May 31 / 20.00 Stratford

20.00

Good

Farmers Fresh Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7208.56
  • 3m 3f 119y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Farmers Fresh Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 6311P-

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Flopped badly at Cheltenham last month but was in career-best form beforehand, winning quite stylishly at Hereford (3m1f, good) and Exeter (3m6f, good to firm); still unexposed over marathon trips; contender if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

3m 3f 119y

Class 3

19:20 Stratford

Yes Day

11st 5lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Both wins over fences came in March 2025; his season never took off last term and he arrives here on a career-low mark (11lb below last win); first-time blinkers replace cheekpieces; needs to show more.

8/1

8

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 97y

Class 3

15:50 Haydock

Yes Day

11st 1lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

He's now 13lb below his peak mark but hasn't been at his best this season and didn't show much when back on good ground (3m) three weeks ago; won over 3m7f last March but there may be more solid options.

14/1

8th

5

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:30 Warwick

Yes Day

11st 3lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

He hasn't been at his best this season but he didn't run badly in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Sandown (3m, soft) recently and could build on that now back on better ground, with last season's two wins coming on good/good to firm; now 6lb below last winning mark; interesting.

8/1

Form: PP214-

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Won comfortably at regular haunt Chepstow (3m6f, good) in March and was probably unlucky not to follow up there (3m2f, good; in front when sprawling on landing at final fence) last month; went up another 5lb after the latter run, though, and may not be quite so effective on this sharper track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

31st May 2025

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 3

20:00 Stratford

Gats And Co

11st 9lb

J: Connor Brace

T: David Brace

Won comfortably at regular haunt Chepstow (3m6f, good) in March and was probably unlucky not to follow up there (3m2f, good; in front when sprawling on landing at final fence) last month; went up another 5lb after the latter run, though, and may not be quite so effective on this sharper track.

7/1

2

31st May 2025

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 3

20:00 Stratford

Gats And Co

11st 9lb

J: Connor Brace

T: David Brace

Won comfortably at regular haunt Chepstow (3m6f, good) in March and was probably unlucky not to follow up there (3m2f, good; in front when sprawling on landing at final fence) last month; went up another 5lb after the latter run, though, and may not be quite so effective on this sharper track.

7/1

4th

2

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Gats And Co

12st 2lb

J: Connor Brace

T: David Brace

Record of 11142P1 here includes a Dunraven Bowl first and second and (latest) a cosy win over 3m6.5f (good; Stellar Stream unseated when beaten); almost three years since he last defied this 9lb higher mark.

11/4

Form: PP7/3-

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 7lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Badly out of form for Dan Skelton in 2023-24 season but returned from 13-month absence with encouraging third for Greenall and Guerriero stable at Ludlow (3m, good to soft) in April; another 6lb lower on debut for latest new yard and Harry Cobden takes over from an amateur; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

26th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

13:50 Aintree

Ashtown Lad

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: David O’Meara

Following a 70-day break he exploited a much-reduced mark at Kelso (3m2f, good) three weeks ago on his fourth start for this yard; versatile ground-wise; from out of the handicap today he's running off 5lb higher than last time, in a much hotter race, but he remains very well treated on old form.

9/1

7th

10

27th Jul 2025

Good

3m 2f 13y

Class 2

15:07 Uttoxeter

Ashtown Lad

10st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: David O’Meara

Lost his way for the Skeltons and troubles have continued for his new yard; did endure a slipping saddle here last time but now into the twilight of his career.

50/1

15

29th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 13y

Class 2

14:00 Uttoxeter

Ashtown Lad

10st 2lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: David O’Meara

Lost his way for the Skeltons and troubles continued when tailed off at Stratford last month; limited appeal from 9lb out of the weights.

33/1

Form: P584-3 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Not firing on all cylinders since returning from a break in March (four runs) but now 5lb lower than when making all for clearcut success in this race last year and the cheekpieces (worn for that success) are now refitted for the first time this year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Worcester

Hidden Heroics

11st 5lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Four-time chase winner (3m-3m3f), on ground ranging from good to soft; lurks on a dangerous mark but has not been firing on all cylinders this year and has a lot more to prove than some of these.

