January 15 / 12.07 Wincanton

12.07

Good To Soft

Flaked Oats Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 3m 1f 30y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Flaked Oats Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.80
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 263-48 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Prolific winner over hurdles; mixed results in six races over fences but this is easier than Haydock last time and he did return with an encouraging fourth on reappearance at Cheltenham (2m4f, good); won at up to an extended 3m1f over hurdles; respected in the new cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 3

17:05 Haydock

Major Fortune

11st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner over hurdles; just as good over fences and holding his form well, beaten off only on run-in when second at Leicester (2m6f; stays 3m1f well) four weeks ago; handles any ground; leading contender.

9/2

2nd

2

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

14:30 Leicester

Major Fortune

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner over hurdles; off the mark over fences at the seventh attempt at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) when fitted with first-time cheekpieces in January, and matched that level when runner-up at Newbury the following month; can make his presence felt again but he's never won off a mark this high.

2/1

2nd

5

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Major Fortune

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner over hurdles; it was in a lower grade when getting off the mark over fences at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) but that was fairly comfortable and it was his first time in cheekpieces; off 5lb higher he can make his presence felt.

3/1

Form: /17-64

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 9yo; let down by his jumping on chase debut and again not at his best returned to hurdling a month ago (3m; in a first-time hood that's now discarded); now has a bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 4

16:00 Catterick

Not A Light

11st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Didn't jump well on chase debut at Windsor in November but better in that department when runner-up at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) last month, when clear with an improving winner; this lightly raced 9yo is entitled to respect.

9/2

2nd

8

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

12:07 Wincanton

Not A Light

11st 2lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Lightly raced 9yo; let down by his jumping on chase debut and again not at his best returned to hurdling a month ago (3m; in a first-time hood that's now discarded); now has a bit to prove.

16/1

7th

4

10th Feb 2025

Good

2m 3f 66y

Class 4

16:00 Catterick

Not A Light

11st 8lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

The form of his near-miss in a soft-ground 2m4f novice at Leicester in December 2022 is strong and he returned from an absence to win a 2m4f maiden at Hexham (soft) two months ago with the minimum of fuss; brings plenty of potential into handicaps.

11/4

7/1

  • Place: £3.20

Form: 612-34 BF

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Consistent winning hurdler; went close in his only point but didn't give himself a chance on chase/handicap debut by jumping moderately; sent off favourite then and he retains potential with cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

5th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

17:42 Hereford

Maximum Offers

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Beat the only other finisher by 35l over C&D (good) last month on third chase attempt and second start in cheekpieces; open to further progress in this sphere and warrants respect up just 2lb.

5/2

1st

1

16th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

16:22 Hereford

Maximum Offers

11st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Good-ground hurdle winner; jumped better on second run over fences when third on soft ground at Wincanton (3m1f; first-time cheekpieces) and these conditions should be more to his liking; off for three months but should have every chance.

Evs

OUR TIP

10/1

Form: 5/4/4-

Last run: 460 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Listed winner over hurdles in France; well held in three hurdles for Philip Hobbs and then ran twice for Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, again finishing well held in a Listed race on chase debut in October 2024; since changed hands for £30,000 and can no doubt do better, especially now raised in distance for handicap debut; the market needs checking.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

15:35 Uttoxeter

Mombasa

10st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Showed clear signs of retaining ability at Leicester last time (second run for new yard and since returning from long absence) but needs to build on that effort; faces a stiffer task upped in class.

12/1

3rd

2

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Mombasa

11st 10lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Won 3yo Listed hurdle in France in June 2022; lightly raced since and tailed off at 22-1 on stable debut and second chase start at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) four weeks ago when back from another absence; not easy to fancy after that latest performance but he's one to watch in the betting.

11/1

Form: 35-121 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 12st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Has won a point and a novice hurdle; suffered a near miss on chase debut but went one better in determined fashion at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft); this is tougher off 6lb higher but he's heading the right way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:20 Wincanton

Golan Loop

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Built on his Southwell chase debut second when going one better at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft) in December; had a major blip over C&D next time but he bounced back with a respectable effort on good ground at Hereford (lost his left-hind shoe) last month; still has potential as a chaser and he's in the mix with cheekpieces added.

