Listed Premier Chase Guide 2023

Joe Glayshier | @joeglayshier

Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 15:35
5
Alex Edwards

Wishing And Hoping

J: Alex Edwards
T: Mel Rowley
N/A
Age: 13
Weight: 11-2
OR: 146
Days: 56

13-year-old gelding for Mel Rowley who won on his most recent outing 56 days ago, winning the Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Sandown in January. That was over 3m and he makes the trip over 2m 7f here, which shouldn’t be an issue for the experienced horse.

His best days are probably in the past but roared home to win that contest when priced at 50/1, and he will relish being a somewhat underdog here.

He shouldn’t be dismissed after that victory and we know he still possesses quality.

Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 15:35
4
Donagh Meyler

The Shunter

J: Donagh Meyler
T: Emmet Mullins
N/A
Age: 10
Weight: 11-2
OR: 152
Days: 180

Top-class hurdler and chaser in his prime but he is past that now, struggling on his last hurdle outing at Galway last September, finishing sixth and his last chasing outing at the same course in July last year, finishing eighth.

He boasts wins in graded company, memorably winning the Grade Three Paddy Power Plate Chase at Cheltenham Festival but that was back in 2021.

That was actually his last victory and was pulled up in the Coral Cup last year at the festival. Going off recent form, it is hard to back him but he is still rated at 152 so could run a big race but that does unfortunately look unlikely.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
14/10/23NMK18Sft9-11
16/08/23GOW12.5Gd10-04
29/04/23PUN19Gd/Y11-415
04/03/23KEL23.5GS11-23
06/11/22NAA16Hy8-114
Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 15:35
2
Harry Skelton

Le Milos

J: Harry Skelton
T: Dan Skelton
N/A
Age: 8
Weight: 11-6
OR: 152
Days: 98

Experienced eight-year-old who has been running over the larger obstacles since 2021 at Exeter, where he finished third behind Brianstorm and winner Franky Du Berlais.

He has won his last two handicap chases at Bangor-on-Dee and most recently Newbury, where he beat Remastered by half a length at 9/2 favourite.

The step up to class one company didn’t faze him and he looks set for a shot at victory here for the Skelton yard.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
15/04/23AIN34.5GS10-1110
04/03/23KEL23.5GS11-62
26/11/22NBY26Gd11-01
09/11/22BAN24Hy11-91
05/03/22DON26Sft11-84
Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 15:35
3
Ryan Mania

Empire Steel

J: Ryan Mania
T: Sandy Thomson
N/A
Age: 9
Weight: 11-2
OR: 141
Days: 28

The clear outsider in this contest at 16/1 but it wasn’t too long ago we saw him winning at this course. He managed victory in a class two handicap chase here over 2m 5f last February, beating Clan Legend by a whopping 16 lengths.

The nine-year-old has struggled since, recording finishes of second, seventh and tenth on his last three outings and that sees him running off a mark of 141 here.

He is the outsider in the market and the others should have too much for him here.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
28/10/23KEL26Sft10-123
22/04/23AYR32Gd11-58
04/03/23KEL23.5GS11-21
04/02/23SAN24GS12-010
03/12/22AIN20GS12-07