December 27 / 14.45 Wetherby

14.45

Good To Soft

William Hill Castleford Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13202.5
  • 1m 7f 36y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
William Hill Castleford Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

Form: 10-P52 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Quirky sort who tends to idle when hitting the front but, with these cheeekpieces back on, he returned to form when runner-up at Newbury (2m, good to soft) nine days ago and could be thereabouts once more.
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: 519233 C

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Won at Perth (2m4f, good to firm) in June and has run well in defeat on his last three starts, most recently third at Aintree (2m, good) in October; also effective on good to soft ground; every chance he'll be in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

15th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Parisencore

11st 8lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Made the most of a reduced mark to snap his losing run over 2m4f at Newcastle (good) and a 4lb rise should be workable if he can repeat that performance; has held his form in the past.

9/2

1st

2

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

14:42 Newcastle

Parisencore

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

21 months since his last win, an authoritative one in the Perth Silver Cup (2m4f, good to firm; from 5lb higher); beaten 26l, 16l and 14l respectively in three runs since April 2025; good ground is ideal, so probably worth considering with his trainer in such fine form.

11/4

4th

1

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

13:55 Musselburgh

Parisencore

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

On a competitive mark on best form but lacks recent match practice and needs to prove he retains peak ability; below-par fourth in two starts last year, both in the spring; absent since.

10/1

Form: 421212 CD

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Two wins at Kelso this autumn (2m1f, good/good to soft) and runner-up to an unexposed winner here (2m3f, good) last month; solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

18:30 Kelso

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

Won this 12 months ago on his reappearance when 4lb lower and then finished a 2l second to Primoz at Wetherby, the form of which could be reversed on these more favourable terms; consistent and should have every chance.

3/1

2nd

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:48 Perth

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ann Hamilton

Has consistent form figures and should give his running but this 10yo may have to settle for a supporting role off top weight; returns to fences after two runs over hurdles.

6/1

2nd

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:48 Perth

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ann Hamilton

Has consistent form figures and should give his running but this 10yo may have to settle for a supporting role off top weight; returns to fences after two runs over hurdles.

6/1

Form: 33-2P5 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
10yo who is hard to fancy on what he's shown on his two starts since going close on his reappearance at Kelso (2m1f, good) in October; however, he's 2-2 here, including the last running of this race in 2022 (soft), so he's worth a second look now back at Wetherby.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

18:30 Kelso

Malystic

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Peter Niven

An 11yo now who isn't as good as he was and has predictably lost some of his old speed; hasn't been running badly in handicaps at about this trip but looks vulnerable.

8/1

2

20th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 2

15:13 Stratford

Malystic

11st 8lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Peter Niven

On a good mark but an 11yo now and has lost some of his old zip; ran okay at Uttoxeter last time but got outpaced when it mattered and was never threatening; what will help here is the likelihood of a good pace and some rain; respected.

10/1

4th

3

29th Jun 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 2

16:20 Uttoxeter

Malystic

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Peter Niven

An 11yo now and, in first-time cheekpieces, finished well behind at Ayr in a race he had done well in previously; this wouldn't be so demanding and his penultimate effort was quite encouraging; by no means ruled out.

14/1

Form: 06-321 CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

14:03 Kelso

Caithness

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

It was only his second run over fences but he jumped well when pulling clear with the favourite at Wetherby (1m7f, good to soft) and a 6lb rise seems fair; good chance.

13/8

2

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

14:03 Kelso

Caithness

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

It was only his second run over fences but he jumped well when pulling clear with the favourite at Wetherby (1m7f, good to soft) and a 6lb rise seems fair; good chance.

13/8

5

27th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 36y

Class 2

14:45 Wetherby

Caithness

10st 13lb

T: Lucinda Russell

Form: 312-4P

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

13th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Salamanca Bay

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: L J Morgan

Free-goer who was useful in his prime and was in front before last-fence fall over C&D (good) on last month's stable debut; subsequent 2lb rise is manageable and, providing his confidence has not been affected, he's an obvious contender.

11/8

3

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:22 Perth

Salamanca Bay

10st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

Back in better form the last twice, then sold for £7,000; gained his sole chase win off 7lb higher and can't be dismissed on debut for another new yard (his fifth).

5/1

2nd

5

13th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:30 Worcester

Salamanca Bay

11st 7lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Should be well handicapped and he ran well for a long way when a 4l third behind Jet Of Dreams at Chepstow (2m, good); perhaps went off a bit too hot that day and has to be of interest.

15/2

Form: 3-3331 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

16th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 2

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Grain dOudairies

10st 4lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Donald McCain

Safely held at last month's Aintree festival but back in calmer waters here and now back on same mark as for win at Haydock (2m4f, good to soft) in December; will be fine over this trip; might be the answer.

6/1

9th

12

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Grain dOudairies

10st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

10yo who hasn't had much racing for his age and has been progressive this term, with wins at Kelso (2m1f, good to soft) and Haydock (2m4f, good to soft); however, below par at Carlisle in February last time and, even if back on song, there's a firm suspicion this will prove too competitive.

33/1

6th

1

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:40 Carlisle

Grain dOudairies

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Two wins towards the end of last year (2m1f/2m4f, good to soft) and 8l second to progressive winner at Doncaster (2m, soft) last time; he can give another good account and is one to consider.

100/30

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £6.09

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Pay The Piper

POSTDATA:

Harper's Brook

RP RATINGS:

Malystic

The Guardian:

Parisencore

Daily Mirror:

Harper's Brook

Daily Record:

Harper's Brook

Telegraph:

Pay The Piper

Daily Mail:

Pay The Piper

D Express:

Pay The Piper

The Sun:

Pay The Piper

The Star:

Pay The Piper

TOPSPEED:

Malystic

The Times:

Malystic