14:55 Southwell 18 Feb 2026
Book The Bistro In Sherwood Restaurant Handicap Chase
GBB Race | Class 4 | 5YO plus
Winner £4,700 - 8 declared to run
Soft-heavy in places
Draw Advantage: None
Forecast: Light sleet shower
Temperature: 2.5° - 5.2°
Rainfall: 1.63mm
Wind: 18.0 mph E
Last Update: 17/02/2026 17:00x
- Winner
- Top 2 Finish
- Top 3 Finish
- W/O
- W/O He Knows Better
- W/O He Knows Better And William Cody
- W/O William Cody
- Top 4 Finish
Bookies best price percentage = 117.01%
AT THE RACES is not liable for any services or information offered or provided by its bookmaker partners. Please note: Whilst every effort is made to ensure odds and information are up to date and correct, differences between these and actual odds/information available from bookmakers at time of placing a bet may occur.
Pulled up in a handicap chase at Wetherby last time; effective over 2m-2m4f and acts on any ground. Needs to bounce back from that below-par effort to feature.
He has won four chases from 2m to 2m 1f on good and heavy ground. Pulled up at the last when 18-1 at Wetherby over 2m 3f (soft) in a chase won by Geryville last month on his latest outing.
Pulled up in a handicap chase at Wetherby last time; effective over 2m-2m4f and acts on any ground. Needs to bounce back from that below-par effort to feature.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 23 | 4 | 4 | 17.4% | |
| Chase | 18 | 4 | 3 | 22.2% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Course | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| D | Distance | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| G | Similar Going | 19 | 2 | 4 | 10.5% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 23 | 4 | 5 | 17.4% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 4 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 25% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Benjamin Macey | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| T | G Hanmer | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Pulled up in a handicap chase at Market Rasen last time; effective over 2m4f-3m1f and acts on good to soft and good. Has been below par since a layoff and needs to raise his game.
He has won a hurdle race and three chases from 2m 4f to 3m 1f on good and good to soft ground. Pulled up 3 out when 20-1 at Market Rasen over 3m (soft) in a chase won by Kayce Dutton last month on his latest outing.
Pulled up in a handicap chase at Market Rasen last time; effective over 2m4f-3m1f and acts on good to soft and good. Has been below par since a layoff and needs to raise his game.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 11 | 4 | 2 | 36.4% | |
| Chase | 7 | 3 | 0 | 42.9% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| C | Course | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| D | Distance | 4 | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| G | Similar Going | 8 | 2 | 2 | 25% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 12 | 4 | 3 | 33.3% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 4 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 33.3% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 4 | 1 | 0 | 25% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Harry Skelton | 9 | 4 | 2 | 44.4% |
| T | Dan Skelton | 11 | 4 | 2 | 36.4% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Unseated when held in a handicap chase at Wincanton latest; effective at 3m on G; open to improvement over fences.
Placed in a hurdle race and two point-to-points from five starts. Unseated rider when 12-1 at Wincanton over 3m 1f (soft) in a chase won by Major Fortune last month on his chase debut.
Unseated when held in a handicap chase at Wincanton latest; effective at 3m on G; open to improvement over fences.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% | |
| Chase | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Similar Going | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Headgear | |||||
| HG | Today (T only) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | R P McLernon | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| T | Jonjo & A J O'Neill | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Travelled and ran to form when beaten 3l by a strong stayer off a 1lb lower mark at Warwick last time; effective around 2m4f. In good form and should go close.
A winner of a hurdle race at 2m 6f on good ground. Beaten 3l by House Of Habsburg when second of 8 at 11-4 on his latest outing in a chase at Warwick over 3m 1f (good to soft) last month.
Travelled and ran to form when beaten 3l by a strong stayer off a 1lb lower mark at Warwick last time; effective around 2m4f. In good form and should go close.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 8 | 1 | 4 | 12.5% | |
| Chase | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| D | Distance | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| G | Similar Going | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 4 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 12.5% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | S Bowen | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | W Greatrex | 8 | 1 | 4 | 12.5% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
A bit below form when 17l third in a handicap chase at Leicester on his most recent run; off a short break. Effective at 2m4f and acts on soft and good ground; competitively weighted.
He has won four chases at 2m 4f on ground varying from good to soft. Third of 6 behind Jet Plane beaten 17l at 7-2 on his latest outing in a chase at Leicester over 2m 4f (good) in December last year.
