January 01 / 13.00 Exeter

13.00

Good To Soft

Passage House Inn Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 3f 48y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
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Passage House Inn Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 021-34 C

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Three-time hurdle winner last season (including over 2m2f here); reappeared with two respectable chase runs in the autumn (2m/2m3f) and it won't be a surprise if he makes the necessary progress today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:30 Ayr

Donnacha

11st 3lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

Can make mistakes but he was runner-up twice in a row prior to winning a quality handicap at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in January, when clear with subsequent Ultima runner-up Jagwar; a 5lb rise for that career-best performance isn't harsh and he's entitled to respect.

5/2

1st

7

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:15 Cheltenham

Donnacha

10st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

Hard to knock in terms of consistency and he again ran creditably when second of seven at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) on Welsh National day; however, he's prone to the odd mistake and may not get away with them on his first run over fences at Cheltenham.

12/1

3rd

1

28th Oct 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 3

15:28 Ffos Las

Donnacha

12st 0lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

Struck form over fences at start of this year, winning over 2m3f on soft ground at Exeter and Chepstow; subsequent 261-day break may have checked his momentum but further progress is possible this season.

4/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 1354-3 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Point/2m3f hurdle winner; no threat to front pair when keeping-on third here (2m1f, soft) on last month's seasonal/chase/handicap debut but might come on for the run and today's longer trip ought to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Risk De Pluie

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Ben Clarke

Beaten on first seven chase starts but showed improved form to win comfortably at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) in February and he bumped into a progressive winner there (2m3f, soft) last month, when clear of the third; there can be optimism that he will be fine back down in trip and he's respected.

6/1

2nd

1

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Risk De Pluie

12st 2lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Ben Clarke

Fully deserved his breakthrough chase success over C&D (soft) under Toby McCain-Mitchell last month; the style of his win suggests he will be a major player again off a 7lb higher mark.

2/1

Form: 22-253 C

Last run: 5 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Can harm his chance by racing too freely but was placed in two of his first three chases, more recently when third at Chepstow (2m, soft) on Friday; had good record over hurdles at this track and will be fine over today's trip; can give another good account if he settles reasonably well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

4th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

15:49 Newton Abbot

Royal Jewel

11st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Won over C&D (good to soft) in the autumn and he got back on the scoresheet at Taunton (2m7f, heavy) in February; ran another good race when third at Taunton (good) last month and he should be in the mix again on this drop back in trip.

9/1

3rd

1

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:40 Taunton

Royal Jewel

11st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Gained his second success of the season over C&D last month; up 3lb but he remains unexposed over this sort of trip and is not taken lightly.

3/1

1st

2

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:45 Taunton

Royal Jewel

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Returned from layoff with two good runs (one win) over 2m5f in the autumn and bounced back quickly from a lesser effort when third at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) just after Christmas; not yet proven over this far under rules but seems versatile ground-wise and can make his presence felt.

13/8

Form: 32-0P5

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Ten-race maiden; bettered his inauspicious chase/handicap debut when respectable fifth of 15 in Class 5 C&D (good to soft) race last month but needs to take another big step forward today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

20th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:30 Warwick

Rangatira Jack

10st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Linda Blackford

Sole success came at Exeter off 7lb higher in April last year; has slipped down the weights but placed for the first time since when second of six finishers at Ffos Las (2m5f, good) 15 days ago; cannot dismiss.

5/1

2nd

7

5th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

17:22 Ffos Las

Rangatira Jack

11st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Linda Blackford

1-19 overall, though the win did come over fences; however, hasn't fired for a while, despite attracting market support on his return to hurdles last time.

14/1

4th

9

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 2f 111y

Class 5

17:40 Exeter

Rangatira Jack

11st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Linda Blackford

2m3f chase winner here (good) 12 months ago; 0-6 over hurdles; well beaten over fences on his last four starts; bit to prove back hurdling.

11/1

OUR TIP

Form: 02-413 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Began chasing career with two very disappointing C&D runs in this month last year but has fared much better since; drew nicely clear to score at Newton Abbot (2m, heavy) in October and his subsequent Chepstow third (2m, good to soft) was also a good effort; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Western General

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Back to form after a second wind op, posting career-best RPRs when scoring at Chepstow in February and when runner-up at Hereford the following month (both at 2m); has his best form over shorter but shapes as though this trip should suit and he commands respect on that recent form.

2/1

2nd

1

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 3

14:52 Hereford

Western General

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Last year's winner on good ground; bounced back to form after wind surgery to beat four rivals at Chepstow (2m, soft) two weeks ago, making virtually all; back up 5lb but has leading claims again.

6/4

1st

4

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 2

15:40 Chepstow

Western General

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made excellent progress over fences last season, winning three times (1m7f-2m, good-heavy), but ended that campaign with a poor run and has not been at his best this term (three starts); needs last month's wind op to have made a difference.

2/1

Non-runners

Walks Like The Man

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.30
Straight Forecast £9.50
Trifecta £22.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Western General

WEST COUNTRY:

Donnacha

Telegraph:

Risk De Pluie

POSTDATA:

Royal Jewel

The Guardian:

Risk De Pluie

The Times:

Royal Jewel

Daily Mirror:

Donnacha

The Star:

Donnacha

RP RATINGS:

Western General

TOPSPEED:

Western General

Daily Mail:

Western General

D Express:

Western General

The Sun:

Western General

Daily Record:

Western General