December 21 / 13.15 Ascot

13.15

Good To Soft

Howden Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £18210.5
  • 2m 2f 175y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Howden Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.50

Form: F34-32 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Useful novice chaser last term; continues to give the strong impression that he'll win another good handicap sooner or later and he's performed respectably behind the progressive Martator (stablemate of Galop De Chasse) in his two visits here this season (2m1f, good; perhaps better on softer and over further); much respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Kotmask

10st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

His jumping has been an issue this season and he was soundly beaten at Newbury last time; however, two starts ago he was a close second of four there (2m, good to soft) and he has a good record at this track; might not be far away if finding some fluency.

4/1

3rd

2

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Kotmask

11st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Almost as good as ever this season and he kept on well when 1l second of four over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; a repeat of that form would see him go close, with a tongue-strap added for the first time in Britain, but a losing sequence is developing and he tends to make mistakes.

7/4

2nd

1

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:08 Newbury

Kotmask

12st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Resurgent in first-time blinkers when second to an improver at Sandown in January (good; fine on soft) and fell midrace back there last time; it's surprising to see cheekpieces back on (beaten 10l in December when tried in them once before) but he has a big effort in him off this mark.

8/1

11/4

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 13-542 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
2m was too sharp on reappearance and then ran in the Haldon Gold Cup (2m1f; tough test); enhanced his good record in 2m3f/2m4f handicaps when a staying-on runner-up at Newbury (good to soft; fine on soft) where Galop De Chasse was a length adrift; solid chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

4th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

15:49 Newton Abbot

Scarface

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Four-time chase winner and his last success was in this race (off 2lb lower) last year; has been in and out this season but he bounced back with a fair third in Class 2 handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) two weeks ago; has possibilities if he can back that up and he's versatile ground-wise.

12/1

3rd

6

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Scarface

11st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Inconsistent this season but has finished a good second on two occasions (November/December) and filled the same position in this race 12 months ago prior to beating Heltenham at Newton Abbot; well capable of posing a threat, provided he's back to form.

8/1

5th

5

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:07 Kempton

Scarface

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Usually wears cheeekpieces; inconsistent (2P2P) this term but sole attempt in blinkers resulted in a good effort at Ascot (2m3f) on penultimate start; could go well in the reapplied blinds.

6/1

Form: 2211-3 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Has compiled a consistent profile since joining Robert Walford, producing form figures of 22113 in handicap chases at about 2m/2m1f; should strip fitter for Newbury three weeks ago and he had form over this far in France; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

15

1st Mar 2025

Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Prince Quali

10st 3lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Mid-race faller last time (2m); consistent sort otherwise and ties in with two of these opponents on Ascot running (2m3f) in December; could go well off a low weight, provided he takes to first-time cheekpieces.

16/1

4

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 2

15:07 Chepstow

Prince Quali

10st 7lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Won this race and another C&D contest last season, and has remained in good form this term; probably doesn't have much margin for error off current mark but the return to this track is an obvious plus and he copes very well with slow ground; major player.

4/1

2nd

4

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 0f 67y

Class 3

15:40 Haydock

Prince Quali

11st 10lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Won at Chepstow on final two starts last season (2m, heavy/soft) and respectable third on both starts this term (2m/2m3f, good to soft); perhaps the return to more testing ground will be in his favour; one to consider.

5/2

13/2

Form: /226-0

Last run: 49 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
All three British wins have come going right-handed and he had form figures of 222 here until patently failing to stay 3m on last month's reappearance; can resume his usual positive tactics back at this trip and give a good account, though the handicapper has done him few favours considering he's not been at his best since winning a 2m4f Grade 2 at Kempton in early 2023.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd Feb 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

16:10 Kempton

Solo

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

9yo who appears to have regressed but heavy ground may have been too much at Sandown three weeks ago and prior to that he was a fair fourth at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft); his two biggest wins have come at Kempton and he's one to consider now back here off a dangerous mark.

15/2

5th

3

1st Feb 2025

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

14:00 Sandown

Solo

11st 6lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Has gained both chase wins over 2m4f but ran creditably in the 2023 Haldon Gold Cup on last attempt at about 2m; faded into fourth over 2m3f on latest outing; possibilities off an attractive mark back down in trip.

6/1

5th

3

1st Feb 2025

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

14:00 Sandown

Solo

11st 6lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Has gained both chase wins over 2m4f but ran creditably in the 2023 Haldon Gold Cup on last attempt at about 2m; faded into fourth over 2m3f on latest outing; possibilities off an attractive mark back down in trip.

6/1

Form: PF1-94 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Last campaign was very stop-start but he did win two slow-ground handicaps over slightly longer trips; this season's two below-par runs have been over hurdles and softening conditions would bring him into this off only 10st 7lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 41y

Class 3

16:08 Windsor

Carbon King

11st 7lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Last campaign was very hit and miss but included two wins over about 2m4f on heavy going and he seems to be working his way back to form this season; not proven beyond 2m5f but he's too well handicapped to be ignored.

20/1

10

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 41y

Class 3

16:08 Windsor

Carbon King

11st 7lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Last campaign was very hit and miss but included two wins over about 2m4f on heavy going and he seems to be working his way back to form this season; not proven beyond 2m5f but he's too well handicapped to be ignored.

20/1

Form: 5PF29- C

Last run: 254 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Completing the course can be an issue but he's still mustered a strike-rate of 5-16 over fences; however, last season never really got off the ground and included a below-par effort in this race; the blinkers sported for his last three starts are replaced by cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

11th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

16:45 Plumpton

Black Gerry

11st 6lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

His second over 2m4f (good) here 13 months ago reads well but he's become a hard horse to predict and previous ventures over 3m+ have amounted to little.

8/1

3rd

2

11th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

16:45 Plumpton

Black Gerry

11st 6lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

His second over 2m4f (good) here 13 months ago reads well but he's become a hard horse to predict and previous ventures over 3m+ have amounted to little.

8/1

8th

10

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:40 Newbury

Black Gerry

10st 6lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Last ran off this low a mark in spring 2022; Plumpton second (2m4f, good) last April reads well but he has been well beaten more often than not over the last two seasons.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3/1-23 BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Four-time chase winner effective from 2m to 2m4f; a beaten favourite last time at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft; just behind Scarface) but ran a sound race and that was his second run after a year on the sidelines; every chance of being seriously involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

5th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

16:18 Ffos Las

Galop De Chasse

11st 8lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

He was weakening when falling in a small field at Bangor (2m4f, soft) and then tailed off at Newbury; too well handicapped to ignore but wouldn't be the percentage call.

20/1

7th

1

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 4

16:07 Newbury

Galop De Chasse

11st 10lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

He was weakening when falling in a small field at Bangor (2m4f, soft) but there were signs of returning to form and he's very well handicapped now.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.20
Straight Forecast £7.97
Trifecta £18.90

Selections

The Times:

Prince Quali

WEST COUNTRY:

Scarface

RP RATINGS:

Galop De Chasse

TOPSPEED:

Solo

D Express:

Carbon King

SPOTLIGHT:

Kotmask

Telegraph:

Prince Quali

The Sun:

Prince Quali

The Star:

Prince Quali

Daily Mirror:

Scarface

Daily Record:

Scarface

POSTDATA:

Galop De Chasse

The Guardian:

Galop De Chasse

Daily Mail:

Solo