April 24 / 16.33 Perth

16.33

Good To Soft

Phil Nelson River Tay Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13007.5
  • 2m 4f 20y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Phil Nelson River Tay Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.40

Form: F-84P2 D

Last run: 5 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Hasn't had the best of seasons but back to beneath his last winning mark and ran better at Newton Abbot five days ago (2m5f, heavy); versatile ground-wise and every chance of being involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Heltenham

11st 13lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

All chase wins around 2m4f, including win at this meeting last year; Newbury specialist who landed fourth win at that track when bagging valuable handicap for second time on penultimate start; never won off a mark this high and drop back down to 2m also asks a question but he's impossible to rule out.

3/1

4th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Heltenham

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Back to something like his best last time, registering a second success in the Greatwood Gold Cup and taking C&D record to 4-6; won this contest in 2023 and 2024; back up the weights but commands respect kept to a scenario that suits him ideally.

9/4

1st

5

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Heltenham

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

Record of 3-5 at Newbury features a success in this contest two years ago; proved no match for Twinjets in most recent course start and was a faller in last two handicap attempts (out of depth in Grade 1 since); however, holds a major chance off current mark provided he's in top form.

10/1

6/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 12-12U D

Last run: 5 days

W: 10st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Consistent 11yo who was first over 2m4f and second over 3m before being carried out mid-race by a loose horse at Haydock last weekend; that was in a veterans' final and he might just be vulnerable in a race of this nature.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:30 Ayr

Dubai Days

10st 6lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Won over C&D (soft) in February before respectable sixth of 17 in veterans' final at Haydock (2m4f, good) a fortnight ago; 11 visits to Ayr have yielded five wins and this is his time of year; could go well.

16/1

6th

14

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Dubai Days

10st 11lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

His last six wins have come in the months of February, March or April and he returned to form to win at Ayr (2m4f, soft) 40 days ago; runner-up in this race two years ago (soft) and won over C&D (good to soft) last February; that latest win reads well and a 4lb rise isn't harsh; possible player.

12/1

1st

1

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

15:00 Ayr

Dubai Days

12st 2lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

12yo who hasn't been at the top of his game on either outing this term and was tailed off at Aintree most recently; however, this is the stage of the season when he tends to come good and he's 2lb lower than when scoring at Haydock last February; has won here four times, and on various ground.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: -334U3

Last run: 12 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Hasn't been firing on all cylinders this season but by no means disgraced in good races, the latest a 2m handicap at Ayr he won the previous season (off 3lb lower mark than today's); hasn't had many chances at this sort of trip but he's won over 2m3f and he should stay; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Tommys Oscar

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

11yo who snapped a losing sequence at Carlisle (3m, good to soft) last month and it was a stronger race than this in which he was fourth of 11 at Haydock (2m4f, good) last Wednesday; every chance he'll be in the mix.

11/2

4th

1

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Tommys Oscar

11st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

Veteran who made his name as a two-miler and the slow pace helped when making his first foray over 3m a successful one at Carlisle (good to soft; effective on good); solid second the run before over 2m4f but a 5lb rise for last time could be troublesome.

12/1

1st

1

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:50 Carlisle

Tommys Oscar

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

Smart at around 2m in his prime and was creditable second off today's mark in valuable Musselburgh handicap (2m4f, good to soft) five weeks ago but has stamina to prove on first venture beyond about 2m4f under rules.

9/4

Form: /121/2 D

Last run: 150 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Form figures of 1212 over fences and was returning from a long absence when pushing a notable rival (ran well at the Cheltenham Festival) close over this far at Kempton (good to soft) in November; looks a danger to all off 2lb higher with fitness unlikely to hold him back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

14th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:28 Kempton

Doctor Ken

12st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

The most recent of two chase wins came at 2m7f (good to soft; has won on good) in March 2023; his career punctuated by layoffs since but he's run respectably in better races than this since the latest of them and should make a bold bid; cheekpieces on.

13/8

Form: 4217-0 D

Last run: 319 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Won a four-runner 2m4f Ludlow handicap chase in October 2023 and confined to only two starts in the meantime, with neither good; comes with risks on this return from another absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

15

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

17:57 Kilbeggan

Rexem

10st 5lb

J: Dylan Kidd

T: John C McConnell

Three wins over hurdles, 1-15 over fences; second twice over fences on decent ground at Musselburgh in January, and third in a chase at Wexford last week; previously out of the money behind Ad Caelum in a handicap hurdle at this venue.

14/1

3rd

8

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 3f 110y

19:25 Wexford

Rexem

10st 5lb

J: Dylan Kidd

T: John C McConnell

Three wins over hurdles, 1-14 over fences; second twice over fences on decent ground at Musselburgh in January, over 2m7f on the latter occasion, and his hurdles run at Kilbeggan last time wasn't bad; most of his better runs have been right-handed, though.

11/1

7th

9

15th Jun 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 100y

19:42 Kilbeggan

Rexem

11st 0lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: John C McConnell

3-9 over hurdles; rediscovered form with fine chase efforts at Musselburgh in January but then pulled up in Ulster National and lifeless effort on return to this sphere at Kelso when beaten 28l; risky proposition.

10/1

Form: 21111P D

Last run: 40 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Highly progressive in winning his first four chases (all handicaps) and connections opined that Uttoxeter last time came too soon only 14 days after scoring convincingly at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft); remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:51 Perth

Walk On Quest

11st 7lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won three-runner contest at Kelso (2m7f, good) in May and is still on a workable mark but never really got competitive in last month's Perth Gold Cup and needs to put that run behind him.

8/1

8th

7

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:27 Perth

Walk On Quest

10st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Made it 5-12 over fences when readily taking care of two rivals over a similar trip at Kelso a month ago (good; made most); only 3lb higher but without Jack Power's 5lb claim, so at this level he's probably in need of his best form yet.

10/1

1st

1

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

14:25 Kelso

Walk On Quest

12st 1lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won four handicaps on the trot two seasons ago (2m-2m5f, good to soft/soft); hasn't won since but was beaten only by a nose over C&D on good last time; contender.

6/5

Non-runners

Statuario

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.80
Straight Forecast £11.68
Trifecta £37.60

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Heltenham

SPOTLIGHT:

Tommy's Oscar

Daily Record:

Walk On Quest

Daily Mirror:

Doctor Ken

POSTDATA:

Heltenham

Telegraph:

Heltenham

The Guardian:

Heltenham

Daily Mail:

Heltenham

D Express:

Heltenham

The Sun:

Heltenham

The Star:

Heltenham

RP RATINGS:

Tommy's Oscar

The Times:

Tommy's Oscar