2nd, headway 13th, weakened before 3 out

20/1

7

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 4

14:13 Fakenham

Marettimo

10st 8lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

Returned from long absence with fairly encouraging run at Fontwell (3m2f, good to soft) in October but has looked out of sorts since and has a lot more to prove than some of these.

33/1

Form: 82F-05

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Novice hurdle winner with a mixed record in handicaps and he looked to need more practice over fences when well adrift on chase debut here (2m4f; had 3m hurdle form) a fortnight ago; Jony Max more likely for the yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Always Busy

10st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Back in good nick for his two runs last month, latterly when close third to Wicked Thoughts at Taunton (3m4f, good); still unexposed over marathon trips and still on a workable mark; could have a say.

7/1

3rd

5

9th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 85y

Class 4

16:15 Taunton

Always Busy

10st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Dual winning chaser who confirmed his well-being when second of four finishers at Southwell (3m, good) eight days ago; steps up in trip and if that brings about any improvement then he should be in the firing line.

11/4

2nd

3

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

Always Busy

11st 7lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight

T: Christian Williams

Hasn't obviously been shaping as if likely to strike again (pulled up in Chepstow race Fern Hill was second in last time) but the fact he won over C&D on good off an identical mark last spring makes him a dangerous one to dismiss.

11/2

Form: 35PP/P C

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Right down the weights since his sole chase win, over C&D in late 2021, but he was pulled up in both starts before his absence and again on his return at Chepstow last month; too much to prove at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

9

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

15:40 Exeter

Butterwick Brook

11st 2lb

J: Mr Liam Trott

T: Joe Tizzard

He's tumbled down the weights but for good reason, having been pulled up on his last four starts; the return to hurdles and the first-time tongue-tie need to have a dramatically positive effect; blinkers left off.

25/1

13th

9

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

15:40 Exeter

Butterwick Brook

11st 2lb

J: Mr Liam Trott

T: Joe Tizzard

He's tumbled down the weights but for good reason, having been pulled up on his last four starts; the return to hurdles and the first-time tongue-tie need to have a dramatically positive effect; blinkers left off.

25/1

6

5th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 162y

Class 5

15:10 Wincanton

Butterwick Brook

11st 6lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

took keen hold, prominent, not fluent 10th, lost position 14th, struggling 5 out, pulled up before 4 out

14/1

Form: -38547 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
On a losing run and in difficulties in three of his last four starts, including behind School For Scandal over C&D in October and at Fakenham 16 days ago; has been wearing headgear but just a tongue-tie today; work cut out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

15:50 Taunton

Dindin

10st 13lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: David Pipe

midfield

20/1

9th

5

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

15:50 Taunton

Dindin

10st 13lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: David Pipe

High-mileage veteran who looked out of sorts on his final two appearances in 2024; too well handicapped to rule out but younger rivals appeal more; blinkers refitted.

20/1

7

5th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 162y

Class 5

15:10 Wincanton

Dindin

11st 4lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: David Pipe

On a losing run and in difficulties in three of his last four starts, including behind School For Scandal over C&D in October and at Fakenham 16 days ago; has been wearing headgear but just a tongue-tie today; work cut out.

16/1

Form: 522-32

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Not yet off the mark but has been running well and his latest two chase runs, at Fontwell (3m2f, soft) and Lingfield (2m7f, good), have been won by improvers; likely contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

15

7th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

14:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Caeruleum

11st 1lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Has found improvement from somewhere to win back-to-back 3m2f handicaps with seemingly lots to spare, on soft and good to soft; raised in grade here and hit with 10lb for last time, but this 7yo looks firmly on the upgrade.

13/2

Form: 3620-6

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Won 2m7f Exeter hurdle last November (under Freddie Gingell, switches to Butterwick Brook) but didn't go on; ran well for a long way on chase debut at Stratford in October and capable of better today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:10 Exeter

Moonlight Artist

10st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

C&D (good to soft) and 3m chase winner (good) who is back on that last winning chase mark; has been better in this discipline and is on a handy mark but was unable to take advantage over C&D latest.

