December 31 / 13.50 Warwick

13.50

Soft

Poundland Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3812.2
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Poundland Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 1133-5 D

Last run: 231 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Began 2024 for Laura Morgan with wins at Catterick (2m3f, soft) and Southwell (2m4f, heavy), jumping well; lost his way afterwards but he's on a useful mark and could easily stage a revival on debut for new yard (same owners).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

Noche Negra

11st 10lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Jumped well when scoring on his stable debut at Warwick (2m4f, soft) in late 2024 but he hasn't recaptured that form in three runs following a year's absence, pulling up on his last two starts.

11/1

6

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:20 Stratford

Noche Negra

11st 9lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Jumped well when scoring on his stable debut at Warwick (2m4f, soft) in late 2024 but he hasn't recaptured that form in two runs following a year's absence, latterly when found to have an irregular heartbeat back at Warwick in January; cheekpieces back on but risky at present.

12/1

Form: 0-75P1

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 6yo who came good with a clearcut win at Lingfield (2m, soft) three weeks ago when he was down in distance with blinkers removed; back up 6lb and 4f in trip but could have turned a corner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

20th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:00 Warwick

John W Creasy

11st 7lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Dual chase winner on slow ground (2m/2m3f) but out of sorts last term and has a lot to prove.

14/1

5th

9

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:42 Ffos Las

John W Creasy

10st 7lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Dual chase winner on slow ground last season (2m/2m3f) but out of sorts this term and has a lot to prove.

40/1

Form: 24-322 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Only 3lb higher than for his last win and has produced solid efforts in his last couple of races, over 2m3f and 2m5f; handles soft ground well and should feature.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

18:30 Huntingdon

Jack Doyen

11st 10lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Resurgent 10yo who ended last season with two 2m5f wins (good/good to soft) and posted another good effort when close second of 13 at Hexham (2m4f, good) this month; obvious contender.

Evs

2nd

9

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

19:15 Hexham

Jack Doyen

10st 11lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Has come right back to form on last two starts, winning at Hereford (2m5f, good) and Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft); has gone up 9lb but should go well again.

4/1

Form: 5-85

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Changed hands for £160,000 after winning two Irish points; has finished last in three chases but all were won by very classy rivals, the last two at Cheltenham; this race is more realistic with his tongue-tie back on (joined by cheekpieces) and the yard had two winners on Saturday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

10th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

14:05 Ayr

Ballymackie

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Ex-Laura Morgan; dual point winner (one on yielding to soft) who got off the mark under rules on stable debut last time when winning at Leicester (2m4f, good); up 8lb; the one to beat.

8/13

4th

1

31st Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:50 Warwick

Ballymackie

12st 0lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

in touch with leaders, prominent on outer before 11th, weakened before 2 out

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2313-5 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Added to his bumper/hurdle wins when scoring over fences at Newcastle (2m7f, heavy) in March; however, has performed moderately the last twice and especially so on his comeback.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:37 Market Rasen

Has Troke

11st 6lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Alex Hales

Made successful return to hurdles at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) a year ago and finished third over the same C&D in December after ten months off; held at Wetherby (3m1f, good to soft) since, but that was in a better race; respected with conditions likely to be ideal.

20/1

5th

10

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 5y

Class 4

14:37 Warwick

Has Troke

10st 11lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Alex Hales

After two pull-ups over fences he won back hurdling at Lingfield 11 months ago (2m7f, soft; 5lb lower); wasn't far away there last month when giving the impression that race would bring him on; considered.

10/1

Form: 6-2611 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Won on soft ground in March; also scored at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) on second start for this stable and followed up at Sedgefield (2m5f, good) five weeks ago; did it nicely last time and a 5lb rise is manageable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

2nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

Pep Talking

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Bold-jumping front-runner with seven wins from 18 starts over fences; ideally served by further than 2m but won over this trip at Chepstow (good to soft) in April; ran well again when runner-up at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) last month and will be the one to catch.

5/1

2nd

4

7th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

13:45 Huntingdon

Pep Talking

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Took form to another new level when winning by 10l from the front at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) last month and is now 7-17 over fences (includes course win); today's trip-and-ground combination will also suit; respected.

5/2

1st

5

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 4

13:40 Chepstow

Pep Talking

11st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Billy Aprahamian

Record of 5-12 for current yard; campaigned mostly at longer trips but the way he shaped over a sharp 2m2f last time (ran well on return from break) suggests this galloping 2m may not be a problem; in the mix.

11/4

Form: 23-536

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Good effort when third in a handicap hurdle over 2m here but only sixth at Doncaster when upped to 2m3f; should stay this far given Flat profile but it remains to be seen how he takes to fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

21:00 Warwick

Royal Deeside

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Patrick Morris

Both chase wins were over 2m4f on good ground at Hexham and nearly won again at Kelso ten days ago when headed on the run-in; same mark.

5/2

2nd

6

24th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

16:12 Kelso

Royal Deeside

10st 3lb

J: William Maggs

T: Patrick Morris

Both chase wins were over 2m4f on good ground at Hexham last year, latest in August; close third over same C&D last time and worth considering.

7/2

3rd

4

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

19:15 Hexham

Royal Deeside

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Patrick Morris

C&D winner in May and August (good) last year; has been in good form both over fences and on the Flat (second over 2m5f at Pontefract 11 days ago) on last four starts; conditions suit and he's a contender.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £20.77

Selections

The Times:

Pep Talking

RP RATINGS:

Jack Doyen

SPOTLIGHT:

Ballymackie

The Sun:

John W Creasy

WEST COUNTRY:

Noche Negra

TOPSPEED:

Has Troke

Telegraph:

Pep Talking

The Guardian:

Pep Talking

Daily Mail:

Pep Talking

D Express:

Pep Talking

Daily Mirror:

Pep Talking

The Star:

Ballymackie

POSTDATA:

Jack Doyen

Daily Record:

Jack Doyen