October 20 / 15.40 Plumpton

15.40

Good

Sir Christopher Wates Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £11803.03
  • 2m 3f 166y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Sir Christopher Wates Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: -21132 C BF

Last run: 17 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who won two Uttoxeter chases in June (2m5f/2m4f) and returned from 12-week break with pretty good second at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft) this month; remains on career-high mark but ought to make his presence felt again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

17:12 Plumpton

Hecouldbetheone

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Spell over fences featured two wins last June; unable to take advantage of drop to selling level back over hurdles last time but won this contest off 5lb higher 12 months ago (admittedly beat only two rivals) and has a fighting chance provided he's back in similar form.

5/1

2nd

3

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

14:15 Stratford

Hecouldbetheone

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

A fairly useful winning hurdler/chaser at his best but his form has nosedived and he jumped poorly when last of six in 2m4f handicap chase at Leicester in December; back from a break now and needs it to spark a resurgence.

11/4

1

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 3

15:40 Plumpton

Hecouldbetheone

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

Front-runner who won two Uttoxeter chases in June (2m5f/2m4f) and returned from 12-week break with pretty good second at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft) this month; remains on career-high mark but ought to make his presence felt again.

3/1

Form: P33741 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Very useful chaser in his prime but last month's hurdling win at Fontwell (2m5f, good) came off a hugely reduced handicap mark and it's not easy to predict whether his revival will gather momentum.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 3

15:40 Plumpton

War Lord

11st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Very useful chaser in his prime but last month's hurdling win at Fontwell (2m5f, good) came off a hugely reduced handicap mark and it's not easy to predict whether his revival will gather momentum.

4/1

1st

2

22nd Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

17:20 Fontwell

War Lord

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Has been through a quiet spell but he ran respectably when fourth at Worcester (2m4f, good; tongue-tie refitted) last time; likely to need more.

13/2

6

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Worcester

War Lord

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Very useful chaser in his prime but this year's efforts, in three hurdles and a chase, make him tough to recommend.

14/1

Form: 1324-2 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won twice here (2m1f/2m3f) during first season over fences and went down fighting when back in action at Fontwell (2m3f, good) last month; remains on last winning mark and is sure to be suited by the return to this tack; must be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

28th Jun 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

15:27 Uttoxeter

Alien Storm

11st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

Successful five times at up to 2m4f, including twice last autumn; clear second upped to 3m at Bangor (good) most recently, running at least as well as he's ever done; may remain competitive despite his new mark being a career-high one.

9/1

2nd

5

23rd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 2

16:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Alien Storm

10st 11lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

Ran respectably when third of five over hurdles at regular haunt Plumpton (2m4f, good) last month; better known as a chaser these days but he looks weighted near best off this mark and is untried beyond 2m5f; has some work to do back in this sphere.

12/1

Form: P45264

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Dual 2m5f chase winner at Hereford (good) in the spring; well beaten over 3m at Ludlow 12 days ago and needs to rebound quickly from that, but ran much better than bare form suggests when last of six (behind Alien Storm) at Fontwell (2m3f, good) two starts ago and can't be ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

19th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:40 Newton Abbot

The Gypsy Davey

12st 0lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Dual chase winner from 20 attempts over fences; returned to form when second to It's A Breeze here last week where he wasn't unlucky despite some late interference; should run well with a repeat, but can be inconsistent.

4/1

2nd

3

13th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

16:12 Newton Abbot

The Gypsy Davey

11st 6lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Dual chase winner who has been more miss than hit since scoring in May last year; recent hurdle run in a first-time visor (retained) offered little encouragement, but he returns to fences off a handy mark; needs to rediscover his spark.

13/2

5th

7

30th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

19:18 Stratford

The Gypsy Davey

10st 13lb

J: Mr B T Stone

T: Mrs C Williams

Won two chases at Hereford (2m5f, good) in April and May 2025 but has been more miss than hit since, with both runs this year underwhelming; reverts to hurdles with a visor added off a fair mark but needs to turn things around.

20/1

Form: 1-3222 BF

Last run: 2 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on latest hurdling start in August and filled same position in both subsequent chases, latterly when upped to 2m5f at Stratford (good) on Saturday; will need to be taken very seriously if he makes a quick reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

19th Jul 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:50 Newton Abbot

Juggernaut

11st 4lb

J: James Robottom

T: Anthony Honeyball

Consistent 7yo but not well handicapped and again came up short when third over Fontwell's extended 3m1f when last seen; James Robottom has claimed his 10lb on this gelding's last three starts.

4/1

3rd

1

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

16:20 Fontwell

Juggernaut

12st 0lb

J: James Robottom

T: Anthony Honeyball

Consistent 7yo who has finished second under James Robottom twice since returned to hurdling in March, more recently at Stratford (3m2f, good) last month; still unexposed over this sort of trip and likely to be on the premises again.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.00
Straight Forecast £9.68
Trifecta £21.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Alien Storm

The Times:

Juggernaut

Telegraph:

War Lord

The Star:

Juggernaut

RP RATINGS:

Alien Storm

TOPSPEED:

Alien Storm

POSTDATA:

Alien Storm

The Guardian:

Alien Storm

Daily Mail:

Alien Storm

D Express:

Alien Storm

Daily Mirror:

Alien Storm

The Sun:

Alien Storm

Daily Record:

Alien Storm