February 27 / 20.30 Chelmsford (AW)

20.30

Standard To Slow

It’s Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap

  • Prize money: £5757.4
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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It’s Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Mostly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 81454- CD

Last run: 143 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Won a C&D maiden last summer on sole AW start; advanced his RPRs in defeat in the autumn and this low-mileage 4yo is interesting back on AW after nearly five months off, particularly if the betting speaks for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

24th

5

(26)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Newbury

Urban Lion

9st 9lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Goes well in a big field over a straight 1m; beaten a neck in this race last year (good ground) and made a winning return in the Lincoln at Doncaster (good to soft; beat Rogue Diplomat a nose) three weeks ago; should be in the thick of things again off a 4lb higher mark.

9/1

1st

7

(2)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:32 Doncaster

Urban Lion

9st 6lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Close fifth in the Royal Hunt Cup (1m, good to firm) last June and close third next time, again at Ascot (1m, good to firm); has shown promise on soft ground; not at the top of his game on his final two outings last term but has an each-way shout if back to his best on this reappearance.

20/1

9th

7

(19)

27th Sep 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Urban Lion

9st 2lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Below par at York latest but a wide draw made things tough for this prominent-racer; progressive otherwise, rallying when close fifth of 30 in the Royal Hunt Cup (1m, good to firm) and when close third to Ebt's Guard at Ascot (1m, good to firm) two starts ago; of interest over today's extra 1f.

25/1

9/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 328-

Last run: 177 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Placed on first two starts, latterly over C&D; reported to have hung left handed throughout when well beaten over 1m2f at Goodwood final start; has had wind surgery ahead of this handicap debut after six months off; one to note in the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(3)

13th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

16:28 Yarmouth

Shimmering Spin

9st 2lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Can front-run; sole win from 16 starts came in a maiden at Chelmsford (1m, AW) in September but he did step forward from his return when fourth in first-time cheekpieces over C&D 22 days ago; headgear is retained.

10/1

4th

10

(6)

21st Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

16:55 Yarmouth

Shimmering Spin

9st 3lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Sole win from 15 starts came in a maiden at Chelmsford (1m, AW) in September but he's mostly struggled since and failed to beat a rival home at Southwell (1m, AW) last time on his first start for 112 days; now drops to 7f with cheekpieces applied on this return to turf.

20/1

6th

7

(5)

9th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 4

16:55 Southwell (AW)

Shimmering Spin

9st 1lb

J: Alexandra Egan

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Got off the mark at Chelmsford (1m) in September but he's been off since turning in a poor sixth there in December; more is required despite a slipping mark.

9/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 217-83 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Back to winning ways at Southwell (1m) in November; best run since when close third over 9.4f at Wolverhampton ten days ago; the drop back to 1m looks ideal and Billy Loughnane takes the ride so there are reasons to be very hopeful from the same mark; also has first-time blinkers in place of cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(1)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:42 Newmarket

Helm Rock

9st 9lb

J: David Probert

T: Daniel & Claire Kubler

8yo who has been in fine form this spring, winning at Kempton (1m, AW) last month then going close at Lingfield (1m, AW) and Nottingham (1m, good); there's every chance he'll be bang there once more.

9/1

2nd

2

(7)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:25 Nottingham

Helm Rock

9st 8lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Daniel & Claire Kubler

Ten-time winner split between turf and AW; his last success was at Kempton (1m) last month and he backed that up with a close third under a penalty at Lingfield (Polytrack); did well to hang in there from a wide draw last time and he's respected off same mark back on turf.

13/2

3rd

1

(10)

14th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 4

18:30 Lingfield (AW)

Helm Rock

9st 13lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Daniel & Claire Kubler

Tended to do his winning in the past in batches, which bodes well under a 4lb penalty for last Monday's Kempton victory; well over two years snice he won off a mark this high and hasn't been at his best in two previous runs here but needs considering.

4/1

OUR TIP

9/2

Form: 11507- D

Last run: 77 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Solid AW record and better than his last two form figures in 2024 might suggest (met trouble last time); this is a drop in grade and he's capable of going well if fully primed after 11 weeks off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

(4)

8th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:40 Kempton (AW)

Longlai

9st 4lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: George Baker

Had an AW double (one here) over about 1m last summer but his latest two outings for his new yard have been moderate; another furlong would have been preferable, even if leaving those efforts behind.

20/1

10

(5)

24th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:50 Goodwood

Longlai

9st 5lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: George Baker

Always behind in Glorious Goodwood contest on second outing for new stable and still hasn't won on turf since 2021; may be more interesting when back on AW.

