April 22 / 14.10 Perth

14.10

Soft

Balnakeilly Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 2m 4f 20y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Balnakeilly Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 2-2183 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten on last two starts but those were Class 2 contests at Cheltenham and Kempton and this is a drop back in grade; this lightly raced 7yo had previously made a promising start to his chasing career, including a 2m4f win at Kempton, and he remains one to be interested in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:10 Perth

Barlovento

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Soundly beaten on last two starts but those were Class 2 contests at Cheltenham and Kempton and this is a drop back in grade; this lightly raced 7yo had previously made a promising start to his chasing career, including a 2m4f win at Kempton, and he remains one to be interested in.

3/1

3rd

7

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:18 Kempton

Barlovento

10st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Encouraging chase debut at Exeter then a convincing if narrow C&D win (good; has won on soft) in November, sealing the race between the last two; much lesser run at Cheltenham since (well behind Califet En Vol); may do much better back here.

8/1

8th

6

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 2

12:05 Cheltenham

Barlovento

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Ridden out to win the novice handicap chase at Kempton (2m4f, good) on Boxing Day, building on his promising reappearance effort; appears to handle soft ground; this low-mileage 7yo looks likely to improve further over fences; enters calculations.

11/4

Form: P-3281 D

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Clear second to highly progressive winner at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) in December and returned to form for 9l win in three-runner race at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month; has also shown promise on good to soft ground; up in grade today but he's in good hands to continue to progress; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:10 Perth

Walking On A Dream

11st 3lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Clear second to highly progressive winner at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) in December and returned to form for 9l win in three-runner race at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month; has also shown promise on good to soft ground; up in grade today but he's in good hands to continue to progress; respected.

4/1

1st

1

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

14:20 Ayr

Walking On A Dream

12st 2lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Low-mileage 7yo who won a 2m maiden hurdle here last season; disappointed when upped to 2m7f at Newcastle in January but remains just 1lb higher than when clear second to a next-time-out winner at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) in December.

2/1

8th

2

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

14:00 Newcastle

Walking On A Dream

12st 2lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

2m maiden hurdle winner who was a clear second behind a highly progressive winner at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) last month on his second chase start; also effective on good to soft ground; finished second in three 3m points and he's open to improvement now up in trip; firmly in calculations.

4/1

Form: 792656 D BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Runner-up when back over fences at Ayr (2m4f, soft) in January and this 6yo is of interest on that form; however, three lesser performances have followed and he needs to raise his game if he's to win this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:10 Perth

Karafon

11st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: S R B Crawford

Runner-up when back over fences at Ayr (2m4f, soft) in January and this 6yo is of interest on that form; however, three lesser performances have followed and he needs to raise his game if he's to win this.

12/1

6th

5

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 100y

17:00 Downpatrick

Karafon

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: S R B Crawford

Best of his form chase runs when second at Ayr in January, two moderate runs since then; possibly flattered by an official rating of 120.

6/1

5th

6

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:40 Carlisle

Karafon

11st 10lb

J: J J Slevin

T: S R B Crawford

Underwhelming at Down Royal last time when cheekpieces were applied (now left off); however, prior to that he ran well in second at Ayr (2m4f, soft) on his second chase start and has a part to play if rediscovering that form.

6/1

Form: 10-645 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
9yo who is lightly raced for his age; he needs to produce more than he managed at Leopardstown and Downpatrick last month on his first two chase starts but he wears first-time headgear today and Gordon Elliott's horses are always well worth a second look at Perth; could have a big say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:10 Perth

Find A Fortune

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Gordon Elliott

9yo who is lightly raced for his age; he needs to produce more than he managed at Leopardstown and Downpatrick last month on his first two chase starts but he wears first-time headgear today and Gordon Elliott's horses are always well worth a second look at Perth; could have a big say.

9/2

5th

2

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 100y

17:00 Downpatrick

Find A Fortune

11st 12lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Consistent if frustrating in maiden hurdles before winning a 2m4f rated event at Fairyhouse early last year (soft); a latecomer in chasing; faded late in the Leopardstown event in which the much shorter-priced Strutter flopped.

