October 11 / 15.45 Hexham

15.45

Good

Positive Change Plate Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8713.65
  • 2m 4f 15y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Positive Change Plate Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly sunny

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.50

Form: F2234-

Last run: 183 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Made the frame on all his hurdles outings last season, staying-on fourth of 13 at Ayr (3m1f, good to soft) on the last of them; fell at halfway on his chasing debut at Wetherby last autumn; has a second crack at chasing and has to be respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

11

17th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

16:43 Ayr

I Am Max

11st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Sandy Thomson

Inconsistent this season and down the field at Haydock a fortnight ago; however, he ran pretty well when runner-up at Doncaster two starts ago and is 2lb lower than when a close fourth of 13 in this race last year; if he's on song in a first-time tongue-tie he might not be far away.

16/1

7th

9

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

14:46 Haydock

I Am Max

10st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Sandy Thomson

Short-headed on his only start here; won a Hexham chase in October; hasn't done as well since, finishing runner-up to Jakar Du Moulin when returned to hurdling at Doncaster (3m) on latest start but he needs to build on that markedly; stable in good form.

16/1

2nd

5

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 84y

Class 3

15:02 Doncaster

I Am Max

11st 4lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Sandy Thomson

Won a Hexham novice handicap chase in October (2m4f); hasn't done as well since but reverts to hurdling off a feasible mark; this good ground suits and stable going well, so an interesting candidate.

10/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 57524- C

Last run: 170 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Four wins include a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree in April 2023 and a 2m handicap hurdle here last autumn; posted a fine fourth of seven at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) to conclude last season and, with his good record fresh a bonus, he's a fascinating contender on chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(2)

21st May 2026

Soft

1m 3f 140y

Class 3

14:30 Haydock

Florida Dreams

10st 2lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Sandy Thomson

Grade 2 bumper winner at Aintree in April 2023; well beaten over hurdles on last two starts (stable debut latest) but he's shown some useful form in that code and is an interesting contender on this Flat debut.

12/1

8th

8

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

Florida Dreams

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Sandy Thomson

Ex-Nicky Richards; smart bumper performer; has won two of his 17 races over hurdles, but disappointing on last two starts; makes debut for Sandy Thomson.

12/1

6th

5

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Florida Dreams

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nicky Richards

Has won only one of his 13 handicaps but twice went very close at the start of the season and 3m possibly stretched his stamina at Musselburgh last time; back to a more suitable trip here and unlikely to be far away.

3/1

Form: 11306- C

Last run: 183 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Posted a personal best over hurdles when third in a Pertemps qualifier at Haydock (3m, good to soft) in February and he wasn't disgraced at Ayr in the spring; successful over 2m4f here (good) last autumn; still has potential now sent over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

20

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Chasingouttheblues

10st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Three wins (wore cheekpieces for last two) and a second from his last four starts, all over about 3m/3m1f; unraced beyond that but there's a great deal about him which suggests that he won't really come into his own until handed a major test of stamina; he receives one today and, despite the step up in class, consequently makes serious appeal.

6/1

1st

3

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:52 Carlisle

Chasingouttheblues

11st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Took well to first-time cheekpieces at Catterick, beating Paddy O'Mahler and making it two wins (3m/3m1f) from his last three starts; may improve further in the retained headgear; enters calculations.

4/1

1st

1

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 4

16:00 Catterick

Chasingouttheblues

12st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Won at Wetherby (3m, soft) in December on fourth chase start and bumped into useful prospect when second at Doncaster (3m, soft) last month; won on good/good to soft over hurdles; cheekpieces go on; solid claims.

3/1

Form: 1P4121 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Like so many from his yard he's had an excellent summer and early-autumn, notching a career best when winning at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) 16 days ago; up another 4lb but thriving and has solid claims once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

17:05 Stratford

King Roly

12st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Won three small-field chases in early part of last season (2m3f-2m4f, good) and ran better than eventual 18l defeat suggests at Perth (2m4f, good; hampered by final-fence faller) last month, after a layoff; will be fine over today's longer trip and goes on the shortlist.

4/1

6th

1

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:10 Perth

King Roly

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Made a good start to his chasing career last year, winning three times between May and September (2m3f/2m4f, good), with two of them over C&D; also effective on good to soft, unproven on softer; he has a very solid record here and could play a leading role if fully tuned up after a break.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 614P2- D

Last run: 169 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Had a stop-start 2024-25 campaign over hurdles but finished with a good second of 12 at Perth (3m2f, good to soft) in April; still relatively lightly raced and bred to make a chaser; one of two key players for the Russell/Scudamore stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

King Of Answers

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won two small-field handicaps at Kelso (soft/heavy) over the extended 2m7f, easily on penultimate start (made most) despite the odd jumping indiscretion; wore cheekpieces that day and again when an excellent second of 17, coming from out the back, in the NH Chase at Cheltenham (3m6f, good to soft); his jumping can be a bit sticky but he's a prime candidate for 4m.

11/2

2nd

3

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

King Of Answers

11st 10lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Twice successful in small-field handicaps at Kelso (soft/heavy) over the extended 2m7f, easily on latest start (made most) despite the odd jumping indiscretion; wore first-time cheekpieces that day, in response to his Windsor run (3m, soft) in which he got going a good deal later even than the winner Guard The Moon; up 10lb since last time but he now looks a prime candidate for serious stamina tests such as this if his jumping holds up.

12/1

1st

6

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 2

15:00 Kelso

King Of Answers

11st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won over C&D (soft) in December on second chase start; got detached before keeping on for fourth of five, beaten just over 5l, at Windsor (3m, soft) four weeks ago; this lightly raced 7yo might be just the type to benefit from the cheekpieces and he retains potential for his good yard.

5/2

Non-runners

Art Of Diplomacy, Jupiter Des Mottes

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.00
Straight Forecast £20.09
Trifecta £54.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

King Roly

The Guardian:

Jupiter Des Mottes

D Express:

King Of Answers

The Star:

Florida Dreams

The Sun:

Art Of Diplomacy

Daily Mail:

Jupiter Des Mottes

RP RATINGS:

King Roly

TOPSPEED:

King Roly

POSTDATA:

King Roly

The Times:

King Roly

Telegraph:

King Roly

Daily Mirror:

King Roly

Daily Record:

King Roly