February 10 / 14.45 Plumpton

14.45

Good To Soft

Howden Insurance Brokers Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5809.1
  • 2m 3f 164y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Howden Insurance Brokers Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 483-94 C

Last run: 60 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Point, bumper and course novice hurdle winner who was a fair fourth at Warwick (3m, good to soft) in December when shaping as though he may benefit from this drop back in trip; could have a part to play.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

6th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

14:10 Plumpton

Walks Like The Man

12st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Made virtually all to score over C&D (soft) in February, his third start over fences, and was very creditable third in higher-grade company at Sandown (2m4f, good) last month; ought to be a very tough nut to crack.

Evs

2nd

1

6th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

14:10 Plumpton

Walks Like The Man

12st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Made virtually all to score over C&D (soft) in February, his third start over fences, and was very creditable third in higher-grade company at Sandown (2m4f, good) last month; ought to be a very tough nut to crack.

Evs

5/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 334-26

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 7yo who was an encouraging second on his chase and seasonal debut over C&D (good to soft) in December, albeit no match for the winner Theonlywayiswessex; disappointing at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) since but perhaps the first-time cheekpieces will prompt a return to form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

10th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

14:45 Plumpton

Bentleys Return

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Lightly raced 7yo who was an encouraging second on his chase and seasonal debut over C&D (good to soft) in December, albeit no match for the winner Theonlywayiswessex; disappointing at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) since but perhaps the first-time cheekpieces will prompt a return to form.

5/1

2nd

3

10th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

14:45 Plumpton

Bentleys Return

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Lightly raced 7yo who was an encouraging second on his chase and seasonal debut over C&D (good to soft) in December, albeit no match for the winner Theonlywayiswessex; disappointing at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) since but perhaps the first-time cheekpieces will prompt a return to form.

5/1

Form: -62393

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Placed in two novice hurdles late last year (2m, good/good to soft; including here) and returned to form when third at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) last month in his second handicap hurdle; connections waste little time in sending this lightly raced 5yo over fences and he's a possible improver.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 135y

Class 4

14:15 Fontwell

Korus

11st 7lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

5yo who is 0-8 under rules but he's finished third in both his chase runs and latest was behind a progressive subsequent winner at Stratford (2m7f, good to soft); still has room for improvement in the jumping department but it's early days in this sphere and he's respected back in trip.

5/2

3rd

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 135y

Class 4

14:15 Fontwell

Korus

11st 7lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

prominent, pressed leader 2 out, outpaced approaching last, no impression final 110yds

5/2

3rd

7

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

14:20 Stratford

Korus

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

didn't always jump with fluency, in touch with leaders, dropped to last after 6th

100/30

Form: 441F12 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles here (2m4f, good) in November and scored at Fakenham (2m5f, good to soft) in December on her second chase start; runner-up in first-time cheekpieces (retained) behind rejuvenated winner at Huntingdon (2m7f, soft) last time and could be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 2

15:00 Warwick

EdeIffs Rock

11st 11lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Kathy Turner

4-10 over fences and better than ever this season with front-running wins at Taunton (2m7f; good to soft/good); this track will suit her style but a collective 17lb rise for those wins could see her vulnerable.

5/1

1st

5

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:45 Taunton

EdeIffs Rock

11st 6lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Kathy Turner

Lightly raced this term but she looked better than ever last time when gaining a second C&D success, cosily making all; hiked up 10lb but she's a big player.

3/1

1st

7

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

16:01 Taunton

EdeIffs Rock

11st 6lb

J: Robbie David

T: Kathy Turner

Front-running winner of this race last year, but she's had only three runs since and was tailed off at Hereford (2m5f, soft) last month; needs to bounce back after that but she's feasibly treated if she can get back near best; has won on good and heavy ground.

12/1

Form: P6-843 C

Last run: 40 days

W: 10st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Course hurdles winner who was a fair third of six at Fakenham (2m5f, good to soft) last month when back over fences for his second chase start; however, he needs something extra today and has a modest 1-18 strike-rate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

31st Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:45 Wincanton

Birdman Bob

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Andy Irvine

in rear, not fluent 4th

11/2

Form: -75P12

Last run: 41 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Bounced back to form with clearcut win at Lingfield (2m, soft) in December and showed that was no one-off when second at Warwick (2m4f, soft) behind a big improver; in good heart and he's one to consider.
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

OUR TIP

Form: 314321 CD

Last run: 70 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
The form of his C&D second (good) in November worked out well and he won in fine style over C&D (good to soft) last time from Bentley's Return; 10lb higher but could take that in his stride, given his dominance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

21:00 Warwick

Theonlywayiswessex

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

On a fairly tough mark but otherwise has plenty in his favour and ran a solid second over C&D last time; every chance.

6/4

2nd

5

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Warwick

Theonlywayiswessex

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Below par when last seen in August but ran pretty well in his previous two races, including here; has plenty in his favour, other than a tough enough mark.

8/1

4th

4

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

17:35 Newton Abbot

Theonlywayiswessex

11st 8lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Two solid placed efforts since returning from a break, latest when a 7.25l third at Stratford (2m3f, good to firm; Magic Seven second) last month; should give another good account though he remains vulnerable off this sort of mark.

15/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.40
Straight Forecast £13.06
Trifecta £60.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Theonlywayiswessex

RP RATINGS:

Bentley's Return

LAMBOURN:

Korus

Telegraph:

Ede'iffs Rock

WEST COUNTRY:

John W Creasy

POSTDATA:

Walks Like The Man

The Times:

Korus

Daily Record:

Ede'iffs Rock

TOPSPEED:

Bentley's Return

The Star:

Bentley's Return

The Guardian:

John W Creasy

Daily Mail:

Theonlywayiswessex

D Express:

Theonlywayiswessex

Daily Mirror:

Theonlywayiswessex