February 01 / 13.55 Musselburgh

13.55

Good To Soft

bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 1m 7f 182y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
ITV
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bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 54-21U D BF

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Unexposed novice chaser whose win at Huntingdon (2m, good) built on a promising reappearance effort; unseated rider in the early stages at Ludlow since; remains of interest, with further progress still possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

16:53 Stratford

Pure Carbon

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

2-6 over fences this season, the wins gained at Huntingdon (2m, good) and Musselburgh (2m, good to soft); gave another good account when close third of five at Ascot (2m1f, good) last month and should be fine on this left-handed track; good chance.

2/1

3rd

2

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 3

15:40 Ascot

Pure Carbon

11st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Harry Derham

Two wins and as many seconds in his completed starts over fences; put in his place off this mark at Kempton (2m2f, good) two weeks ago but the winner is in a good place at the minute; unlikely to be far away.

100/30

2nd

6

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 3

14:08 Kempton

Pure Carbon

10st 13lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Two wins and a second to show from his completed starts over fences; got up late at Musselburgh (good to soft) last time in a style which suggests there could be more to come now racing beyond around 2m for the first time over fences; leading claims for last year's winning yard.

5/2

6/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: F67562 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish novice chaser who is only 1-12 in this sphere but has a workable mark; 0-3 for new yard, albeit faced a stiff task at the weights last time; return to handicap level gives him a better chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Aeros Luck

10st 13lb

J: William Maggs

T: Sandy Thomson

Another ex-Gavin Cromwell inmate who secured narrow win over fences at Punchestown (2m, good to yielding) in June; 0-5 for this yard but February's close second of five at Musselburgh (2m, good to soft) on penultimate start was a creditable effort; stable in fine form.

7/1

3rd

5

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

13:10 Kelso

Aeros Luck

11st 10lb

J: William Maggs

T: Sandy Thomson

Hurdle/chase winner for Gavin Cromwell who has improved with each of his four runs for this yard, most recently close second of five at Musselburgh (2m, good to soft); that looked a warm little race and he's respected.

6/1

Form: P18-11 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Record of 3-6 since handicapping and 2-2 since switched to fences; collared a solid rival close home at Haydock (2m, good to soft) most recently, justifying favouritism; respected with further improvement on the cards.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Koukeo

11st 5lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won his first two chase starts in January (2m, good/good to soft) under Jonjo O'Neill, who is back on board today; disappointing at Newbury on his last two outings but the first was a tough assignment over 2m4f and he jumped badly last time; it wouldn't be a surprise to see him bounce back.

11/1

5th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Koukeo

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Made encouraging start over fences with convincing victory at Windsor (2m, good) on New Year's Day, and he followed up at Haydock (2m, good to soft) two weeks later; however, the wheels came off when he went up in grade for the Greatwood here three weeks ago, and he was beaten before stamina became a factor; 5lb higher than for his second win and needs to get back on track.

9/2

7th

11

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Koukeo

10st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Beaten favourite, albeit far from discredited, at Musselburgh last time when bidding to take his chase record (all over 2m) to 3-3; may still have more to offer and this return to further is worth a go (2m5f hurdles winner); steps up in class but receives weight all round; could go well.

10/1

Form: 3324-4 D

Last run: 260 days

W: 11st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
On a competitive mark on best form but lacks recent match practice and needs to prove he retains peak ability; below-par fourth in two starts last year, both in the spring; absent since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

15th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Parisencore

11st 8lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Made the most of a reduced mark to snap his losing run over 2m4f at Newcastle (good) and a 4lb rise should be workable if he can repeat that performance; has held his form in the past.

9/2

1st

2

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

14:42 Newcastle

Parisencore

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

21 months since his last win, an authoritative one in the Perth Silver Cup (2m4f, good to firm; from 5lb higher); beaten 26l, 16l and 14l respectively in three runs since April 2025; good ground is ideal, so probably worth considering with his trainer in such fine form.

11/4

4th

1

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

13:55 Musselburgh

Parisencore

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

On a competitive mark on best form but lacks recent match practice and needs to prove he retains peak ability; below-par fourth in two starts last year, both in the spring; absent since.

10/1

Form: 745-1P CD

Last run: 79 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Bad early mistake contributed to a poor effort when last seen; scored at Kelso in only other start this term but has something to prove back up in grade, having done all his winning in Class 4.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

24th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

16:12 Kelso

Chapel Green

11st 4lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won over C&D off a 6lb higher mark in September (good); has not fared quite as well since, although more encouraging run when 13l third of seven over 2m1f here last time (good); step back up in trip will suit.

7/1

3rd

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 4

16:32 Kelso

Chapel Green

11st 8lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won over 2m5f here following a 163-day break last September (good) but rather disappointing since; on a good mark now, but a bit to prove.

14/1

Form: P1-057

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
On last winning mark; 0-4 for new yard but posted a resurgent effort in the Scottish Champion Chase at Musselburgh (2m4f) yesterday; drops back to 2m for first time in a year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

15th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Bleu Denfer

11st 6lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Back from wind surgery he bumped into one well handicapped at Bangor (2m4f, good) and it was a strong race in which he struggled at Haydock; he's no forlorn hope on that penultimate effort.

25/1

9th

11

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Bleu Denfer

10st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Back from wind surgery he bumped into one well handicapped at Bangor two weeks ago (2m4f, good); it could be a similar story here and winning this would demand a career best from him.

16/1

2nd

1

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Bleu Denfer

12st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Out of the handicap when a respectable fourth in a Class 2 at Musselburgh on his penultimate start (2m4f, good to soft) and has had wind surgery since finishing tailed off at Kelso; hard to dismiss.

12/1

Non-runners

Denemethy, Bleu dEnfer

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.20
Straight Forecast £17.16
Trifecta £27.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Koukeo

RP RATINGS:

Pure Carbon

Telegraph:

Denemethy

TOPSPEED:

Parisencore

POSTDATA:

Koukeo

The Sun:

Koukeo

The Star:

Koukeo

Daily Record:

Koukeo

LAMBOURN:

Pure Carbon

The Times:

Pure Carbon

D Express:

Pure Carbon

Daily Mirror:

Pure Carbon