A bit below form when 17l third in a handicap chase at Leicester on his most recent run; off a short break. Effective at 2m4f and acts on soft and good ground; competitively weighted.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 31 | 4 | 13 | 12.9% | |
| Chase | 23 | 4 | 10 | 17.4% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| CD | Course and Distance | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| C | Course | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| D | Distance | 14 | 4 | 4 | 28.6% |
| G | Similar Going | 20 | 3 | 9 | 15% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 32 | 4 | 13 | 12.5% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 4 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 20% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7.7% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Paul O'Brien | 25 | 3 | 8 | 12% |
| T | Mrs P Sly | 34 | 4 | 14 | 11.8% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Went clear and returned to form down in trip but was probably ridden overly aggressively when beaten 5l in a handicap chase at Ayr last time; effective over 2m-2m4f and acts on soft and good. Possibly capable of better in a tongue-tie.
A winner of a point-to-point at 3m. Third of 11 behind Tommy Combats beaten 5l at 10-1 on his latest outing in a chase at Ayr over 2m (soft) last month. He is wearing a tongue-tie for the first time.
Went clear and returned to form down in trip but was probably ridden overly aggressively when beaten 5l in a handicap chase at Ayr last time; effective over 2m-2m4f and acts on soft and good. Possibly capable of better in a tongue-tie.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0% | |
| Chase | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| C | Course | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| D | Distance | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| G | Similar Going | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (T only) | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 4 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Craig Nichol | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| T | O Greenall & J Guerriero | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Pulled up with a reported irregular heartbeat in a handicap chase at Warwick last time; effective around 2m4f and acts on heavy and soft. A drop in trip is considered a plus.
He has won three chases from 2m 3f to 2m 4f on soft and heavy ground. Pulled up at the 13th when 10-1 at Warwick over 3m 1f (good to soft) in a chase won by House Of Habsburg last month on his latest outing.
Pulled up with a reported irregular heartbeat in a handicap chase at Warwick last time; effective around 2m4f and acts on heavy and soft. A drop in trip is considered a plus.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 12 | 3 | 0 | 25% | |
| Chase | 9 | 3 | 0 | 33.3% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| CD | Course and Distance | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| C | Course | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
| D | Distance | 7 | 2 | 0 | 28.6% |
| G | Similar Going | 9 | 3 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (P only) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Toby McCain-Mitchell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| T | Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Below form up in trip when comfortably held in a handicap chase at Newbury last time; effective over 2m-2m4f and may need some slight give. His jumping must improve to figure over fences.
A winner of a hurdle race at 2m on good to soft ground. Well beaten at 11-2 behind Top Target when fifth of 11 on his latest outing in a chase at Newbury over 2m 7f (good to soft) last month.
Below form up in trip when comfortably held in a handicap chase at Newbury last time; effective over 2m-2m4f and may need some slight give. His jumping must improve to figure over fences.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16.7% | |
| Chase | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| C | Course | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| D | Distance | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| G | Similar Going | 5 | 1 | 1 | 20% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 7 | 1 | 2 | 14.3% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 20% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Jack Tudor | 3 | 1 | 1 | 33.3% |
| T | Christian Williams | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16.7% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Verdict
HE KNOWS BETTER has been knocking on the door since falling on his first try over fences at Haydock in December and the drop in trip may provide the opportunity required for him to strike. Disguisedlimit finished third at Ayr last time and could step forward with a tongue tie applied on this occasion. Others to consider are William Cody and Gaelic Rambler.
Expert View Verdict
HE KNOWS BETTER is probably the safest option, entering the race in good form and with stamina guaranteed. He might have mad a winning debut over fences at Haydock but for a late fall and there's been little wrong with his two starts since, just getting outstayed over a longer trip at Warwick last time. There's surely a bigger effort in Gaelic Rambler yet given he ran well in a pair of points. Like the selection he may benefit from this drop in trip for now. William Cody is nicely consistent and just below his last winning mark so is worthy of respect also.
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Previous Winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good to Soft | 9 | Immortal Fame | 9 | 11 11 | 117 | 12-P211 | 23 days | Deborah Cole (69 miles) | Cameron Iles | 9/ 2 | 5:24.66 | |
| 2024 | Heavy | 4 | Imperial Bede | 6 | 11 11 | 116 | 14P-343 | 27 days | J & A O'Neill (112 miles) | Jonjo O'Neill Jr | 15/ 8 | 6:03.30 |
Race Favourite Stats
| Year | Favourite Finish Position | Winner Market Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 |
Race Record
| Distance | Record Time |
|---|---|
| 2m 4f 88y | 5:03.87 |