5/2

3rd

2

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

16:02 Hereford

Golan Loop

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

Built on his Southwell chase debut second when going one better over C&D (good to soft) in December; that form has taken a few knocks, including when this one pulled up at Wincanton in January, although Warren Greatrex did report that the 6yo was unsuited by the soft ground.

4/1

1

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

12:07 Wincanton

Golan Loop

12st 1lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Has won a point and a novice hurdle; suffered a near miss on chase debut but went one better in determined fashion at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft); this is tougher off 6lb higher but he's heading the right way.

6/4

Form: /52-FP

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Hasn't completed the last twice but only three runs back he went close in this race 12 months ago off the same mark; hard to discount given that piece of form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:42 Ffos Las

Tommys Charm

12st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Lightly raced for his age and now 12lb lower than when going close at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) at start of last year, but he's been out of form this season and needs first-time tongue-tie to aid a revival.

20/1

5th

6

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Tommys Charm

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Hurdles winner over a similar trip here early in 2024, but lightly raced since; finally managed to complete at Ludlow (3m, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) last month, but was still well beaten; lots to prove.

16/1

6th

7

26th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

14:07 Ludlow

Tommys Charm

10st 12lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kerry Lee

Low-mileage 8yo; beaten when falling on seasonal debut in October and pulled up on both subsequent appearances; needs a huge boost from the new cheekpieces.

16/1

Form: 32-

Last run: 269 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in Irish points; had wind surgery prior to finishing third then second in good-ground maiden hurdles over an extended 2m7f at Chepstow last spring (better effort first occasion); switches to fences for this handicap debut after a lengthy break but he's got the build to do excel as a chaser.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

17:42 Ffos Las

Gaelic Rambler

11st 9lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Low-mileage 6yo who unseated rider on chase/handicap debut in January but has made the frame on all three starts since; form of last month's Wetherby second (1m7f, good; first-time cheekpieces) has recently been franked by the winner, and this fellow ought to be suited by this move back up in trip; contender.

4/1

2nd

3

27th Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 36y

Class 4

15:50 Wetherby

Gaelic Rambler

11st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Low-mileage maiden who has broadly consistent form figures; clear second at Stratford (2m1f) most recently; possibilities dropped further in distance, provided he takes well to added cheekpieces.

7/4

2nd

4

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

14:50 Stratford

Gaelic Rambler

11st 7lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Runner-up in two Irish points in 2024 and yet to get his head in front under rules; shaped better when dropped in trip and third of five finishers on his second start over fences at Southwell (2m4f, soft) last month but it remains to be seen if this even shorter trip is the answer.

11/4

Form: 2-0622

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Winning hurdler who has finished runner-up in four of her five races over fences, latterly over 2m3f and 2m4f (good to soft); doesn't look ahead of her mark and stamina for this far isn't guaranteed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:52 Newton Abbot

Clotilda

11st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Winning hurdler who remains a maiden over fences after seven attempts, making the frame on all six completed attempts but without suggesting she's particularly well treated; back in trip but likely needs to find more off current mark to get her head in front.

6/1

3rd

2

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

16:01 Taunton

Clotilda

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Winning hurdler who has finished runner-up in four of her six races as a chaser; fell at the 14th fence when upped to 3m1f at Wincanton (soft) last month but was travelling well at the time and she still has potential in this sphere; in the mix.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £29.50
Straight Forecast £27.20
Tricast £209.64
Trifecta £207.10

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Golan Loop

SPOTLIGHT:

Major Fortune

Daily Record:

Clotilda

D Express:

Gaelic Rambler

LAMBOURN:

Golan Loop

The Times:

Golan Loop

Telegraph:

Golan Loop

The Guardian:

Golan Loop

Daily Mail:

Golan Loop

Daily Mirror:

Golan Loop

The Sun:

Golan Loop

TOPSPEED:

Major Fortune

POSTDATA:

Major Fortune

The Star:

Major Fortune