January 18 / 13.05 Ascot

13.05

Good To Soft

BetMGM Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 7f 180y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
BetMGM Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 312-01 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Progressed over hurdles last season and did so again when back from his summer break to make a winning chase debut in novice handicap at Taunton (upped to 3m, good to soft) in November; that was just a five-runner race but he made all in clearcut style and the runner-up won well himself three weeks later; up 6lb but surely has plenty more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

In DOr

10st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

3m6f for the NH Chase at Cheltenham last March was his only attempt beyond 3m and he was below form; that was also his last run for Venetia Williams (bought for £220,000 in October at the David Maxwell dispersal) and he's been a good third this winter in 3m handicaps here and at Ascot; needs to build on that, as he's edging up the weights, but he's not fully exposed.

5/1

3rd

4

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 3

13:00 Ascot

In DOr

11st 11lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Bought for £220,000 at the David Maxwell dispersal prior to running well, only 2l behind Welcom To Cartries, at Sandown (3m, good to soft) on debut for new connections; this second-season chaser likely has further progress in him; sole attempt at Ascot resulted in a success in this race 12 months ago (good ground); big player back here.

4/1

6th

7

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

In DOr

11st 3lb

J: Mr David Maxwell

T: Venetia Williams

Ridden by his owner; major progress when switched to chasing this winter for small-field handicap wins over 3m at Taunton (good to soft) and Ascot (good); found his revised mark at Sandown (3m, heavy) a bit too much in hat-trick bid but again ran well and staying beyond 3m may be possible.

33/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: P2-311 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Can make the running; has won five of his ten chases, including at Ludlow (near 3m2f, good) and Wetherby (extended 3m, soft) on his last two outings; pulled up last March on sole start here but that was 2m5f; going up another 3lb may underestimate him and he looks set for another bold show.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

26th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

14:07 Ludlow

Rockinastorm

10st 10lb

J: David Bass

T: Henry Daly

Dual course winner (3m/3m1f); not beaten far when fifth of six in C&D (good to soft) contest won by Ballycamus in December and didn't run badly in competitive Windsor marathon last month; can't be ignored off this mark.

6/1

7th

9

18th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 4f 162y

Class 3

15:35 Windsor

Rockinastorm

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Front-runner who won two in a row in late 2024 (3m1f/3m, good/soft), on the second occasion off today's mark, and he ran pretty well over 3m4f at Haydock last March; hasn't run badly on either outing this season but needs something extra this afternoon.

20/1

11

24th Oct 2025

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Cheltenham

Rockinastorm

11st 6lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: Henry Daly

Dual chase winner towards end of 2024 (3m1f/3m); only third of four behind Regarde at Haydock (3m4f, good) in March but wasn't beaten far; resumes on a workable mark and with Patrick Mullins a good jockey booking.

9/1

Form: 3-2813

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Responded well to new trip in the Southern National at Fontwell (3m4f, good) in November, getting up late in the day, followed by a creditable third at Sandown (3m4f, soft) six weeks ago; back down in trip today but needs respect as an in-form contender in small field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Unanswered Prayers

11st 5lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Chris Gordon

Well suited by a stamina test on good ground and lurks on a dangerous mark but has not been firing on all cylinders since running well on last season's reappearance outing in October; safely held when fourth in recent Sussex National; needs to up his game.

12/1

4th

9

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 104y

Class 2

16:25 Plumpton

Unanswered Prayers

10st 8lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Chris Gordon

Won the Southern National (3m3f, good) in November 2024 and he's on a dangerous mark on form as recent as October 2025; however, this 10yo hasn't threatened since and needs to raise his game.

14/1

3rd

4

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 54y

Class 3

16:48 Warwick

Unanswered Prayers

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Landed the Southern National at Fontwell (3m3f, good) last term; form this season features two respectable efforts at Cheltenham, including in 3m5f cross-country race; possibilities off an attractive mark.

7/1

Form: 710/0P CD

Last run: 50 days

W: 12st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
C&D winner in 2021 and at his peak when runaway winner from the front at Kempton (3m, soft; 7lb higher today) in January 2023; missed 545 days before this season and weakened right out of it in two hurdle races this autumn; latest appeared pretty discouraging but he usually needs a run or two to gain fitness and should be a lot more interesting back over fences today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

8th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 3

15:50 Market Rasen

Annsam

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Mrs C Williams

Returned to form with clear win off much-reduced mark at Ludlow (3m1f, good to soft) in December but three non-completions have followed, most recently when he was pulled up back at Ludlow last month; others look safer.

12/1

4

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

15:57 Ludlow

Annsam

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mrs C Williams

Won this race three years ago and gained his first win since when drawing clear over 3m1f back here in December; since then he's suffered a heavy fall at Sandown and an unfortunate early unseat at Kempton but respected back here as he could still be in fair form.

5/1

3

23rd Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Annsam

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mrs C Williams

Mid-race faller in the Stayers' Veterans' Final at Sandown last time; ended a long losing spell with his Ludlow performance in most recent completed start and he remains well treated on historical data, which includes a useful win over this C&D.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 9-69P8 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
It was over 3m4f-4m1f that he recorded his superlative big-race hat-trick in February-April 2023 and he was fifth in last season's Grand National, so this trip is surely too short for him nowadays; 11lb lower than in the National but has been keeping a low profile this winter and that may well continue (well beaten on his visits here) despite the returning cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Kittys Light

10st 6lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Won three valuable marathons in a row in 2022-23 campaign and was honourable fifth in Grand National the following season; never really got going in 2025-25 but returns from 471-day absence on a tempting mark and will be suited by the forecast good ground; market helpful.

14/1

5th

2

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

13:05 Ascot

Kittys Light

11st 9lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Christian Williams

took keen hold, raced in last

12/1

5th

2

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

13:05 Ascot

Kittys Light

11st 9lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Christian Williams

took keen hold, raced in last, not fluent 4th, outpaced when mistake 14th, no impression

12/1

Non-runners

Pats Fancy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.60
Straight Forecast £6.22
Trifecta £12.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Rockinastorm

Telegraph:

In d'Or

D Express:

Unanswered Prayers

Daily Mail:

Annsam

The Star:

In d'Or

Daily Record:

In d'Or

RP RATINGS:

Rockinastorm

TOPSPEED:

Rockinastorm

POSTDATA:

Rockinastorm

The Times:

Rockinastorm

The Guardian:

Rockinastorm

Daily Mirror:

Rockinastorm

The Sun:

Rockinastorm