12:10 Worcester – Novices’ Handicap Chase (Class 4) – 2m4f

TIP 1: JUKEBOX KING - 1pt Win

Best odds of 5/1 at Star Sports while publishing.

Whilst I would still have caution over just how ready the Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls yard are, I do think that this week they have turned a bit of a corner, with two winners and a fifth at Ascot on Saturday who was only beaten 5 lengths despite being sent off a 20/1 shot. With that in mind when the price is right, I am happy enough to have them on side again, and JUKEBOX KING looks an ideal type for Chasing this season.

This 6yo won his point-to-point at Ballycrystal in January 2025 before being purchased for £55,000 to go into training in Britain, and he ran some nice races in Novice Hurdles last season despite looking like a big, backwards chaser for the future. His debut effort behind Laguna Beach (126), Catchintsavo (142) and Loaded And Locked (123) reads extremely well now, and his fourth behind Cinquenta (124) and Gee Force Flyer (125) at Market Rasen in February when just half-a-length behind Roi Du Risk (114) doesn’t look too bad either.

He finished as close as he ever has done when running in Handicaps towards the end of last season, finishing fourth at Warwick off a mark of 110 before then going to Wincanton and finishing second off 109, but all too often he was travelling up strongly before failing to find enough off the bridle. That issue should hopefully have been rectified now as he went off for a wind-operation in September, and of course he has had another Summer off to fill out his frame.

All of the talk with this Horse is that he was simply biding his time over Hurdles before going Chasing, and considering he is from the family of Aiteen Thirtythree (Grade 2 winner who peaked at 159 over fences), you would imagine that he will be able to improve significantly this season. We already know that his opening mark of 109 is well within reach, so if he continues his progression then he ought to be going very close. I thought that the favourite Joyau Allen showed nothing over Hurdles last season for Paul Nicholls, and his stable switch to Jamie Snowden does not guarantee the same improvement that Dan Skelton has been getting out of the Johnny De La Hey string.