25/1

16

(15)

2nd Aug 2025

Soft

1m 1f 11y

Class 3

16:55 Goodwood

Longlai

9st 2lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: George Baker

Won two in a row last summer (1m/8.6f, AW) and returned from two-month break to finish third of ten on yard debut at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) in June; may be able to build on that last run and is not ruled out each-way.

100/1

Form: 42545- D

Last run: 113 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Two 1m turf wins last summer and mostly creditable efforts in defeat subsequently, including C&D; much depends on whether he's ready to roll after 113 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

4

(14)

29th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

17:40 Down Royal

Charming Whisper

9st 13lb

J: Rory Mulligan

T: P Sweeney

Won five times when trained in Britain by Philip McBride; all those wins came on ground with good in the description; slowly away and always behind at the Curragh on latest; new headgear.

25/1

14th

12

(6)

28th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 0f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Charming Whisper

9st 5lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: P Sweeney

Won five when trained in Britain by Philip McBride; all those wins came on ground with good in the description so conditions have to be a concern here (0-5 on soft); tongue tie goes on.

14/1

5th

7

(8)

30th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

18:15 Dundalk (AW)

Charming Whisper

9st 1lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: P Sweeney

0-9 on AW but caught the eye over 10.5f on debut for this stable in early December, keeping on for fifth and not far behind Nakasero (7lb better off now); unsuited by 1m the last twice and could improve plenty for this longer trip; interesting.

14/1

Form: 54006- CD

Last run: 70 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Ended his time with the Crisfords with a disappointing effort and he has finished well beaten at huge odds in two runs for his new stable; can only watch.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(1)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 18y

Class 6

17:18 Nottingham

Court Of Session

9st 4lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Phil McEntee

All five wins have been on the AW over further than this, the latest at Wolverhampton in January; below his best in three starts since finishing third there in February and he's 0-15 on turf.

12/1

7th

8

(6)

6th May 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

21:00 Kempton (AW)

Court Of Session

9st 6lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Phil McEntee

Five-time AW winner who scored at Wolverhampton (7f) in January but he's been out of sorts on Tapeta in his last two runs; has plenty to prove again and all of his wins have been over longer trips.

25/1

Form: 1/681-

Last run: 147 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Improved for cheekpieces when scoring over 1m2f in the mud at Salisbury in October; sold out of Eve Johnson Houghton's stable for 30,000gns later that month; the cheekpieces are left off by new yard; betting perhaps the best guide to expectations back down in trip after five months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

4

(11)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

21:00 Kempton (AW)

High Point

9st 10lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Ross Burdon

Achieved little twice over hurdles before his third of five from the front over C&D two months ago when last seen; that was comfortably his best show on AW but he needs to find extra.

14/1

3rd

1

(3)

25th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

High Point

9st 12lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Ross Burdon

Achieved little over hurdles the last twice; four-time winner on Flat turf but is less solid on AW form and doesn't seem set to defy top weight.

6/1

11th

5

11th Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

14:58 Huntingdon

High Point

11st 6lb

J: James Davies

T: Ross Burdon

Achieved nothing at Fakenham (2m4f) on the switch to hurdles but has the potential to do better, being a four-time Flat winner (fairly useful).

33/1

13/2

Form: 76-034 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
In-frame efforts at Wolverhampton and Newcastle in recent weeks show this 9yo is in reasonable form but his losing run goes back to August 2022.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(9)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Tempus

9st 8lb

J: William Cox

T: Archie Watson

1lb lower than when scoring in an amateur riders' event at Goodwood (1m, good) in June, but hard to win with these days and latest close third of six came in a Newcastle seller (1m, Tapeta); look elsewhere.

11/1

6

(9)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Tempus

9st 8lb

J: William Cox

T: Archie Watson

1lb lower than when scoring in an amateur riders' event at Goodwood (1m, good) in June, but hard to win with these days and latest close third of six came in a Newcastle seller (1m, Tapeta); look elsewhere.

11/1

4

(2)

17th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Tempus

10st 3lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Multiple winner in his young days including over C&D, but has only managed to win two of his last 31 starts, one of which was on Jersey; may find a couple too strong.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.00
Straight Forecast £13.09
Tricast £35.96
Trifecta £63.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Helm Rock

TOPSPEED:

Tempus

Daily Mirror:

Urban Lion

The Star:

High Point

NEWMARKET:

Charming Whisper

The Sun:

Urban Lion

Daily Record:

High Point

RP RATINGS:

Helm Rock

LAMBOURN:

Helm Rock

Daily Mail:

Helm Rock

D Express:

Helm Rock

POSTDATA:

Tempus

The Times:

Tempus

Telegraph:

Tempus

The Guardian:

Tempus