14/1

7th

4

8th Jul 2025

Good

3m 2f 13y

Class 4

19:00 Uttoxeter

Hidden Heroics

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

3m3f Stratford winner last June but recent struggles continued when well beaten in that same race last month, finishing behind Ajp Kingdom and My Gift To You; did run well for a long way though and the return of cheekpieces didn't harm.

7/1

4

31st May 2025

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 3

20:00 Stratford

Hidden Heroics

11st 7lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Not firing on all cylinders since returning from a break in March (four runs) but now 5lb lower than when making all for clearcut success in this race last year and the cheekpieces (worn for that success) are now refitted for the first time this year.

5/1

Form: 4213-4

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Rather disappointing when only fourth of five at Market Rasen (3m, good) three weeks ago but returned from break with creditable third of 14 at Cheltenham (3m4f, good) last month and has good claims here if judged on that performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

12th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

13:32 Chepstow

Ajp Kingdom

12st 1lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Just 1-13 over fences but comes here after two good recent runs, the latter when a clear second at Uttoxeter (3m, good); still on a workable mark and will be suited by the extra distance today; respected.

11/2

2nd

6

16th Sep 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

15:40 Uttoxeter

Ajp Kingdom

11st 0lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Thorough stayer who won by 15l here (3m2f, good) last autumn and returns after a pretty good third at Worcester (2m7f, good) last month; significant rain would leave him with something to prove (unraced on ground slower than good to soft under rules) but, otherwise, he's a contender.

9/1

4

20th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Worcester

Ajp Kingdom

11st 11lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Third at Cheltenham in April (3m4f) and similar form when a 12l second at Stratford; blew out in a first-time tongue-tie last time (replacing cheekpieces) and that's swiftly removed.

10/1

Form: 22P5-1

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won two good-ground chases in November (3m/3m2f) and looked back in peak form when keeping on gamely to fend off My Gift To You at Fakenham (3m5f, good) this month; only 3lb higher here and still unexposed over this sort of trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Stans The Man

11st 12lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Ella Pickard

Won this race in 2025 (good ground) and returned to form towards end of last season, latterly when second to recent big-race winner Havaila in Sussex National at Plumpton (3m4f, good); high on the list.

4/1

2nd

7

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 104y

Class 2

16:25 Plumpton

Stans The Man

11st 0lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Ella Pickard

Won two in a row last May (3m5f/3m3f, good) and returned to form to win at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) last month following a break; this 9yo has never defied a mark this high but it may be within range if he's once more at the top of his game.

10/1

1st

4

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:40 Wincanton

Stans The Man

12st 0lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Ella Pickard

Standard-bearer for his yard; mixed bag in class 3s since the autumn, but back down to his last winning mark of May 2025 and zero stamina concerns; ground coming right again (all wins on good or good to soft).

10/1

Form: 1336-2

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Four-time chase winner, most recently at Sedgefield (3m2f, good) in October; stuck to his task very well when second to Stans The Man at Fakenham (3m5f, good) this month and enters calculations here, albeit he's back up to his career-high mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 3

15:55 Cartmel

My Gift To You

12st 0lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Resumed winning ways after six months off in 4m1f hunter chase at Warwick (good) 22 days ago; effective over this much shorter trip and this likeable front-runner is not out of things.

11/2

1st

2

1st May 2026

Good

4m 0f 218y

Class 4

19:25 Warwick

My Gift To You

12st 1lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: James Owen

Highly impressive 26 finishes in the first four (eight of them wins) from 30 rules/pointing runs for the Owens, with stamina proven up to 3m6f; all-the-way hurdles winner over 3m2f here just last autumn (good), and likelier than some to run his race.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.70
Straight Forecast £16.33
Trifecta £57.40

Selections

POSTDATA:

My Gift To You

TOPSPEED:

Stans The Man

SPOTLIGHT:

Ashtown Lad

RP RATINGS:

Hidden Heroics

The Times:

My Gift To You

Telegraph:

My Gift To You

Daily Mail:

My Gift To You

The Sun:

My Gift To You

The Star:

My Gift To You

Daily Record:

My Gift To You

WEST COUNTRY:

Stans The Man

D Express:

Stans The Man

Daily Mirror:

Stans The Man

The Guardian:

Ashtown Lad