5/1

4th

16

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

14:20 Exeter

Moonlight Artist

10st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Won over C&D in 2023 and was also successful over fences last spring but has not been firing on all cylinders this season and is inconsistent nowadays too.

20/1

5th

6

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 82y

Class 5

13:05 Wincanton

Moonlight Artist

10st 4lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Joe Tizzard

Record of 1-10 over hurdles and has the same strike-rate over fences; his last success was in a chase handicap at Warwick (3m, good) last April but he's not matched that form since and was tailed off at Exeter last time; comes with risks attached after a break and his last hurdle run was 12 months ago.

10/1

Form: /97P-P

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a point two years ago but very lightly raced since and pulled up in both handicaps, over fences and hurdles; huge turnaround needed with first-time blinkers added to refitted tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

5th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 162y

Class 5

15:10 Wincanton

Katopop

10st 9lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Anthony Charlton

didn't always jump with fluency, raced lazily at times, took keen hold, midfield, struggling 15th, pulled up before 5 out

50/1

10

5th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 162y

Class 5

15:10 Wincanton

Katopop

10st 9lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Anthony Charlton

Runner-up in a point two years ago but very lightly raced since and pulled up in both handicaps, over fences and hurdles; huge turnaround needed with first-time blinkers added to refitted tongue-tie.

50/1

7

17th Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:50 Fontwell

Katopop

11st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Anthony Charlton

Had wind surgery and with a new trainer, but he showed nothing over hurdles and was pulled up on chase/handicap debut when last seen.

12/1

Form: 8P7211 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Had the upper hand over Jony Max in two runs this autumn, over C&D and at Taunton, proving a shade sharper than the runner-up on the latter occasion, albeit Jony Max was returning quickly under a penalty; close between them on these terms; bang there.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

School For Scandal

10st 9lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Joe Tickle

Two more chase wins in 2025, the latest at Windsor (3m, good to soft; suited by good) in November; often battled with unsuitable ground over the winter but 4lb lower than at Windsor so has a weights chance.

10/1

3rd

7

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

17:20 Taunton

School For Scandal

10st 8lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Joe Tickle

Has five wins over fences including one over C&D; below form on his last two starts but may show improvement on this better ground.

12/1

5

16th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

School For Scandal

10st 10lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Joe Tickle

2lb below his Windsor success in November but he's not matched that level since, latest when well held at Taunton (2m7f, heavy) last month; needs the return to better ground to spark a revival.

25/1

Form: 6/707-

Last run: 286 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
No form claims on 2m novice and maiden hurdle runs but he's bred to appreciate this much greater test of stamina now he goes handicap chasing off a modest mark so no surprise if he shows something new.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

17:20 Wincanton

Benville Bridge

10st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Fiona Shaw

towards rear, mistake 4th, reminders after 6th, badly hampered by faller 3 out, soon lost touch

50/1

12

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

14:25 Wincanton

Benville Bridge

10st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Fiona Shaw

Didn't show much in novice hurdles last winter and pulled up last month on first two handicap/chase starts; a transformation is needed now back over hurdles in first-time cheekpieces.

33/1

12

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

14:25 Wincanton

Benville Bridge

10st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Fiona Shaw

Didn't show much in novice hurdles last winter and pulled up last month on first two handicap/chase starts; a transformation is needed now back over hurdles in first-time cheekpieces.

33/1

Form: 157-76

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Beat two finishers in a 2m chase at Fakenham in February but he's been in no sort of form over 2m3f and 3m2f this autumn when back from a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

7th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Elpologreg

10st 2lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Seamus Mullins

Three places before stopping quickly and pulling up at Newton Abbot (3m2f, heavy; handles that ground) last time and his jumping wasn't the best; not overly appealing from 5lb out of the weights.

10/1

Non-runners

Jony Max, Langley Hundred, Safe Destination

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jony Max

RP RATINGS:

Caeruleum

Telegraph:

Safe Destination

WEST COUNTRY:

School For Scandal

D Express:

Benville Bridge

POSTDATA:

Langley Hundred

Daily Record:

Caeruleum

The Sun:

Safe Destination

The Times:

Jony Max

Daily Mail:

Jony Max

Daily Mirror:

Jony Max

The Star:

School For Scandal