December 09 / 14.15 Musselburgh

14.15

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 4f 68y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.30

Form: -P6531

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Jumped well when readily making all at Southwell (3m, good) last month; has also shown promise on soft ground; he could have more to offer now things have clicked and he's respected up 6lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

27th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:05 Southwell

Stringtoyourbow

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

took keen hold, led, fell heavily 2nd

5/2

3/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 2113-3

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Won two novice hurdles earlier this year (2m3f/2m1f, soft) and respectable third of four at Hexham (1m7f, good) last month on his chase and seasonal debut (behind The Churchill Lad); this very lightly raced 3m/2m4f point runner-up is open to improvement now up in trip and is one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:05 Wetherby

One More Stroke

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Won when upped to 2m7f at Musselburgh (2m7f, good to soft) in February and his novice chase campaign concluded with a close third at Perth (3m, good to soft) in April; he's had wind surgery since; he may improve for today's reappearance outing but this lightly raced 6yo is not ruled out.

9/1

4th

6

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:05 Wetherby

One More Stroke

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Won when upped to 2m7f at Musselburgh (2m7f, good to soft) in February and his novice chase campaign concluded with a close third at Perth (3m, good to soft) in April; he's had wind surgery since; he may improve for today's reappearance outing but this lightly raced 6yo is not ruled out.

9/1

7

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:40 Perth

One More Stroke

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

In the frame in five of his six races over fences this season, winning over this trip at Musselburgh in February (good to soft) and last time finishing 8l fourth at Carlisle (3m, good); each-way chance.

13/2

Form: 763411 C

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Narrow victories the last twice at Wetherby (3m, good) and here (2m7f, good to soft); probably wouldn't want soft ground; the drop back in trip isn't an obvious plus but this in-form 7yo could give another good account.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

17:05 Cartmel

Cardamon Hill

11st 4lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Miss A M Slack

Three listless performances since returning from 13 months out; 12lb below his last winning mark now, but no good thing to capitalise.

100/1

5

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Cardamon Hill

11st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Miss A M Slack

Won twice in November 2024 (2m7f/3m, good/good to soft) but mainly disappointing since including on both runs since a 404-day break; plenty to prove at present.

20/1

5th

3

10th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 4

13:57 Sedgefield

Cardamon Hill

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Miss A M Slack

Stays 3m and acts on the forecast sound surface; 50-1, always behind and pulled up on his return from 13 months off the track at Wetherby on latest start; bit to prove.

9/1

Form: 6-1297 D

Last run: 134 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Below par on last two starts in the summer; subsequent wind op may make a difference and he won at Sedgefield in May on his third chase start, but others arrive with less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

11th Sep 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

17:35 Uttoxeter

Leading Force

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

C&D winner in May on his second start for James Owen and was holding his form until heavy defeats in his final two races; now on a recovery mission.

8/1

3rd

2

29th Aug 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:18 Fontwell

Leading Force

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Scored at Uttoxeter (3m, good) in May, his second start for James Owen, and ran big race when clear second to thriving opponent at Cartmel (3m1f, soft) in June; needs to bounce back from last month's duff effort at Market Rasen but still features prominently in calculations.

4/1

7

19th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:00 Market Rasen

Leading Force

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

Looked a hard ride when second at Bangor (3m, good) but travelled sweeter with the blinkers back on at Cartmel (3m1f, soft) and just missed out; nudged up another 3lb but has to be respected.

8/1

Form: P242-5

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Remains a maiden but runner-up last season on two of his first three chase starts (2m4f, soft/heavy) and he reappeared with a fair fifth at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft); could build on that latest run; on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

25th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:43 Perth

Monochromix

11st 13lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

If he's to make the breakthrough it will probably be over fences (0-9; three seconds) but he wasn't pulling up any trees when last seen in the spring.

10/1

6th

10

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Monochromix

10st 12lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

in rear

20/1

6th

10

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Monochromix

10st 12lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

in rear

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 733122 BF

Last run: 31 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who won on chase debut at Hexham (1m7f, good) in October and has run well in second the next twice (2m/1m7f, good to soft/good); he's fine at this trip (and on a variety of ground) and was effective here over hurdles; can make another bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

9th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 4

14:15 Musselburgh

The Churchill Lad

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

sweating, took keen hold, led, headed but prominent before 5th, mistake and lost position 8th, rallying when mistake 4 out, weakened before 3 out

4/1

1

9th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 4

14:15 Musselburgh

The Churchill Lad

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Front-runner who won on chase debut at Hexham (1m7f, good) in October and has run well in second the next twice (2m/1m7f, good to soft/good); he's fine at this trip (and on a variety of ground) and was effective here over hurdles; can make another bold bid.

4/1

2nd

2

8th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 4

14:45 Hexham

The Churchill Lad

11st 13lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Winning hurdler who has taken well to fences, beating Caithness by a head over C&D on debut last month before fair second off this 4lb higher mark at Carlisle (2m, good to soft); should go well again.

11/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.70
Straight Forecast £12.92
Trifecta £37.50

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Cardamon Hill

SPOTLIGHT:

One More Stroke

RP RATINGS:

The Churchill Lad

Telegraph:

Monochromix

The Star:

Stringtoyourbow

The Times:

One More Stroke

Daily Mail:

One More Stroke

The Guardian:

Monochromix

POSTDATA:

The Churchill Lad

Daily Record:

The Churchill Lad

D Express:

Cardamon Hill

Daily Mirror:

Cardamon Hill

The Sun:

Cardamon Hill