April 25 / 14.40 Perth

14.40

Good To Soft

Alastair Down Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 2m 7f 180y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
ITV
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Alastair Down Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 1254P2 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Has done well over fences in cheekpieces this season, winning twice at Worcester last summer (2m7f, good) and good second over C&D in September (good); fair run after a break last time; should be in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

Olivers Travels

11st 8lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Mickey Bowen

Has been bang in form on his favoured good ground and only narrowly failed in his hat-trick bid at Kelso last week (3m2f, good); an assured stayer who might hang around for some place money but others are more intriguing.

20/1

7

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

Olivers Travels

11st 8lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Mickey Bowen

Has been bang in form on his favoured good ground and only narrowly failed in his hat-trick bid at Kelso last week (3m2f, good); an assured stayer who might hang around for some place money but others are more intriguing.

20/1

Form: 4-2333 D BF

Last run: 47 days

W: 12st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Haydock last season (soft); placed on all four starts this season, last time finishing just over 5l third at Carlisle (3m, good); each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

11

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

President Scottie

10st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Dual hurdle winner; has been expensive to follow over fences (0-9) and fair to say that others arrive here in better form.

9/1

5th

7

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:52 Carlisle

President Scottie

10st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Respectable third (off 12lb higher) when favourite for this race last year but was in better form at the time; last of six finishers returned to this C&D most recently, taking chase record to 0-8.

10/1

Form: 91-374

Last run: 118 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Two wins over hurdles last season (2m3f/2m4f, good/heavy); hasn't done quite as well over fences this season; returns after 118-day break over a new trip having had wind surgery.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 4

16:42 Newbury

High Treason

12st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Started the season over fences and that didn't go well; his fifth over C&D in January was encouraging but again failed to fire at Ascot; there's a competitive show in him should the new cheekpieces (on for a visor) trigger something.

16/1

9th

8

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 123y

Class 3

16:10 Ascot

High Treason

11st 6lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Began season with two below-par chase runs in the autumn but gave good account when fifth of 17 over hurdles at Newbury (3m, good to soft; first-time visor) last month and will be fine on the slower ground here.

16/1

5th

3

14th Jan 2026

Good

3m 0f 57y

Class 4

14:40 Newbury

High Treason

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Modest efforts this term, taking chase record to 0-6; rallied to win at Southwell (2m4f) on last hurdles attempt, taking strike-rate in this sphere to 2-5; revival possible, provided he takes well to added visor.

25/1

Form: P1512O BF

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Second in a handicap hurdle at this meeting in 2024 (3m, soft); two chase wins over 2m4f on good to soft this season and an excellent second in a strong race at Market Rasen on last completed start (3m, good); below par next time; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

12th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

16:10 Hereford

Heard That

11st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Three-time chase winner (at up to 3m) who was runner-up over hurdles at Southwell (2m4f, good) in March but he's inconsistent and made it 0-10 over hurdles when tailed off at Perth (2m4f, good) last month; needs to bounce back; non-runner when due to wear these blinkers for the first time 5:47 Southwell Monday.

5/1

7th

7

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:40 Perth

Heard That

11st 7lb

J: Aidan Weaver

T: Olly Murphy

Won off 7lb higher over fences here (3m, good to soft) last April; 0-9 over hurdles but runner-up in this discipline at Southwell (2m4f, good) last month; one of two for trainer with a good record in the race; chance.

13/2

Form: -63213

Last run: 90 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Off the mark over fences at Haydock in December (3m1f, soft) and fair third over 3m2f at Uttoxeter last time (good to soft); not out of it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Wal Bucks

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Easily made all in first-time visor (retained since) at Kelso (3m2f, heavy) last month and again ran well when fourth of five at Haydock (3m4f, good to soft) since; looked at home over 3m6f earlier in the season; chance.

4/1

4th

4

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 3

14:45 Haydock

Wal Bucks

10st 7lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Course scorer who resumed winning ways (in a first-time visor) in 3m2f Kelso handicap chase 20 days ago, making all and pulling right away from last as runner-up tired badly; up just 4lb here so big shout with headgear again sported.

5/4

1st

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 2f 39y

Class 4

16:10 Kelso

Wal Bucks

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

He's run well in defeat on his last two starts, finishing fourth of nine at Newcastle (3m6f, good to soft) in November and second of 14 at Ayr (3m, soft) last time; he may well be in the mix in a first-time visor.

4/1

Form: 325134 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
In the frame in five of his six races over fences this season, winning over this trip at Musselburgh in February (good to soft) and last time finishing 8l fourth at Carlisle (3m, good); each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:05 Wetherby

One More Stroke

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Won when upped to 2m7f at Musselburgh (2m7f, good to soft) in February and his novice chase campaign concluded with a close third at Perth (3m, good to soft) in April; he's had wind surgery since; he may improve for today's reappearance outing but this lightly raced 6yo is not ruled out.

9/1

4th

6

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:05 Wetherby

One More Stroke

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Won when upped to 2m7f at Musselburgh (2m7f, good to soft) in February and his novice chase campaign concluded with a close third at Perth (3m, good to soft) in April; he's had wind surgery since; he may improve for today's reappearance outing but this lightly raced 6yo is not ruled out.

9/1

7

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:40 Perth

One More Stroke

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

In the frame in five of his six races over fences this season, winning over this trip at Musselburgh in February (good to soft) and last time finishing 8l fourth at Carlisle (3m, good); each-way chance.

13/2

Form: 125F54 C

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won a novice hurdle over 2m4f here last July (good); took a heavy fall when favourite on chase debut at Ayr in November; fair efforts since; a bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

20:30 Huntingdon

Kandor

11st 12lb

J: Mr Daniel Williams

T: M Gill

Fair handicapper when trained by Lucinda Russell and 2-6 in points for current stable, the latter win gained in three-runner mixed open at Edgcote (3m, good) last month; probably has a big role to play in this.

5/2

4

15th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Kandor

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Won a novice hurdle here last July (2m4f, good); four runs over fences, best effort when 1.75l fourth of eight over C&D last time (good to soft); contender.

4/1

4

15th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Kandor

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Won a novice hurdle here last July (2m4f, good); four runs over fences, best effort when 1.75l fourth of eight over C&D last time (good to soft); contender.

4/1

Form: 324043

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Won an Ayr novice hurdle in December 2021 (2m5f, soft); tried chasing the following year but didn't jump particularly well and failed to finish in three attempts so went back over hurdles; may do better now; cheekpieces on for second time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 149y

Class 5

14:25 Newcastle

Half Track

11st 7lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

He's well handicapped on last season's best efforts but this 10yo hasn't been able to threaten this term and has a poor 1-22 strike-rate.

16/1

Non-runners

Next Left, Wearelongterm

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Heard That

TOPSPEED:

Olivers Travels

The Guardian:

Wal Buck's

Telegraph:

President Scottie

WEST COUNTRY:

High Treason

RP RATINGS:

Next Left

The Times:

Heard That

Daily Mirror:

Heard That

POSTDATA:

Olivers Travels

The Sun:

Olivers Travels

D Express:

Wal Buck's

Daily Record:

Wal Buck's

Daily Mail:

President Scottie

The Star:

President Scottie