March 09 / 14.30 Plumpton

14.30

Good

DragonBet The Roar Before BOG @ Cheltenham Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 3f 166y
  • Class 5
  • 4 runners
SKY
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DragonBet The Roar Before BOG @ Cheltenham Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

4/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.67

Form: 7-5701 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in three maiden hurdles in the autumn but looked a different horse on chase/handicap debut a fortnight ago, winning comfortably by 9.5l over C&D (soft); 12lb higher today but could easily have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:47 Fontwell

Rap Soul

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Well beaten in three maiden hurdles in the autumn but 2-2 since switched to handicap chases this year, with both wins gained in small fields at Plumpton (2m4f, soft/good); has a bit more on his plate today but may still have more improvement to come.

6/4

1st

1

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:30 Plumpton

Rap Soul

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Well beaten in three maiden hurdles in the autumn but looked a different horse on chase/handicap debut a fortnight ago, winning comfortably by 9.5l over C&D (soft); 12lb higher today but could easily have more to offer.

4/6

Form: 5-2625

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
0-15 under all codes but returned from break with pretty good second at Huntingdon (2m4f, good to soft) in December and was reportedly unsuited by the slower ground when well beaten last month; can feature if headgear switch has positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:55 Fontwell

Lunar Ocean

10st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Made all to open account over C&D (good) in first-time blinkers ten days ago, his 11th start over fences; drew nicely clear of the others with the runner-up that day and was only raised 3lb; could be hard to catch.

9/4

1st

7

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Lunar Ocean

10st 7lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Can make mistakes but mainly consistent over fences for this yard; pulled up at Warwick after an error last time but 2m and ground that was likely faster than good were probably not ideal; that brought his record to 0-18 but he's not ruled out in first-time blinkers back up in trip.

7/1

8

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:00 Warwick

Lunar Ocean

10st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Held up and was never that threatening when beaten just over 7l into fourth at Ffos Las (2m3f, good to soft); that's two pleasing enough runs since the visor went on and this 17-race maiden has each-way claims.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 8P-412 D BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in selling hurdle on rules return in December but won handicap chase by 14l at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft; first-time visor) on next outing; no match for wide-margin winner when second over that C&D (heavy) a fortnight later but still considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Warwick

Carpe Diem

11st 3lb

J: Tom Hutsby

T: David Bridgwater

Has continued to run well since his Huntingdon win in Februaray (2m4f, soft), last time giving everything in a narrow defeat over C&D; 2lb higher with Tom Hutsby again aboard; should have every chance.

11/4

2nd

5

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

Carpe Diem

11st 4lb

J: Tom Hutsby

T: David Bridgwater

Off the mark when well clear at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) in February but paid the handicapping price after; it's been harder since but he was unfortunate to run up against one who relished the new 3m3f test at Stratford (good) in April, although he still ran well; major player in first 3m run.

4/1

2nd

4

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

15:43 Stratford

Carpe Diem

11st 3lb

J: Tom Hutsby

T: David Bridgwater

Got off the mark over fences at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) in February with first-time visor applied (retained since); in the money in two runs since and now steps up beyond 3m for the first time; holds place claims at least.

7/2

Form: 2-964P D

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in all three chases last season and also out of form over hurdles this term; considered only if lively in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:30 Plumpton

Goguenard

10st 7lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: D J Jeffreys

Well beaten in all three chases last season and also out of form over hurdles this term; considered only if lively in the betting.

16/1

8

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:50 Fontwell

Goguenard

10st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: D J Jeffreys

Three-time hurdle winner; safely held on both outings (cheekpieces refitted last time) since returning in November from a break but suited by slow ground and might be perked up by first-time blinkers; worth a glance in the betting.

11/1

4th

11

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 5

13:55 Wetherby

Goguenard

10st 7lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

Inconsistent last season and well beaten on both outings this term; however, he may have needed his latest run in November and won this two years ago; not written off.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.50
Straight Forecast £3.51
Trifecta £4.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Rap Soul

RP RATINGS:

Carpe Diem

POSTDATA:

Rap Soul

The Times:

Rap Soul

Telegraph:

Rap Soul

The Guardian:

Rap Soul

Daily Mail:

Rap Soul

Daily Mirror:

Rap Soul

The Sun:

Rap Soul

The Star:

Rap Soul

Daily Record:

Rap Soul

D Express:

Carpe Diem