December 18 / 14.25 Newbury

14.25

Good To Soft

Hooorrrrraaayyy It’s Christmas Queens Arms Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £11618.2
  • 2m 0f 92y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
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Hooorrrrraaayyy It’s Christmas Queens Arms Handicap Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.80
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 2/22-1 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 5yo who returned from 323-day absence and made virtually all on chasing debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft; front pair clear) six weeks ago; 5lb higher in stronger race here but could easily have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Javert Allen

10st 8lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Below par at Kempton (2m4f) in February last time but he's run well in defeat otherwise this season, including when fourth over C&D (good to soft) on his reappearance in a race that worked out extremely well; this front-runner could make a bold bid in first-time cheekpieces back at 2m.

15/2

5th

8

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

16:05 Kempton

Javert Allen

10st 11lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Free-going front-runner who was a little too keen for his own good when weakening into a 10l third at Cheltenham four weeks ago (2m4f, soft); the ground might not be quite so slow this afternoon and that would help him; respected.

7/2

3rd

11

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:15 Cheltenham

Javert Allen

10st 4lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Front-runner who usually jumps soundly; reappearance fourth at Aintree worked out well and he ran a cracker when second at Newbury (again 2m, good to soft) later in November; now steps up in distance and his pedigree gives real hope that the increased test of stamina will suit; interesting.

11/2

OUR TIP

14/1

  • Place: £5.00

Form: 210-P5 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Quirky customer who tends to idle when hitting the front and needs to be produced with a well-timed challenge; on a workable mark but has not fired on either start for new stable this season and comes with risk.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 2

15:40 Chepstow

Harpers Brook

11st 4lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Quirky customer who tends to idle when striking the front and needs to be produced with a well-timed challenge; on a good mark now and Kielan Woods knows his foibles well but he's seemingly on the downgrade and always comes with extra risk.

11/2

5th

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

15:13 Doncaster

Harpers Brook

10st 12lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Back in better form, albeit wilted a bit late on, at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) last time and remains below last winning mark but continues to carry risk, being a quirky sort.

8/1

Form: P6-313 BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Jumped well and made all at Kempton (2m2f, good) in October, after a break; his subsequent third over 2m4f there was perfectly respectable but today's drop back in trip may not be ideal and others look better handicapped.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

16:57 Wincanton

Bourbali

11st 7lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Joe Tizzard

Mixes chasing with hurdling and is largely consistent; didn't fire at Kempton last month but is now 3lb lower than when second to Celtic Art at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) two starts ago and won't be far away if quickly back on song.

8/1

5th

5

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 3

13:10 Kempton

Bourbali

10st 13lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Joe Tizzard

Mixes chasing with hurdling and holding his form well, making most of the running when 3l second of five at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) five weeks ago; firmly in the mix again.

12/1

2nd

3

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 2

15:15 Taunton

Bourbali

11st 1lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Joe Tizzard

Mixes chasing with hurdling and consistent in the main; solid enough efforts in this discipline the last twice and Rian Corcoran's claim will come in handy; fine on all ground.

8/1

Form: 437-21 CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
In career-best form last month, readily drawing clear to win valuable C&D race (good to soft) by 9l; hiked up 10lb for that but still needs to be taken very seriously in current mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

General Medrano

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Very well in with Petit Tonnerre on their Doncaster clash in January, after which he ran okay in the Grand Annual before a disappointing run at Aintree; this mark isn't beyond him and he returns with his stable ticking along very nicely.

9/2

4th

6

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

General Medrano

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Very well in with Petit Tonnerre on their Doncaster clash in January, after which he ran okay in the Grand Annual before a disappointing run at Aintree; this mark isn't beyond him and he returns with his stable ticking along very nicely.

9/2

10th

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

General Medrano

11st 5lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Generally quite progressive over the winter and there shouldn't be much between him and Dr T J Eckleburg on Haydock form (2m, soft) in November; however he couldn't play a part in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March and he's been left on the same mark in another warm race.

10/1

Form: 741-14 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 6yo who made winning seasonal/chase debut at Wetherby (1m7f, good to soft) in October, pulling nicely clear of the others with a next-time-out winner; not in same form when upped to 2m4f at Cheltenham last month but probably still has potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

28

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Primoz

10st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Exploited a reduced mark to win easily in a small field at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month and he's also effective on good/good to soft ground; his yard has done very well over these fences but from out of the handicap he's running off a mark 12lb higher than last time, and needs a career best.

20/1

1st

5

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:55 Ayr

Primoz

11st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Yet to win this season but put two below-par runs behind him when third at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft; also suited by soft) a fortnight ago and remains on a good mark; one to consider.

5/2

3rd

7

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

15:58 Newcastle

Primoz

10st 11lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Two wins in small-field chases last season and ran creditably on his first two outings this term; those, however, have been followed by two heavy defeats; well handicapped were he to revive but he's not proven beyond 2m1f.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.70
Straight Forecast £25.62
Trifecta £88.20

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Javert Allen

SPOTLIGHT:

General Medrano

Daily Mail:

Primoz

RP RATINGS:

Harper's Brook

TOPSPEED:

Bourbali

D Express:

Primoz

The Star:

Primoz

The Times:

Javert Allen

The Guardian:

Javert Allen

The Sun:

Javert Allen

Daily Record:

Javert Allen

POSTDATA:

General Medrano

Telegraph:

General Medrano

Daily Mirror:

General Medrano