December 07 / 12.27 Chepstow

12.27

Soft

Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £6178.77
  • 2m 3f 98y
  • Class 3
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 3511-5 CD

Last run: 39 days

W: 12st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Often leads; C&D winner who ran as though the run was needed on comeback here in October; in career-best form in February, with two 2m3f wins at Wetherby (both on soft) and perhaps even this career-high mark won't be beyond him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Eaton Collina

11st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

headed after 3rd, led, not fluent 4th, soon lost ground, in rear when weakened after 10th

8/1

11

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Eaton Collina

11st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

headed after 3rd, led, not fluent 4th, soon lost ground, in rear when weakened after 10th

8/1

5th

5

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

14:05 Haydock

Eaton Collina

11st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Kerry Lee

Completed a Wetherby double (2m3f, soft) last February and he's back down to his last winning mark; hasn't hit the same heights this season but ran okay when third at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) last month and he now contests his first veterans' chase; could be involved.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 3743-4

Last run: 203 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Ended latest campaign over 3m, finishing close up off a reduced mark at Uttoxeter in April, but the return to shorter can prove a good move; still some doubts as to whether he's well treated on first run since May.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 41y

Class 3

16:08 Windsor

Red Rookie

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

10yo who is 2-16 over fences with latest win in March 2023, but he took some minor honours over a wide variety of trips last January-May; has a recent run under his belt and, having run creditably in the first of two runs with cheekpieces, he now tries a visor.

25/1

11

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 41y

Class 3

16:08 Windsor

Red Rookie

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

10yo who is 2-16 over fences with latest win in March 2023, but he took some minor honours over a wide variety of trips last January-May; has a recent run under his belt and, having run creditably in the first of two runs with cheekpieces, he now tries a visor.

25/1

8

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:34 Ffos Las

Red Rookie

10st 11lb

T: Emma Lavelle

Form: 111F-1 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Won all three completions in handicap hurdles and his chase debut at Bangor (2m4f, soft) in October could hardly have gone better as he made mincemeat of subsequent winners; followed up at Exeter (2m1f, soft) yesterday; would have to be respected under a 7lb penalty if running again today.
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

Form: /4115/ D

Last run: 712 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Hurdle winner on soft; couldn't keep up the momentum of two Wincanton wins (2m4f; good to firm and good) in late 2022, when last seen in December that year; it's asking a lot for him to return in top form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

16:00 Wincanton

Don Alvaro

11st 11lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Dual 2m4f course winner in November 2022; back on a good mark now but looked out of sorts when returning from long absence at Fakenham in December and his current ability is tricky to gauge; sports first-time cheekpieces.

14/1

Abandoned

Form: 350-61 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Has had a few careers already but he looked the part on second chase start, at Exeter (2m3f, good; acts on soft), even if that three-runner race took little winning; this mark should be within reach back handicapping.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:45 Taunton

Gyenyame

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

On a losing run but he's proving a consistent sort and came in a good second of eight in 3m1f handicap chase at Wincanton 19 days ago; he's firmly in the picture again off an unchanged mark.

3/1

2nd

5

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:40 Wincanton

Gyenyame

11st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Sole win since taking a 2m4f maiden hurdle on this card in 2023 came in a weak three-runner beginners' chase; respected on the form of November's Exeter 0-130 second (3m, good), however, with a tough task at the weights and (latest) desperate ground viable excuses either side of that.

6/1

3rd

2

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

16:55 Newton Abbot

Gyenyame

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Seemingly aided by blinkers when runner-up in two Class 4 handicap chases at Taunton (2m5f/2m7f) in February/March but can't be recommended in this company.

20/1

Form: 5P52-3 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Capable earlier in career; lightly raced now but was running well off reduced mark in the spring, over 2m4f and 2m7f, when tried in cheekpieces then blinkers; well held on return though and aids again left off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

1st Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

16:35 Fakenham

Belargus

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Runner-up off a reduced mark at Huntingdon (2m7f, good; first-time blinkers) last April and didn't run badly at Stratford (2m5f, heavy; no blinkers) on next start in October; now back from another absence and he's not as good as he was.

7/1

3rd

4

1st Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

16:35 Fakenham

Belargus

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Runner-up off a reduced mark at Huntingdon (2m7f, good; first-time blinkers) last April and didn't run badly at Stratford (2m5f, heavy; no blinkers) on next start in October; now back from another absence and he's not as good as he was.

7/1

Form: 3814-P

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
In good form over hurdles in March, winning at Newbury (2m4f, heavy) then a close fourth at Wetherby (2m5f, soft) but his recent chase debut at Newton Abbot didn't end well; may well do better now tongue tied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 110y

Class 4

16:18 Lingfield

Knowwhentoholdem

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

Heavy defeats switched to chasing this term, with tongue tied last time and cheekpieces added today; that equipment hints at risks but his two runs over hurdles leading into that (about 2m4f in the mud) read pretty well, so he's given a second look on his return to this discipline.

