Setting the Scene at Towcester
Now, I'll be honest with you — midsummer jump racing doesn't always get the pulses racing the way a Cheltenham Festival card does. But don't let that fool you into thinking there's nothing worth your attention here. The bet365 Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2) at Towcester on Sunday 28th June is a cracking little puzzle of a race, worth £35,000 to the winner and carrying GBB Race status to boot. That matters. Owners and trainers don't drag horses to Towcester in late June for the scenery — they come because there's prize money on the table and a race to be won.
Towcester is a proper test, make no mistake. That undulating track with its stiff climb to the finish has broken the heart of many a horse who looked like winning two out. At 1m 7f 214y, this isn't a slog, but it's far from a sprint either — you need a horse that jumps cleanly, travels well, and still has something left in the tank when the hill bites. With the going reported as Good, Good to Firm in places and a soil moisture reading of 52, we're on decent summer ground. Nothing too quick, nothing too testing. It's fair ground, and on fair ground, the best horse usually wins. So let's find him.
We're down to six runners after Gunsight Ridge was declared a non-runner, which tidies things up nicely. Six chasers, one prize. Check out the full Towcester racecard for the complete picture.
Contender-by-Contender Breakdown
Breaking Cover (8yo, 131, 11-11) — Anthony Honeyball / Sam Twiston-Davies
This is your likely market leader and, for once, I'm not going to argue too hard with the punters. Breaking Cover ticks an awful lot of boxes here. He's a course and distance winner — that combination at Towcester in particular is worth its weight in gold given how unique the track rides. Anthony Honeyball has been in fine fettle with his summer jumpers, and he doesn't run horses in Class 2 handicaps unless he thinks they've got a genuine shout. At eight years old, he's right in the prime of his chasing career — old enough to know the job, young enough to have the engine still firing.
Sam Twiston-Davies takes the ride, and that's a booking that commands respect. Sam knows how to ride a waiting race on a track like this — he'll hunt him round, keep him out of trouble, and ask the question at the right time. Top weight of 11-11 is the only concern, but on Good ground, a horse of his rating can carry that without fuss. He's the one they all have to beat.
Kingston Narcissus (7yo, 123, 11-3) — Dan Skelton / Harry Skelton
Here's where it gets interesting. Kingston Narcissus is the one I keep coming back to. Seven years old, rated 123, and trained by Dan Skelton — a man who has turned the summer jumps game into something of a personal fiefdom in recent seasons. Harry Skelton in the saddle completes a formidable combination that wins races at a remarkable clip.
He carries 11-3 and has no course or distance form flags to shout about, but at seven he's a horse still on the upgrade. The Skelton yard doesn't pitch horses into Class 2 company without reason, and the 8lb pull in the weights compared to Breaking Cover is a serious advantage if the two are anywhere near each other in ability. On Good to Firm ground, a younger, fresher horse with a bit of class about him can really motor — and I think Kingston Narcissus fits that profile perfectly.
Newtown Rambler (7yo, 128, 11-8) — Adrian Keatley / Oakley Brown
Adrian Keatley is an Irish handler operating in Britain, and when those lads make the trip, they tend to mean business. Newtown Rambler is a distance winner and, at seven, is another horse who should be improving. The concern here is that 11-8 is a chunky weight for a horse rated 128, and he'll need to produce a career-best to trouble the principals. Oakley Brown is a capable conditional who won't panic under pressure, but this looks a tough ask on paper.
Coastguard Station (10yo, 123, 11-3) — Henry Oliver / David Noonan
Coastguard Station is a course and distance winner, which you absolutely cannot ignore. At ten years old, he's a seasoned campaigner who knows every blade of grass at Towcester, and David Noonan is a sharp jockey who rides with his head. The worry? Ten-year-olds in midsummer can be tricky beasts — you're never quite sure whether they're cherry-ripe or just ticking over. Henry Oliver is a shrewd trainer, mind, and if Coastguard Station lines up here, he's fit enough to run his race. Each-way claims are real.
Sir Tivo (12yo, 123, 11-3) — Gary Hanmer / James Bowen
Twelve years old and still lining up in Class 2 company — you've got to admire the old warrior. Sir Tivo is a distance winner and clearly still has the appetite for it, otherwise Gary Hanmer wouldn't be running him. James Bowen is a polished jockey who'll give him a lovely, sympathetic ride. But realistically, at his age on Good to Firm ground, he's up against it against younger, fresher rivals. He might nick a place on a good day, but winning looks a stretch.
Gris Majeur (9yo, 117, 10-11) — Sheila Lewis / Sean Houlihan
Gris Majeur is the bottom weight at 10-11 and rated 117, which gives him a theoretical chance if everything clicks. Sheila Lewis runs a small yard and doesn't have the ammunition of the bigger stables, but outsiders win races every day of the week. No headgear, no course or distance form flags — he's the dark horse of the piece, and at a big price, a small saver wouldn't kill you.
Going and Conditions — Who Benefits?
Good, Good to Firm in places at Towcester in late June is about as fair as you'll get. The soil moisture reading of 52 tells us the ground has a bit of give without being soft underfoot — ideal conditions for a clean-jumping, galloping type. This ground will favour horses with a touch of class and a good cruising speed over pure stayers who need cut to show their best. It slightly edges things towards Breaking Cover and Kingston Narcissus in my mind, and away from the older, heavier horses who might prefer easier going to ease the burden on ageing joints.
Value Pick and Tom's Tip
Right, here's where I nail my colours to the mast. Breaking Cover is the logical favourite and I wouldn't talk anyone out of backing him — course and distance form, top jockey, in-form trainer. He's a solid bet.
But my value selection is Kingston Narcissus. Seven years old, the Skelton machine behind him, 8lb better off at the weights than the favourite, and on ground that will show off his best qualities. Dan and Harry Skelton don't make long trips to Towcester in June to finish second. If he's fit, sharp, and ready — and I'd wager he is — he can turn over the favourite and give his connections a deserved winner.
Tom's Tip: Kingston Narcissus (Each Way)
Saver: Breaking Cover
Conclusion: A Proper Summer Jumps Puzzle
Six runners, decent prize money, and a track that always finds out the pretenders. The bet365 Handicap Chase at Towcester might not be Cheltenham, but it's a proper race on a proper track with proper horses. Breaking Cover is the one to beat — but the Skelton yard rarely misses when they travel with intent, and Kingston Narcissus looks overpriced if the market underestimates him. Coastguard Station's course form keeps him in the conversation each-way, and don't entirely dismiss Gris Majeur at the bottom of the weights.
Get yourself a good spot on the Towcester hill, watch them jump the last, and enjoy the show. Good luck to all — except the favourite. Well, mostly.
Who is the favourite for the bet365 Handicap Chase at Towcester?
Breaking Cover is expected to head the market as the race's highest-rated runner at 131 and a course and distance winner. Trained by Anthony Honeyball and ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, he carries top weight of 11-11 but boasts strong claims on paper.
How will the going affect the bet365 Handicap Chase at Towcester?
The going is Good, Good to Firm in places with a soil moisture reading of 52 — fair summer ground that should suit a clean-jumping, classy type. Younger horses in good form are likely to benefit, while older runners who prefer softer conditions may find it a touch quick underfoot.
Is Kingston Narcissus worth backing in the bet365 Handicap Chase?
In Tom O'Brien's view, absolutely yes — each way at least. Trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by Harry Skelton, the seven-year-old carries 8lb less than market leader Breaking Cover and represents a powerful yard that operates at a high strike rate in summer jumps races. He's Tom's value selection for the race.