11/2

4th

2

3rd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 120y

16:25 Leopardstown

Find A Fortune

11st 12lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Consistent in maiden hurdles before winning a 2m4f rated event at Fairyhouse early last year (soft); disappointed on handicap debut at Gowran; made no impact over 3m at Fairyhouse on his belated seasonal debut; latecomer to chasing now at the age of nine; can run well fresh.

12/1

Form: -PU62P D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 8yo who was runner-up at Ayr (2m, soft) in January when dropped back in trip on his second chase start; however, pulled up at Carlisle (2m, good to soft) since, which severely dents confidence in his claims today, and the step up in distance may not be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:10 Perth

Great Pepper

11st 2lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Lightly raced 8yo who was runner-up at Ayr (2m, soft) in January when dropped back in trip on his second chase start; however, pulled up at Carlisle (2m, good to soft) since, which severely dents confidence in his claims today, and the step up in distance may not be ideal.

12/1

2

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 2

15:17 Carlisle

Great Pepper

11st 9lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Won over 2m6f as a hurdler but effective at this trip, as he showed when runner-up (in his fifth chase start) at Ayr last time out (soft); however, this is tougher and the drier ground is a cause for concern.

10/1

Form: P41214 CD BF

Last run: 193 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Made a good start to his chasing career last year, winning three times between May and September (2m3f/2m4f, good), with two of them over C&D; also effective on good to soft, unproven on softer; he has a very solid record here and could play a leading role if fully tuned up after a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 1

14:45 Market Rasen

King Roly

10st 5lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Three wins at around 2m4f last season, all in small fields on good ground; after some blips he got himself back on track when second to a well-handicapped horse over C&D a month ago on first visit here; likely to run well with Shane Fenelon now taking off 5lb; one of three runners for a yard that's captured this eight times.

10/1

2nd

2

12th Jun 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 4

19:26 Market Rasen

King Roly

12st 1lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Three wins at around 2m4f on good ground in the first half of last season; hasn't recaptured his form after a winter break, last time pulling up at Stratford after jumping right; this track should suit him better.

6/1

1

17th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

17:05 Stratford

King Roly

12st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Won three small-field chases in early part of last season (2m3f-2m4f, good) and ran better than eventual 18l defeat suggests at Perth (2m4f, good; hampered by final-fence faller) last month, after a layoff; will be fine over today's longer trip and goes on the shortlist.

4/1

Form: 1160-4 D

Last run: 137 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Point (3m, soft to heavy) and two-time novice hurdle (2m3f/2m4f, good/good to soft) winner; he's run just once this season, when 14l fourth of six on chase debut at Aintree (2m4f, soft) in December; however, he remains very lightly raced and is certainly not written off today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:10 Perth

Its Hard To Know

11st 8lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Point (3m, soft to heavy) and two-time novice hurdle (2m3f/2m4f, good/good to soft) winner; he's run just once this season, when 14l fourth of six on chase debut at Aintree (2m4f, soft) in December; however, he remains very lightly raced and is certainly not written off today.

5/1

10th

8

8th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Its Hard To Know

11st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Absent since a heavy defeat in the Challow ten weeks ago, losing his unbeaten record; not particularly well treated on earlier form but represents last year's winning stable and could go well.

14/1

6th

4

28th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 1

14:55 Newbury

Its Hard To Know

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Irish point winner who has made all in both attempts under rules, latest at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft); plenty to find on bare form but remains unbeaten and unexposed.

14/1

Non-runners

Wolfburg

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.80
Straight Forecast £11.26
Tricast £68.39
Trifecta £60.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Walking On A Dream

TOPSPEED:

Barlovento

SPOTLIGHT:

Find A Fortune

The Star:

It's Hard To Know

Daily Mail:

King Roly

Telegraph:

Wolfburg

Daily Mirror:

Barlovento

The Sun:

Barlovento

POSTDATA:

Walking On A Dream

The Times:

Walking On A Dream

The Guardian:

Walking On A Dream

Daily Record:

Walking On A Dream

D Express:

Find A Fortune