December 28 / 12.15 Leicester

12.15

Soft

Four Calling Birds Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8169
  • 2m 4f 25y
  • Class 3
  • 3 runners
ITV4
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Four Calling Birds Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 3 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

1/2 (Won)

  • Win: £1.25

Form: /1112- D BF

Last run: 315 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Progressive hurdler last season and as good as ever when second in the Grade 2 Rendlesham at Haydock in February (3m, heavy); this trip is on the tight side for his chase debut he's the most talented of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

17th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 3

13:50 Carlisle

Butch

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

led narrowly, raced in second 3rd, briefly left in lead after 7th, pecked on landing 11th, not fluent and outpaced 3 out, rallied and disputed lead 2 out, no extra and lost second inside final 110yds

4/9

1st

2

28th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 3

12:15 Leicester

Butch

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

soon pressed leader, led narrowly or disputed lead from 3rd, led and going best before 4 out, went clear before 3 out, went further clear approaching last, readily

1/2

1st

2

28th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 3

12:15 Leicester

Butch

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

soon pressed leader, led narrowly or disputed lead from 3rd, led and going best before 4 out, went clear before 3 out, went further clear approaching last, readily

1/2

Form: /469-F

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Maiden hurdle winner for Gordon Elliott; his rivals achieved more in that discipline and he fell mid-race on his switch to fences in a handicap at Bangor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:32 Uttoxeter

Abbeydale

12st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won a maiden hurdle in Ireland back in March 2023; hasn't seen much action in the meantime and latest fourth at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) in this new headgear combination was a step back in the right direction; possible.

11/2

6th

4

7th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

15:20 Leicester

Abbeydale

11st 2lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won over hurdles in Ireland; has been keeping fair company in his four runs for current yard but hasn't got going; could still come good again.

14/1

5th

3

20th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

13:35 Warwick

Abbeydale

11st 9lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Hurdle winner in Ireland; yet to show progress for new yard, latterly switched to fences (fell then well-held second); doesn't look obviously well treated back at handicap level.

12/1

Form: 1PP3-2 BF

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner who had a wind op after his final run in that discipline; beaten in a three-runner race when odds-on for his chasing debut (3m, good) but didn't run badly and retains potential; tongue tied on last two starts and now also sports cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

17th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

19:01 Uttoxeter

Farnoge

11st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Disappointed in both chases during very light campaign last season but looked very promising as a novice hurdler (including on good ground) during the 2023-24 campaign and it will be interesting to see whether he can get his career back on track now back over hurdles after a break.

6/1

5

17th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

19:01 Uttoxeter

Farnoge

11st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Disappointed in both chases during very light campaign last season but looked very promising as a novice hurdler (including on good ground) during the 2023-24 campaign and it will be interesting to see whether he can get his career back on track now back over hurdles after a break.

6/1

3rd

3

28th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 3

12:15 Leicester

Farnoge

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

led narrowly or disputed lead, not fluent 6th, not fluent 7th, raced in second before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, soon tailed off

9/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.10
Straight Forecast £3.32
Trifecta £6.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Butch

TOPSPEED:

Farnoge

WEST COUNTRY:

Farnoge

The Star:

Farnoge

POSTDATA:

Butch

The Times:

Butch

Telegraph:

Butch

The Guardian:

Butch

Daily Mail:

Butch

D Express:

Butch

Daily Mirror:

Butch

The Sun:

Butch

Daily Record:

Butch