9/1

2

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 110y

Class 4

16:18 Lingfield

Knowwhentoholdem

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders, weakened after 3 out, pulled up 2 out

9/1

6th

7

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 110y

Class 4

15:17 Ffos Las

Knowwhentoholdem

11st 9lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Came good over hurdles for Anthony Charlton at Newbury (2m4f, heavy) in March and also ran well for new stable later that month, but dropped out very tamely on chasing debut in October and needs first-time tongue-tie to aid his finishing effort here.

20/1

Form: /5412-

Last run: 320 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Heading in the right direction over fences last midwinter, winning at Market Rasen (2m5f, good to soft) before a sound effort in defeat at Warwick (2m4f, soft) on final start for Tim Vaughan; has gone well fresh in the past but this might be needed and the first-time hood is an unknown.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

17

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

16:15 Punchestown

Margarets Legacy

10st 5lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

Posted two chase wins in UK in the last two years but hasn't been at his best on last three starts; all hurdle runs came in France, with two wins in 2020; others make more appeal.

40/1

12th

21

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Margarets Legacy

10st 2lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

Won last winter on first two starts for yard (2m4f, good to soft/soft) and looked set for another progressive season when second at Bangor (2m4f, soft) on reappearance; however, two underwhelming runs have followed.

66/1

6th

4

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 3

16:05 Windsor

Margarets Legacy

11st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Won two in a row last winter (2m4f, good to soft/soft) and reappeared with good second at Bangor (2m4f, soft) in November; underwhelming at Antree (2m4f, soft) since but he's better than that and it will be no surprise if he rediscovers his progressive ways this afternoon.

9/2

Abandoned

Form: 518/3-

Last run: 261 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Triple hurdle winner in France during 2022; minor form in two runs for new yard and he came home in his own time on chase debut at Ludlow in March, albeit behind rivals who are rated higher now; dropped a total of 15lb and in-form yard has won two of the last nine runnings; not ignored.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

1st Mar 2025

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

Zertakt

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Three hurdles wins in France; 0-5 in Britain but has found some consistency over fences (2m4f-3m4f) this term and looks the type to succeed for Venetia Williams soon; interesting off unaltered mark.

4/1

4th

8

19th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 162y

Class 3

15:40 Windsor

Zertakt

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Three-time hurdle winner in France; 0-4 in Britain but was placed in two chases last month (2m4f/2m6f) and has possibilities if this big step up in trip suits.

5/1

4th

8

19th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 162y

Class 3

15:40 Windsor

Zertakt

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Three-time hurdle winner in France; 0-4 in Britain but was placed in two chases last month (2m4f/2m6f) and has possibilities if this big step up in trip suits.

5/1

Form: 61433P

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Two chase wins in the summer of 2022 but seen more recently over hurdles and he didn't shine on the return to fences here 15 days ago; has much to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

29th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:31 Newton Abbot

Byzantine Empire

10st 12lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Alison Thorpe

Badly out of form over fences and on the Flat for the Flint stable this year, and was well beaten in 2m4f Warwick chase for new trainer on Tuesday; needs combination of return to hurdling and refitted cheekpieces to rekindle his enthusiasm.

16/1

9th

1

23rd Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:28 Warwick

Byzantine Empire

12st 0lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Alison Thorpe

Two-time chase winner but last success in this sphere was in 2022 and he's deteriorated considerably since; has switched yards since his last run and is well treated if new trainer can get a tune out of him.

20/1

8

31st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:10 Worcester

Byzantine Empire

11st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: John & Rhys Flint

Two-time chase winner who won off this mark over hurdles here last July; however, he's been well beaten over fences and on the Flat on his four outings this year and needs a major turnaround.

33/1

Verdict

Preference is for GYENYAME who has generally taken well to fences this autumn and gave a sound display of jumping for a colourless win at Exeter recently. Eaton Collina, only just ahead of Gyenyame here in October, is next best although Margaret’s Legacy, Don Alvaro and Zertakt are all of some interest despite lacking a recent run. Billytherealbigred made it 2-2 over fences at Exeter yesterday and a 7lb penalty may not stop him if he turns up here.[Emily Weber]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Gyenyame

TOPSPEED:

Margaret's Legacy

POSTDATA:

Billytherealbigred

The Star:

Zertakt

Daily Mirror:

Eaton Collina

Daily Mail:

Belargus

D Express:

Billytherealbigred

LAMBOURN:

Margaret's Legacy

The Guardian:

Margaret's Legacy

RP RATINGS:

Gyenyame

WEST COUNTRY:

Gyenyame

The Times:

Gyenyame

Telegraph:

Gyenyame

Daily Record:

Gyenyame