December 26 / 12.27 Wetherby

12.27

Good To Soft

William Hill Offers Top Price Guarantees Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3696.7
  • 2m 3f 85y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
RTV
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William Hill Offers Top Price Guarantees Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 37-164

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in 2m3f/2m handicaps since his successful chase debut at Fontwell in October (2m2f, soft; off 4lb lower); fitting blinkers would appear a cry for help but the ability is there to threaten.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

5th Dec 2024

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 4

14:25 Leicester

Samazul

11st 9lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

held up in rear, no impression before 4 out

7/4

Form: 05-762

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Improved form on his third run over fences when second at Newcastle (2m4f, good) and did well to be that close after making mistakes; probably on a good mark ability-wise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

13:30 Newcastle

Hawkseye View

11st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Made it 12th-time lucky over fences when scoring over C&D (good to soft; from 2lb lower) three starts back; excuses since - fell, and then out of depth in a valuable Class 2 Series Final at Carlisle; could bounce back with Danny McMenamin returning to the saddle.

11/4

10th

12

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

16:27 Carlisle

Hawkseye View

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Mid-race faller last weekend when bidding for a Newcastle double (maiden under rules previously); ran respectably over C&D in February; 4lb out of weights but could go well with a clear round.

8/1

3

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

16:35 Newcastle

Hawkseye View

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Point winner; won his first race under rules here last time (2m4f, good to soft; cheekpieces on for third time); seems equally effective at this trip and should go well off this 3lb higher mark.

7/2

Form: 15-712 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles at Ayr (2m3f, good to soft) before a staying-on second on her switch to fences at Hexham (1m7f); returning to this sort of trip looks the right move.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:12 Perth

Celestial Fashion

11st 6lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Ian Duncan

Shot up 16lb for her back-to-back wins (2m3f/2m5f) and, although a bad mistake was no help when last to finish at Carlisle, it could be that the handicapper has caught up with her.

5/1

3rd

3

8th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 198y

Class 4

15:50 Carlisle

Celestial Fashion

11st 6lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Ian Duncan

Thriving mare who bids to compete a hat-trick after clear wins at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) and over C&D (good to soft) this year; shooting up the weights but needs to be taken very seriously in current form.

4/5

1st

4

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 198y

Class 4

15:05 Carlisle

Celestial Fashion

10st 10lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Ian Duncan

Won by 10l on reappearance here (2m4f, soft) in November and, after not staying 3m at Ayr, she bounced back with an easy, all-the-way win at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) 12 days ago; 8lb higher in a tougher race today but this progressive 8yo could still be ahead of the handicapper.

9/4

Form: 3-PP46

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
11-race maiden who has had plenty of chances over fences (0-8) and he's not improving; now tongue tied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

13:30 Newcastle

Empty Nest

11st 6lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Usually goes well over C&D - form figures 212 - that win gained from a 2lb higher mark (favourite) over a year ago; recent Wetherby efforts were not so good but there was plenty to admire about the manner in which he rallied behind Always A Reason over C&D (good to soft) in January.

15/8

5th

7

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

14:37 Wetherby

Empty Nest

10st 2lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

C&D winner who was runner-up at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in January and filled same position at Doncaster (2m4f, soft) last month; disappointing over C&D last time but no surprise if he bounces back with a bold show.

13/2

6th

7

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

15:35 Wetherby

Empty Nest

10st 13lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Two wins last season (including C&D) and he's run well to finish second on both outings this year (2m4f, good to soft/soft), most recently at Doncaster three weeks ago; solid contender.

11/2

Form: -02641 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Never far away when a game winner over C&D 19 days ago on just her second chase start; a 6lb rise is fair enough and she also won twice over hurdles; thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

7th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 5

11:37 Wetherby

Fiadh

10st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

prominent, pressed leader 4 out, led narrowly and going best 3 out, good jump 2 out, ridden clear before last, kept on run-in, always doing enough

6/1

Form: 953

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Questionable what he achieved in final novice hurdle when beaten a distance but was placed in points so could make a better chaser; handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

27th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

12:05 Market Rasen

Elusive Shine

11st 0lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Made the frame in Irish points; hasn't fared so well in two hurdles attempts and should find handicaps (or chasing) more suitable.

40/1

Form: 30/999

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in three handicap hurdles since returning from a layoff but he's dangerously handicapped on his best form and now goes over fences; the betting could be revealing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

13:30 Newcastle

Bravethewaves

11st 4lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Seized the initiative, already having the race in safe keeping when left clear at the second last, at Doncaster (2m3f, good; from 9lb lower) in February; well beaten at Southwell subsequently and likely to face competition for the lead here; close to a career best required.

5/1

7th

9

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell

Bravethewaves

11st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

None too consistent but he made it 4-12 over fences when scoring by 20l at Doncaster (2m3f, good; was left clear late on) and he's only 4lb higher for this return to hurdles; still comes with risks given overall profile and he's 0-9 in this discipline.

6/1

1st

4

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 31y

Class 5

16:30 Doncaster

Bravethewaves

10st 9lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won over slightly further here (good) just over a year ago and was also on target at Southwell (2m4f, good to soft) in November; current mark is workable but he's far too inconsistent to support with confidence.

7/2

Betting Forcast

8/1 Samazul, 7/4 Hawkseye View, 4/1 Celestial Fashion, 12/1 Empty Nest, 7/2 Fiadh, 7/1 Elusive Shine, 10/1 Bravethewaves

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hawkseye View

TOPSPEED:

Samazul

The Guardian:

Celestial Fashion

Daily Mirror:

Empty Nest

Telegraph:

Fiadh

RP RATINGS:

Hawkseye View

POSTDATA:

Hawkseye View

D Express:

Hawkseye View

The Star:

Hawkseye View

The Times:

Samazul

Daily Mail:

Samazul

Daily Record:

Celestial Fashion