January 16 / 14.25 Ludlow

14.25

Soft

‘The Commodore’ Handicap Chase (Div II)

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 4f 11y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
RTV
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‘The Commodore’ Handicap Chase (Div II)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: P10-PP

Last run: 17 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in his two chases and has plenty to prove but this lightly raced 6yo looked promising when winning a soft-ground maiden hurdle at Taunton last March and perhaps the first-time blinkers will give him a boost.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

13:45 Taunton

Just One Surf

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Low-mileage 5yo who won a maiden hurdle here (2m, soft) in March; absent since pulled up on chasing debut in May (2m3f) but could still have a good future over fences and is unexposed over this sort of trip.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: P-1225 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Won at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft) last May and runner-up the next twice (2m4f/2m3f, good to soft); soft ground may not have been ideal when below par at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) in November and he could bounce back if today's conditions are suitable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

12:55 Uttoxeter

Rajjamataz

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Ran better than finishing position suggests when fifth of seven in first-time blinkers at Fontwell (2m5f, good to soft) in August but was quickly back in the doldrums over C&D last month and can't be relied upon.

20/1

3

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

12:55 Uttoxeter

Rajjamataz

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Ran better than finishing position suggests when fifth of seven in first-time blinkers at Fontwell (2m5f, good to soft) in August but was quickly back in the doldrums over C&D last month and can't be relied upon.

20/1

2

16th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:40 Uttoxeter

Rajjamataz

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Returned to form in new blinkers at Fontwell (2m5f, good to soft) last month, where he finished only fifth of seven but was right in the thick of things until fading after the last fence; still on a good mark; shortlisted.

12/1

Form: 1-3445

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Won off this mark over hurdles at Ascot last March; however, he failed to shine in the autumn on his first two chase starts and there was no return to form when back over hurdles at Doncaster last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

Redbridge Rambler

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Two good runs behind subsequent winners at Hereford and Catterick (both 3m1f, good) in late 2025; always struggling over an inadequate 1m7f at Wincanton (no headgear; cheekpieces return) in April and perhaps fortunate to get dropped 2lb; fair chance of another win.

7/2

5th

2

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 5

15:27 Wincanton

Redbridge Rambler

11st 13lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Martin Keighley

Suited by good or quicker ground; similar sort of form in his last four races in handicaps from 2m4f to 3m1f; this trip is on the tight side but he's in a weak race and might be ridden forcefully.

15/8

Form: 62-3

Last run: 66 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Has shown ability on all three hurdle starts, the latest at Kempton in November following an absence; he finished placed in two British maiden points in early 2022 and this very lightly raced 7yo is a possible improver now switched to fences for his handicap debut; interesting contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Thunder N Lightnin

11st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

led, raced in second when headed 3rd, no chance with winner from 2 out

7/4

Form: P80-55 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Bolted up in maiden hurdle at Warwick (2m5f, soft) in March 2023 but didn't take to fences the following season and he's been soundly beaten over hurdles on his two outings this term; has lots to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

11th Sep 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

17:35 Uttoxeter

Gaelic Park

11st 6lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Lost his way over hurdles and fences after winning a Warwick maiden hurdle in March 2023 for Charlie Longsdon; has yet to produce an effort of note in this discipline (0-3) but on a good mark if new connections can get him back on track; tries a tongue-tie.

4/1

Form: 57-P32 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
0-12 but she's run well to finish placed the last twice (1m7f/2m, soft) and was runner-up over 2m6f when trained in France, so she could have more to offer now back up in trip; on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

25th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

15:10 Hereford

Lady Pretender

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Finished second in 2m1f-2m6f chase contests on last three starts in France; sold for 130,000euros and had wind surgery since; likely player provided she maintains the consistency on British debut.

9/4

Form: /F2P-0

Last run: 74 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Chase debut; pulled up in December 2023 and tailed off at Huntingdon in November on his first run since to make it 0-9 over hurdles; however, he ran well for a long way on that latest outing and is on a competitive mark on his best hurdle form; not ruled out on his second start back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

12th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

12:58 Huntingdon

Aldsworth

11st 8lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Best granted a sharp, flat right-handed track, but present attainment level uncertain having overraced in front on November's seasonal return here (debuted blinkers are retained); from the family of Hand Inn Hand and Tom Brodie, so may yet take to his new vocation of chasing.

10/1

Form: 665301

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Wore a first-time hood when getting off the mark at Leicester (2m, soft) last month, beating Lady Pretender by 2l; there can be optimism he'll be fine now back up in trip and he's a leading player if the hood maintains its positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 5

15:55 Hexham

We Got Your Back

11st 4lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: L J Morgan

Has won three races over fences, the latest off this mark over C&D in October (good); has not been in top form last few starts; could bounce back.

11/2

8th

6

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell

We Got Your Back

11st 7lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: L J Morgan

Has only won over fences (three times) and still held some sort of chance when unseating nine days ago at Market Rasen; his hurdle form isn't so convincing, though.

20/1

5

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

14:57 Market Rasen

We Got Your Back

11st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

Has won three chases, the latest at Hexham in October; not at his best on last two runs but on a fair mark now and could go well.

7/1

Form: 600/

Last run: 836 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Achieved very little in three novice hurdles in 2022 and is 10lb wrong at the weights for this handicap and chase debut; however, he won two British point-to-points last May and could play a major role if transferring that ability back to rules.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

15th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 3

18:55 Aintree

Bumpy Evans

11st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Front-runner who is 5-10 over fences but the handicapper is beginning to look in charge and he worryingly refused to race last week at Market Rasen; cheekpieces are soon turned to.

9/2

4

8th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 3

15:50 Market Rasen

Bumpy Evans

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Free-going front-runner with 5-9 strike-rate over fences; unable to justify favouritism but still ran well before weakening into third at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) last month, after a break, and could be hard to catch here if that run has brought him on.

5/2

3rd

6

4th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

15:49 Newton Abbot

Bumpy Evans

11st 7lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Front-runner who is 5-8 over fences and he found more progress when runner-up in the Durham National (3m5f, good) in October; this is a different test on his return but he still looks on a workable mark and was successful over 2m4f last spring; has worn a hood in all of his chase runs but the headgear is missing today.

9/2

Betting Forcast

12/1 Just One Surf, 15/2 Rajjamataz, 12/1 Redbridge Rambler, 7/2 Thunder N Lightnin, 16/1 Gaelic Park, 9/2 Lady Pretender, 10/1 Aldsworth, 4/1 We Got Your Back, 5/1 Bumpy Evans

Verdict

Two-time point winner BUMPY EVANS has a basement mark to work with now back under rules, even allowing for him being out of the weights, and he is taken to make a winning chase and handicap debut. Thunder N Lightnin is also open to improvement on his first run over fences and is second choice ahead of Lady Pretender and We Got Your Back.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

We Got Your Back

TOPSPEED:

Lady Pretender

LAMBOURN:

Thunder N Lightnin

WEST COUNTRY:

Redbridge Rambler

Telegraph:

Rajjamataz

SPOTLIGHT:

Bumpy Evans

POSTDATA:

Lady Pretender

Daily Mail:

Lady Pretender

D Express:

Lady Pretender

The Times:

We Got Your Back

The Guardian:

We Got Your Back

Daily Mirror:

We Got Your Back

Daily Record:

We Got Your Back

The Star:

Thunder N Lightnin