February 05 / 15.35 Doncaster

15.35

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (Go North Monet’s Garden Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4700.09
  • 2m 4f 115y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (Go North Monet’s Garden Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 4F1-51

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Pipped a next-time-out winner to score over hurdles at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) just after Christmas and is now 2-7 in that sphere; open to more improvement over today's longer trip and over fences; looks interesting on chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 4

16:07 Newbury

Another Fine Mess

11st 6lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Jeremy Scott

Won over hurdles before a successful chase debut at Doncaster (2m4f, soft; by 3l); bumped into a well-treated favourite off this 5lb higher mark at Chepstow when the hood was left off (as today); should have some part to play.

8/1

2nd

6

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:17 Chepstow

Another Fine Mess

11st 11lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Jeremy Scott

Pipped a next-time-out winner to score over hurdles here (2m, good to soft) just after Christmas and took another step forward when winning by 3l on chasing debut at Doncaster (2m4f, soft) 16 days ago; still unexposed over this sort of trip and makes obvious appeal.

13/8

1st

5

5th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 115y

Class 4

15:35 Doncaster

Another Fine Mess

11st 2lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Jeremy Scott

Pipped a next-time-out winner to score over hurdles at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) just after Christmas and is now 2-7 in that sphere; open to more improvement over today's longer trip and over fences; looks interesting on chase debut.

3/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 16-752 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner who returned to form with pretty good second behind progressive subsequent winner at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) last month; nudged up only 1lb for that run and can make presence felt again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

13:30 Newcastle

Empty Nest

11st 6lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Usually goes well over C&D - form figures 212 - that win gained from a 2lb higher mark (favourite) over a year ago; recent Wetherby efforts were not so good but there was plenty to admire about the manner in which he rallied behind Always A Reason over C&D (good to soft) in January.

15/8

5th

7

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

14:37 Wetherby

Empty Nest

10st 2lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

C&D winner who was runner-up at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in January and filled same position at Doncaster (2m4f, soft) last month; disappointing over C&D last time but no surprise if he bounces back with a bold show.

13/2

6th

7

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

15:35 Wetherby

Empty Nest

10st 13lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Two wins last season (including C&D) and he's run well to finish second on both outings this year (2m4f, good to soft/soft), most recently at Doncaster three weeks ago; solid contender.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 222-23

Last run: 85 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Thorough stayer who coped well with drop back to 2m4f when close second on seasonal debut at Carlisle (good) in October and also ran well when third at Ayr (3m, soft) in November, albeit his finishing effort was a bit disappointing; back in trip again here and tried in cheekpieces; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

14th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Busty Boy

11st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Daragh Bourke

Only 1-22 under rules and clearly hard to win with but he arrives in form having placed in a second successive Highland National here (3m6f, good) last month; just as effective over this shorter distance.

7/2

2nd

6

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Busty Boy

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Daragh Bourke

Only 1-21 overall and clearly hard to win with, but he was runner-up in this 12 months ago and returns in form having been running well from 2m4f to 3m; in the mix.

5/1

3rd

4

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Busty Boy

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Daragh Bourke

Sole win under rules came in a handicap chase in 2023 (2m7f, soft); stays 3m6f but nearly won over this far at Carlisle on his reappearance and not disgraced since.

6/1

Form: 06-353 C

Last run: 41 days

W: 12st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Made promising seasonal/chase debut in October and bounced back from a lesser effort when third in first-time cheekpieces at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) on Boxing Day; eased slightly in grade today; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:40 Perth

Gentleman Bill

12st 2lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Promising over hurdles last season and he's well handicapped on his chase form from the end of last year; however, he's finished down the field over fences/hurdles on his last two starts; blinkers replace cheekpieces.

12/1

5th

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

13:37 Bangor-on-Dee

Gentleman Bill

11st 11lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Dual 2m hurdle winner (once here) last season who showed considerable promise over fences towards end of last year; suffered a fall and a heavy defeat last month but now reverts to hurdling on a tempting mark; completely unexposed over this sort of trip under rules; interesting.

5/1

8th

10

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Gentleman Bill

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Fairly useful bumper/hurdles scorer who shaped well on his chasing debut when third in 2m Aintree handicap in October; has failed to build on it though in three subsequent outings, falling at the ninth fence at Doncaster (2m4f) nine days ago; has something to prove now.

8/1

Form: /P-PP6 C

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 4lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on first two appearances this season and finished behind Gentleman Bill when never-dangerous sixth at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) on Boxing Day; suited by this track, though, and too well handicapped to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

William Of York

11st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Rebecca Menzies

Has won three times over hurdles and three times over fences, but was disappointing back over hurdles with a visor (retained) instead of cheekpieces at Hexham last time (2m7f, good; 40-1).

50/1

13th

1

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

20:15 Hexham

William Of York

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won three handicap chases on the trot in 2024; has struggled to finish since; may fare better back over hurdles with visor tried.

16/1

Non-runners

The Winslow Boy, Clonakilty, Cuban Court

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.20
Straight Forecast £11.91
Trifecta £18.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Gentleman Bill

TOPSPEED:

Busty Boy

D Express:

Another Fine Mess

Daily Mirror:

Empty Nest

Telegraph:

William Of York

RP RATINGS:

Gentleman Bill

POSTDATA:

Gentleman Bill

Daily Mail:

Gentleman Bill

Daily Record:

Empty Nest

The Times:

Busty Boy

The Guardian:

Busty Boy

The Star:

Busty Boy