March 30 / 15.20 Ascot

15.20

Good

LK Bennett Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £18483.5
  • 2m 0f 167y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
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LK Bennett Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 215446 D

Last run: 120 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Looked as good as ever when winning from off the pace at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) last summer but we haven't seen him since a disappointing hurdle run in November and he'll need to be back in prime form to pose a threat off current mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

28th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 2

14:52 Uttoxeter

Coastguard Station

11st 3lb

J: David Noonan

T: Henry Oliver

Campaigned over longer trips since September but effective at 2m previously; currently in a consistent vein of form and looks attractively treated, having scored twice off current mark last year; landed this contest in 2024 to boot and holds a fighting chance.

15/2

2nd

1

31st May 2026

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

16:37 Fakenham

Coastguard Station

12st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Henry Oliver

Good-ground specialist who was a course winner in 2024 and returns here after two good efforts this spring, the latter a close fourth at Aintree (2m4f, good) 16 days ago; respected.

3/1

4th

4

15th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Coastguard Station

11st 7lb

J: David Noonan

T: Henry Oliver

Enjoys good ground; bumped into the enigmatic Numitor on a good day at Hereford last month (2m5f) but this 10yo also struggles with his consistency; he's capable but risky enough.

10/1

OUR TIP

13/8

  • Place: £1.30

Form: -32160 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Placed twice over C&D (good) in November before winning here (2m3f, good to soft) the following month; needs to rebound from 31l defeat at Newbury four weeks ago but is sure to be suited by today's return to Ascot, and his current mark is workable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Kotmask

10st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

His jumping has been an issue this season and he was soundly beaten at Newbury last time; however, two starts ago he was a close second of four there (2m, good to soft) and he has a good record at this track; might not be far away if finding some fluency.

4/1

3rd

2

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Kotmask

11st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Almost as good as ever this season and he kept on well when 1l second of four over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; a repeat of that form would see him go close, with a tongue-strap added for the first time in Britain, but a losing sequence is developing and he tends to make mistakes.

7/4

2nd

1

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:08 Newbury

Kotmask

12st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Resurgent in first-time blinkers when second to an improver at Sandown in January (good; fine on soft) and fell midrace back there last time; it's surprising to see cheekpieces back on (beaten 10l in December when tried in them once before) but he has a big effort in him off this mark.

8/1

Form: 12-P6P D

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
In career-best form last spring, notably when winning by 6l off today's mark at Warwick (2m, good to firm); well beaten three consecutive times (twice over hurdles) on soft ground since December but will be much better suited by the underfoot conditions here; must be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

28th Jun 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 2

16:15 Cartmel

Light N Strike

12st 0lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Won six races (five over fences) for Emma Lavelle; yet to fire in five starts for current yard; first-time blinkers need to work for him to rediscover his old form.

6/1

6th

4

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:27 Perth

Light N Strike

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Back from 193 days off when a 16l fourth to Somespring Special at Newton Abbot (2m5f) and ran as though that race would bring him on; that was his best effort yet since leaving Emma Lavelle, for whom he was competitive off higher marks; trip/ground fine.

8/1

4th

3

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Light N Strike

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Progressive for Emma Lavelle last term, winning this off today's mark and backing it up with solid placed efforts; however, he's struggled for this yard (early unseat in Kerry National, pulled up at Chepstow and tailed off at Cheltenham when last seen in October) and now has something to prove.

13/2

Form: 287333 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish front-runner who started off for Joe Tickle with two pretty good efforts at Sandown (1m7f, soft/good to soft) this year; not in same form when well-held third at Hereford (2m, good) three weeks ago but has slipped to a tempting mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:41 Perth

Hypotenus

11st 10lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Free-goer who often makes the running and ultimately paid for giving chase to an improving winner when behind Garde Des Champs here a month ago; ran better behind the same winner the time before when he finished ahead of the Russell/Scudamore runner; a soft lead would help matters.

7/2

4th

5

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:52 Perth

Hypotenus

10st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Neil Mulholland

Free-goer who often makes the running; well beaten when last of three on debut for Neil Mulholland in April but last month's third of seven behind Newtown Rambler over C&D (good to soft) was more encouraging, and he may yet have more to offer for his new stable.

4/1

3rd

4

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Hypotenus

11st 6lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Neil Mulholland

Won a novice handicap chase at Taunton (2m, good) for Joe Tickle in January and fair third over same C&D next time; changed yards last month having had a wind op, and was a well-beaten third of three at Chepstow on stable debut (2m, good); hung right there so this track should suit better.

13/2

Form: 9/2650 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Very well handicapped on old form but, following a long absence, has not really fired on any of four starts for new stable this season; will find this race easier than Grand Annual at Cheltenham this month but still has quite a bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

24th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 199y

Class 2

15:35 Cheltenham

Third Time Lucki

10st 5lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Had his troubles after such a promising start over fences for the Skeltons but he's back in the good books after small-field handicap wins at Bangor and Uttoxeter (both on good ground; effective on softer); returns to far classier company here and may be found wanting.

9/1

1st

2

29th Jun 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 2

16:20 Uttoxeter

Third Time Lucki

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has regressed since showing such smart form for the Skeltons but looked back on good terms with himself when comfortably accounting for Fringill Dike at Bangor (2m1f, good), having led from halfway; back up 9lb but might well have turned a corner.

3/1

1st

5

17th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 2

14:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Third Time Lucki

10st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Very well handicapped on old form but, following a long absence, did not really fire on any of five starts for new stable last season; not beaten far when last of five in Ascot race won by Coastguard Station in March and another 5lb lower here but still needs to up his game.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.80
Straight Forecast £14.82
Trifecta £28.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kotmask

RP RATINGS:

Hypotenus

Telegraph:

Third Time Lucki

TOPSPEED:

Coastguard Station

D Express:

Kotmask

Daily Mirror:

Kotmask

POSTDATA:

Hypotenus

The Times:

Hypotenus

Daily Record:

Coastguard Station

The Sun:

Third Time Lucki

The Star:

Third Time Lucki