March 06 / 15.00 Leicester

15.00

Soft

Coldstream Guards Association Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3696.7
  • 2m 4f 25y
  • Class 5
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Coldstream Guards Association Handicap Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £12.00
  • Place: £3.50

Form: 231335 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Five-time chase winner (2m1f-2m5f), latest at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day, but he's been well held in three subsequent runs and he was disappointing tried in blinkers latest; on a good mark and cheekpieces return but it's hard to be confident given his current form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

26th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 4

19:09 Plumpton

Begin The Luck

12st 0lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Daisy Hitchins

Largely reliable veteran and a three-time winner since December, latterly over C&D in April; touched off at Fontwell 20 days ago, with I Shut That d'Or about 5l back in third; nudged up 1lb but likely to make his presence felt again.

2/1

2nd

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:42 Fontwell

Begin The Luck

11st 13lb

J: Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Veteran who has won three times over fences since December including at Plumpton (2m4f, good) 17 days ago; that was in a small field and his main rival made a bad mistake at the last but he still looks feasibly treated and is versatile ground-wise; respected.

5/1

1st

2

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:17 Plumpton

Begin The Luck

11st 7lb

J: Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Reliable sort who scored at Leicester (2m4f) in March; not discredited when fifth in 2m5f handicap chase at Newton Abbot 15 days ago so ought to be in the shake-up eased 1lb.

3/1

5/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 5-1311 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Has thrived since returning from a break in December, winning two of his three runs over hurdles before adding a third win of the season reverting to fences at Market Rasen (2m3f, soft) last month, each time under Benjamin Macey; he's up 4lb for last time but is very much a leading contender in current form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Eric Carmen

10st 13lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Gary Hanmer

In cracking form this season, with three wins and a second, until however he went down by 25l at Bangor (good) on latest start; maybe the ground that day was not soft enough; major player if bouncing straight back.

13/2

6th

10

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

16:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Eric Carmen

10st 12lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Gary Hanmer

A lot more exposed than many in here but he's been in cracking form since returning from an absence and his defeat at Leicester was no backward step (2m4f, good to soft); firmly in the mix.

3/1

2nd

3

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

15:00 Leicester

Eric Carmen

11st 9lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Gary Hanmer

Has thrived since returning from a break in December, winning two of his three runs over hurdles before adding a third win of the season reverting to fences at Market Rasen (2m3f, soft) last month, each time under Benjamin Macey; he's up 4lb for last time but is very much a leading contender in current form.

5/4

Form: 3-F6P5 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner (2m4f/2m5f) who has struggled for form since returning from a break in November and again failed to fire when well held at Wincanton nine days ago; sliding mark offers hope on old form but needs to rediscover spark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

18:30 Huntingdon

Jack Doyen

11st 10lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Resurgent 10yo who ended last season with two 2m5f wins (good/good to soft) and posted another good effort when close second of 13 at Hexham (2m4f, good) this month; obvious contender.

Evs

2nd

9

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

19:15 Hexham

Jack Doyen

10st 11lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Has come right back to form on last two starts, winning at Hereford (2m5f, good) and Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft); has gone up 9lb but should go well again.

4/1

Form: 44-4F5

Last run: 99 days

W: 10st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Remains a 22-race maiden under rules, 13 of them over fences, though has shown glimpses of promise and was still holding second when falling at the last at Market Rasen (2m5f) in November; failed to build on that at Lingfield later that month; returns from a three-month break with something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

28th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Worcester

Ultra Viers

10st 5lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Phillippa Taylor

Longstanding maiden who has been struggling over fences and he's out of the weights here.

50/1

5th

10

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 5

15:10 Uttoxeter

Ultra Viers

10st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Phillippa Taylor

Quite well handicapped on last spring's form but was well beaten when back on good ground at Hereford in March and is now 0-24 under rules.

16/1

6th

8

25th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Ultra Viers

10st 2lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Phillippa Taylor

Didn't run badly when last of four finishers at Leicester (2m4f, good to soft; just behind Jack Doyen) this month, after a break, and will be suited by this forecast good ground but he's 0-23 under rules and remains difficult to enthuse over.

8/1

Form: P-4P13 CD BF

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Added a second course win when back on track in cheekpieces over 2m6f (good to soft) in January but, while running creditably off 5lb higher, failed to quite match that level when third at Ffos Las (3m, heavy) last month; respected back at this venue on better ground; now tried in blinkers, with Rian Corcoran's claim a plus.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

16:50 Ffos Las

River Run Free

10st 13lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Regained the winning thread at Leicester (2m6f) in January but back on the regress since, having performed below market expectations at Ffos Las (only third of four finishers) and Leicester (ran dismally).

10/1

2

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

15:00 Leicester

River Run Free

11st 10lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Added a second course win when back on track in cheekpieces over 2m6f (good to soft) in January but, while running creditably off 5lb higher, failed to quite match that level when third at Ffos Las (3m, heavy) last month; respected back at this venue on better ground; now tried in blinkers, with Rian Corcoran's claim a plus.

9/4

3rd

3

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

13:52 Ffos Las

River Run Free

11st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Chase career started well with two wins (2m4f; heavy/soft) and got it back on track when making it 2-3 at Leicester a month ago, winning by 2.5l (2m6f, good to soft); has form claims off 5lb higher but some concerns that he pulled up on previous visit here.

6/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £35.20
Straight Forecast £39.95
Trifecta £100.20

Selections

The Times:

Eric Carmen

SPOTLIGHT:

River Run Free

RP RATINGS:

River Run Free

POSTDATA:

River Run Free

The Guardian:

River Run Free

Daily Mail:

River Run Free

Telegraph:

Eric Carmen

D Express:

Eric Carmen

Daily Mirror:

Eric Carmen

The Sun:

Eric Carmen

The Star:

Eric Carmen

Daily Record:

Eric Carmen