February 15 / 15.25 Wincanton

15.25

Good To Soft

BetMGM Who Wants A Nine-Darter Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5413.02
  • 1m 7f 149y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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BetMGM Who Wants A Nine-Darter Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 2-4135 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won well on heavy ground at Newton Abbot in October (2m) and another good run followed, but he has been generally hit and miss over fences and latest Exeter run was disappointing (behind Risk De Pluie).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Western General

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Back to form after a second wind op, posting career-best RPRs when scoring at Chepstow in February and when runner-up at Hereford the following month (both at 2m); has his best form over shorter but shapes as though this trip should suit and he commands respect on that recent form.

2/1

2nd

1

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 3

14:52 Hereford

Western General

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Last year's winner on good ground; bounced back to form after wind surgery to beat four rivals at Chepstow (2m, soft) two weeks ago, making virtually all; back up 5lb but has leading claims again.

6/4

1st

4

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 2

15:40 Chepstow

Western General

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made excellent progress over fences last season, winning three times (1m7f-2m, good-heavy), but ended that campaign with a poor run and has not been at his best this term (three starts); needs last month's wind op to have made a difference.

2/1

Form: 354-32 BF

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Point/2m3f hurdle winner; well held on chase debut but ran much better back at Exeter last time (2m3f, soft) and the winner went in again this week; bang there.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Risk De Pluie

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Ben Clarke

Beaten on first seven chase starts but showed improved form to win comfortably at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) in February and he bumped into a progressive winner there (2m3f, soft) last month, when clear of the third; there can be optimism that he will be fine back down in trip and he's respected.

6/1

2nd

1

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Risk De Pluie

12st 2lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Ben Clarke

Fully deserved his breakthrough chase success over C&D (soft) under Toby McCain-Mitchell last month; the style of his win suggests he will be a major player again off a 7lb higher mark.

2/1

OUR TIP

Form: 171/P2 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Did well as a novice hurdler; sent chasing after an absence and, after a three-month break, he was second to a progressive winner at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) when returning from wind surgery; dropping in distance shouldn't hinder him; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

12th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 4

15:08 Hereford

Quick Sharpener

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Struggled last season on final three runs for the Newland/Insole yard; however, he won off 4lb higher at Bangor (2m4f, good) last April so has a handy mark to work with if a change of scenery has prompted a revival; new yard is enjoying a good month; remains in the same ownership.

13/8

5

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:32 Uttoxeter

Quick Sharpener

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Won off 1lb lower at Bangor (2m4f, good; also suited by soft) last Apri but has suffered three non-completions since then and was well beaten when he did get round; clearly capable of a big run but comes with a good few risks.

12/1

6

27th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

14:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Quick Sharpener

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Pulled up in two of his four chases but first and second in the other two, with the win coming in a small field over C&D (good); this looks a better race.

16/1

Form: 271114 CD

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Had a bit up his sleeve when bringing up the hat-trick at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) but a 7lb rise did for him at Hereford where he has won before; back down 3lb and might be better for his small break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

13:37 Worcester

Famoso

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Six-time chase winner whose form dipped in May/June and he fared little better over hurdles three weeks ago; should be sharper for that now back over fences but needs to find some spark.

25/1

1

6th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

18:55 Stratford

Famoso

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Six-time chase winner (once here); competes off lower mark on this rare hurdling start but was not firing on all cylinders when last seen in the spring and needs to have been refreshed by three-month break.

16/1

Form: -85333 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Last win came over C&D (heavy) 13 months ago; mostly well held in the meantime, including in Famoso's race at Ludlow just before Christmas.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 44-334 CD

Last run: 51 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
3lb higher when winning this 12 months ago for Anthony Honeyball; hasn't scaled the same heights since (including on three runs for this yard) and all his wins have come on heavy ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:10 Fontwell

Hatos

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made the frame on final four starts last season, most recently when third of 12 here (2m3f, good) one month ago; remains on a workable mark but has stamina to prove over this much longer trip.

5/1

3rd

8

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:20 Fontwell

Hatos

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

All three wins have been on heavy ground; C&D second in January was also on soft but his two placed efforts over 2m4f at Wincanton since came on good to soft and good; ought to be thereabouts again but it is now over two years since his last win.

6/1

3rd

5

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

Hatos

10st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

All three wins have been on heavy ground but he ran well on good to soft over C&D last month when runner-up behind Universal Secret; nudged up 2lb but he usually races prominently and should go well again.

5/1

Selections

The Times:

Quick Sharpener

SPOTLIGHT:

Risk De Pluie

RP RATINGS:

Hatos

The Sun:

Famoso

WEST COUNTRY:

Western General

TOPSPEED:

Fast Buck

D Express:

Risk De Pluie

Daily Record:

Risk De Pluie

POSTDATA:

Hatos

Telegraph:

Quick Sharpener

The Guardian:

Quick Sharpener

Daily Mail:

Quick Sharpener

Daily Mirror:

Quick Sharpener

The Star:

Famoso