December 16 / 13.10 Plumpton

13.10

Good To Soft

Betty Chantler 97th Birthday Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 3f 164y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
Betty Chantler 97th Birthday Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 3-6133 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Successful chase debut over 2m1f here in September and similar sort of form in finishing third the last twice (all on good ground); didn't make life easy for himself by running in snatches the last time but shouldn't be far away over a longer trip that could suit him well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

23rd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 2

16:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Alien Storm

10st 11lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

Ran respectably when third of five over hurdles at regular haunt Plumpton (2m4f, good) last month; better known as a chaser these days but he looks weighted near best off this mark and is untried beyond 2m5f; has some work to do back in this sphere.

12/1

3rd

1

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

17:12 Plumpton

Alien Storm

12st 2lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Charlie Longsdon

Came up short last time when bidding for a chase hat-trick; only 1-11 over hurdles and hasn't raced in this sphere for nearly two years but there are positives, namely a lower mark in this sphere and a good overall record (4-8) at Plumpton.

7/2

5/1

  • Place: £3.30

Form: 0P0P-7 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Strike-rate of 5-12 over hurdles; didn't pull up any trees on his comeback run but that could have put him spot-on for today's chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

13th Jun 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

18:45 Newton Abbot

Hugos New Horse

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Five-time hurdle winner who came good over fences at third attempt, keeping on well for 3l success at Plumpton (3m1f, good) in April; not yet fully exposed over this sort of trip; likely contender.

7/4

1st

4

20th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 3

15:30 Plumpton

Hugos New Horse

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, headway after 14th, led 3 out

8/1

Form: 20P-U4

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Close second to a good horse in a novice hurdle at this track; got knocked out of contention early on chase debut but then ran a promising fourth at Lingfield (2m4f handicap); there should be further improvement to come.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

26th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

18:09 Plumpton

Diplomatic Ash

11st 2lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Dual chase winner but below his best in two runs over fences during March; returns to hurdling off a realistic mark and has placed form in this discipline.

100/30

2nd

4

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 13y

Class 4

14:30 Ascot

Diplomatic Ash

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won twice around Fontwell (2m3f/2m2f) during this month last year and well treated on all that; didn't appear to see out 3m last time at Kempton and the return of cheekpieces is a likely positive; goes on good ground; hard to dismiss.

3/1

Form: 63-491

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Ability in Ireland; ran in a good maiden at Chepstow before winning a weak novice hurdle at Hereford (2m, good), albeit with considerable ease; pointing background bodes well for this return to fences (fourth in an Irish hunter chase).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

15:27 Ludlow

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 10lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Won 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) in October and followed up in a chase here over the same trip later that month when finishing alone; form has dipped since, over fences and hurdles; needs to bounce back.

12/1

6th

6

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 3lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) before returning to fences at Ludlow (3m, good) where he finished alone; form has dipped since, over fences and hurdles; on a perfectly good mark if he can bounce back to form.

9/1

5th

6

18th Feb 2026

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

17:05 Ludlow

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 5lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) before returning to fences at Ludlow (3m, good) later in October where he finished alone after being left in isolation three out; tailed off in a Hereford chase on latest start and absent 107 days since; back hurdling on a competitive mark but with more to prove on worse than good to soft.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 6/403-

Last run: 317 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 8yo with flashes of good form to his name over hurdles, last time finishing third in a strong Sandown handicap in February (2m7f, good to soft); made mistakes when a well-held third in his previous chase two years ago but can be given another chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 118y

Class 3

13:15 Ascot

Dubrovnik Harry

11st 13lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Lightly raced 9yo who's had mixed form and no win in handicaps, but he was third in a valuable race at Sandown (2m7f, good to soft) last February off today's mark; having another go at fences may explain a lesser show two months ago on his only appearance since.

8/1

5th

1

16th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 3

13:10 Plumpton

Dubrovnik Harry

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Lightly raced 8yo with flashes of good form to his name over hurdles, last time finishing third in a strong Sandown handicap in February (2m7f, good to soft); made mistakes when a well-held third in his previous chase two years ago but can be given another chance.

2/1

5th

1

16th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 3

13:10 Plumpton

Dubrovnik Harry

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Lightly raced 8yo with flashes of good form to his name over hurdles, last time finishing third in a strong Sandown handicap in February (2m7f, good to soft); made mistakes when a well-held third in his previous chase two years ago but can be given another chance.

2/1

Non-runners

Sea Invasion

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.90
Straight Forecast £18.73
Trifecta £41.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Alien Storm

The Times:

Diplomatic Ash

Daily Mirror:

D'Jo Dela Barriere

WEST COUNTRY:

Sea Invasion

Daily Record:

Dubrovnik Harry

Telegraph:

Diplomatic Ash

The Guardian:

Diplomatic Ash

The Star:

D'Jo Dela Barriere

RP RATINGS:

Alien Storm

TOPSPEED:

Alien Storm

POSTDATA:

Alien Storm

Daily Mail:

Alien Storm

D Express:

Alien Storm

The Sun:

Alien Storm