14:57 Leicester

Sunday 28 December 2025

All12:0512:3713:1213:4714:2214:5715:32

Aspall Cyder Leicestershire Silver Fox Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:57 | Winning time: 5m 11.74s

Hecouldbetheone^v²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: James Owen| OR: 123| D

18/1

Revitalised for current yard and he displayed a likeable attitude in landing back-to-back Uttoxeter handicaps (at 21f) in June. Good second both starts in October but turned in a rare poor effort at Doncaster last month. Visor reapplied and must bounce back.

Form: 113223

The Bluesman^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 122| D

10/11

Bumper/maiden hurdle winner from 4 starts for Paul Nicholls who made a mockery of his opening handicap mark sent chasing in 6-runner event at Southwell (20.4f, good to soft) on return earlier in the month (went tongue tied). An 8 lb rise may not be enough to prevent the follow up.

Form: 331/13-1

Miralago^t,p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: G Nicholls| OR: 119| D

9/1

A fairly useful ex-French winning hurdler/chaser who posted a good second for his new stable after 9 months off when runner-up in 2m3f Ffos Las handicap chase in October. Ran to a similar level in reapplied cheekpieces at Haydock since and likely to find at least a couple too good here.

Form: 4040-23

Noche Negra³⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 113| D

12/1

Got back on the up in no uncertain terms for a new yard after 8 months off when bolting up in 7-runner handicap at Warwick (20f, soft) 12 months ago. Clearly had his fair share of problems to not have been seen since, but is open to improvement nevertheless.

Form: 1133/51-

Moonshine Man^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss H C Knight| OR: 108| BF| D

4/1

Hereford hurdle winner back in May and has finished runner-up on 2 of 3 starts in this sphere, latest in a refitted tongue strap at this C&D (good to soft) 18 days ago. Eased 1 lb but the suggestion is he'll need more help for the assessor before becoming of interest.

Form: 3P-12P2

Heeztheboy¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Hogan| T: G Hanmer| OR: 107| D

9/2

Largely struggled for Pauline Robson but much improved to win 3 of his 4 starts for this yard this term, defying an 8 lb rise readily in 8-runner event at Hexham (20.1f, heavy) 18 days ago. Handicapper taken a swipe but could well have even more to offer.

Form: 66-1211

Non-Runners

Stratagem¹⁶

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: M Bowen J: James Bowen

Lylian³¹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 4

T: G & J Moore J: Caoilin Quinn

Forecasts

The Bluesman (10/11), Moonshine Man (4/1), Heeztheboy (9/2), Miralago (9/1), Noche Negra (12/1), Hecouldbetheone (18/1), Lylian (25/1), Stratagem (25/1)

HEEZTHEBOY has improved no end for new connections this season and Gary Hanmer's 8-y-o gets the nod to take this step up in class in his stride and make it 4 from 5. His main danger may emerge from The Bluesman, who made a mockery of his opening handicap mark sent chasing for Olly Murphy at Southwell recently and should progress again. Noche Negra has another significant absence to overcome but adds additional intrigue, too.