February 24 / 14.50 Leicester

14.50

Heavy

David Johnson “DJ” “Johnno” Memorial Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3696.7
  • 2m 6f 151y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
David Johnson “DJ” “Johnno” Memorial Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 52-432 BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Skelton runner who has broadly encouraging form since switched to handicaps; ran well from the front in added cheekpieces at Sedgefield (3m2f, good to soft; second chase attempt) most recently; turn looks near.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

11th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:42 Southwell

Delgany Deadline

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Off the mark at Leicester (2m7f, soft) in February before posting a good second of four in 3m1f handicap at Plumpton (good); the drop back to 2m4f was not ideal there last time; better expected here.

7/2

4th

4

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:17 Plumpton

Delgany Deadline

10st 11lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Low-mileage 6yo who got off the mark at Leicester (2m7f) in February before posting a very good second of four in 3m1f handicap here two weeks ago; drops in trip but on the up so still rates a player for yard firmly among the winners.

13/8

2nd

3

5th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

14:20 Plumpton

Delgany Deadline

11st 1lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Has improved for cheekpieces, following his second at Sedgefield (3m2f, good to soft) with a 3l success at Leicester (2m6f, soft) which was despite a mistake two out; probably still fairly treated off 5lb higher.

11/10

4/1

  • Place: £3.30

Form: P-25P2 CD

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
No match for the winner at Lingfield (2m4f) last time but ran creditably; record of 2-4 at Leicester features a success, off current mark on heavy ground, in this race 12 months ago; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

27th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

15:30 Fontwell

Ronnies Reflection

11st 4lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Both wins have come in the mud at Leicester where he ran another respectable race three weeks ago (good to soft); has C&D form and needs respecting.

9/4

3rd

6

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

15:30 Leicester

Ronnies Reflection

10st 10lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Dual C&D winner (soft/heavy) last season and does appear to reserve his best for this venue, with last month's 3l second another respectable effort; likely to need a bit more to go one better off this mark, but has definite place prospects.

13/2

2nd

5

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

14:50 Leicester

Ronnies Reflection

11st 6lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

No match for the winner at Lingfield (2m4f) last time but ran creditably; record of 2-4 at Leicester features a success, off current mark on heavy ground, in this race 12 months ago; respected.

4/1

Form: 34/2-3 BF

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage maiden who ran well on chase debut in June 2024 (penultimate start) and may be capable of progress with Hereford reappearance under his belt; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 136y

Class 5

14:50 Chepstow

Just In A Bit

11st 8lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Mel Rowley

Low-mileage maiden who's been second or third in handicaps on all three chase outings, absent 590 days after first of those; rallied strongly when third of seven at Leicester (2m7f, soft) one month ago, which suggests that this step back up in trip is very much in order; one to consider.

7/2

3rd

2

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

14:50 Leicester

Just In A Bit

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Low-mileage maiden who ran well on chase debut in June 2024 (penultimate start) and may be capable of progress with Hereford reappearance under his belt; one to consider.

3/1

Form: 4-5272 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Leicester specialist whose good record here features second-place finishes in this contest last year (off 2lb higher) and on latest outing (had wind surgery since); solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

31st Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Nine Nine Nine

11st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Effective on all ground but Leicester is his favourite patch; his record elsewhere isn't that solid and twice well held here, as was also the case when tried in blinkers last time at Uttoxeter.

15/2

2nd

7

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Uttoxeter

Nine Nine Nine

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Particularly effective at Leicester, as best form this season confirms; his record at Uttoxeter isn't as solid; nicely weighted but chance partly depends on how well he responds to new headgear.

7/1

4th

4

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

14:50 Leicester

Nine Nine Nine

11st 6lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Leicester specialist whose good record here features second-place finishes in this contest last year (off 2lb higher) and on latest outing (had wind surgery since); solid claims.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: /3-853

Last run: 12 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 10yo who recorded bumper/hurdle wins a long time ago; needs improvement on his two chase efforts, modest third at Leicester (2m4f) latest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

17:05 Cartmel

Italian Spirit

11st 1lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Harriet Dickin

Uneven chasing profile looks better once pared down to just efforts at or around 2m4f; chance on the form of his last-time Ffos Las second off 1lb lower, though jumping late on wasn't all it could have been.

11/2

2nd

7

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

16:20 Ffos Las

Italian Spirit

11st 1lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Harriet Dickin

Record of 0-4 since switched to fences but shaped better than bare result with blinkers fitted at Exeter (3m) most recently; drop back in trip looks ideal; could go well.

12/1

Form: 61-P5P

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Poor results in Class 4 this season but may show the benefit of this drop back in grade, having posted form figures of 121 in last three attempts in Class 5.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

20th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:00 Warwick

John W Creasy

11st 7lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Dual chase winner on slow ground (2m/2m3f) but out of sorts last term and has a lot to prove.

14/1

5th

9

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:42 Ffos Las

John W Creasy

10st 7lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Dual chase winner on slow ground last season (2m/2m3f) but out of sorts this term and has a lot to prove.

40/1

Form: 0-8474

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Just modest results since handicapping, distant fourth at Leicester most recently, and remains a maiden under rules; needs help from the first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

25th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

15:00 Hereford

The Brickey Ranger

10st 9lb

J: Miss Jess Stewart

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Struggled in handicaps for previous yard over a range of trips up to 3m2f this season since returning from a long absence, but capitalised on a reduced mark when winning over C&D last week on stable debut, ridden by Jess Stewart; carries a penalty but could figure if reproducing that effort.

9/2

1st

8

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

The Brickey Ranger

10st 2lb

J: Miss Jess Stewart

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Irish point winner but 0-8 under rules and struggled in handicap chases on last three runs; mark continues to fall but he was pulled up at Leicester three weeks ago and has lots to prove on this drop to 2m; cheekpieces removed.

16/1

7

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

14:50 Leicester

The Brickey Ranger

10st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Seamus Mullins

Just modest results since handicapping, distant fourth at Leicester most recently, and remains a maiden under rules; needs help from the first-time cheekpieces.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.20
Straight Forecast £16.27
Trifecta £60.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ronnies Reflection

Telegraph:

Delgany Deadline

RP RATINGS:

Nine Nine Nine

The Times:

Just In A Bit

The Guardian:

Delgany Deadline

The Sun:

Delgany Deadline

Daily Mail:

Ronnies Reflection

Daily Mirror:

Ronnies Reflection

The Star:

Ronnies Reflection

Daily Record:

Ronnies Reflection

POSTDATA:

Nine Nine Nine

D Express:

Nine Nine Nine