January 13 / 16.08 Exeter

16.08

Soft

General Gilbert Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2112.4
  • 2m 0f 161y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
RTV
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General Gilbert Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 31- D

Last run: 282 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Stoutly bred and proved suited by the testing conditions in two races last spring for Tom Weston, latest at Uttoxeter where he was still green and hung badly left but scored readily; that form has been advertised by the runner-up since; joined new connections for £80,000; sets a solid standard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 1

16:45 Newbury

Realco

11st 7lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

Bought for £80,000 after comfortably winning on heavy ground at Uttoxeter for Tom Weston; defied an absence and a penalty on stable debut at Exeter (soft) where he was nicely on top at the finish; can't be underestimated.

10/1

2nd

6

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 1

16:45 Newbury

Realco

11st 7lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

Bought for £80,000 after comfortably winning on heavy ground at Uttoxeter for Tom Weston; defied an absence and a penalty on stable debut at Exeter (soft) where he was nicely on top at the finish; can't be underestimated.

10/1

1st

1

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

16:08 Exeter

Realco

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

pressed leaders, led over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, pushed out

9/4

3/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
9,300euros foal, 50,000euros 3yo; half-brother to winners Bill Joyce (useful bumper and 2m/2m4f hurdle) and Churchroad Prince (2m6f hurdle), out of unraced half-sister to useful 2m2f-3m1f hurdle/chase winner Return Spring; attractively bred debutant who has clear possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:38 Ffos Las

Uptown Dandy

11st 12lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Delivered on earlier promise when winning C&D (heavy) maiden last month, recovering well from slow jump at third-last flight; ran to fairly useful level that day but probably needs to improve again to land this prize.

11/2

1st

6

1st Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:30 Ffos Las

Uptown Dandy

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Pulled up after significant mid-race jumping error at Ascot six weeks ago but was runner-up on first two hurdling starts (2m3f, soft/good to soft), and his bumper form suggests he'll be well suited by the forecast heavy ground here; probably won't be far away.

5/2

8

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 146y

Class 3

16:05 Ascot

Uptown Dandy

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

More experienced than most of these and he keeps giving his running, beaten off only on the run-in when second of four in novice at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) five weeks ago; should be winning before long and he's not ruled out here.

8/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
48,000euros 3yo; brother to bumper winner Queens Melody and his other siblings include hurdle winners in the US and Britain; dam unraced half-sister to French 2m6f Grade 1 chase winner Polivalente; yard has a good record in bumpers; interesting newcomer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Aintree

Scorpio Rising

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Completed a four-timer (soft/good to soft) and made it three handicap wins in a row when cruising into the lead in the 2m4f EBF Final at Sandown last month; highly progressive and could play a leading role up in grade.

7/1

1st

3

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 178y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Scorpio Rising

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Progressing rapidly and completed a hat-trick of hurdles wins at Windsor (2m4f, soft) in January, coming from rear; more improvement required off 7lb higher mark and that's entirely possible; high on the list.

5/1

1st

2

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

12:50 Windsor

Scorpio Rising

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Only had four runs and won the last two, a maiden at Perth (2m4f, soft) and handicap at Lingfield (2m3f, good to soft; comfortably); 8lb higher now but clearly on the upgrade and commands considerable respect.

4/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
26,000euros 3yo; half-sister to winners Allart (smart 2m-2m3f hurdle/chase) and Sweet Adare (bumper/2m-2m3f hurdle); dam placed in bumper, sister to two smart winners over jumps; stable has a respectable strike-rate in bumpers; likely type.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 1

13:25 Doncaster

Limerick Lass

11st 0lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

She was receiving 7lb off Livingonaprayer when they crossed the line together at Wincanton (2m5f, good to soft) and her Fontwell stroll told us nothing new, with her long odds-on that day; has to take a step forward but that's quite feasible.

8/1

1st

5

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 5

17:55 Chepstow

Limerick Lass

10st 10lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Half-sister to smart jumper Allart; just a respectable fourth of seven on debut at Exeter (soft) in January, but that form has been well advertised by the winner since and her stable usually does well in bumpers; tongue-tie added.

6/1

1st

5

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 5

17:55 Chepstow

Limerick Lass

10st 10lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Half-sister to smart jumper Allart; just a respectable fourth of seven on debut at Exeter (soft) in January, but that form has been well advertised by the winner since and her stable usually does well in bumpers; tongue-tie added.

6/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
£8,000 yearling; dam placed in bumper/2m hurdle, half-sister to 3m1f chase winner Party Fuzz, out of point/3m1f hurdle winner; yard had a few bumper winners last spring, including Realco who is in this field for a new stable; check the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

16:08 Exeter

Front Bencher

10st 3lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Tom Weston

in touch with leaders, headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out

20/1

5th

7

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

16:08 Exeter

Front Bencher

10st 3lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Tom Weston

in touch with leaders, headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out

20/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Registered a 4l success in soft-ground point bumper at Great Trethew seven weeks ago for Danielle Kenealy (partner of Joe Tickle); seems a promising sort but the form is hard to assess; heed the market signals for further guidance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

7th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:20 Worcester

Mistletoe

11st 9lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Joe Tickle

Point bumper winner and was second in a Fontwell mares' novice hurdle (2m5f, good) in April; still went off 80-1 for handicap debut at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) and went out like a light.

33/1

1

4th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:35 Newton Abbot

Mistletoe

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Joe Tickle

Won a point bumper last November (soft); showed little on her first two rules starts before improving to be 6l second in a Fontwell mares' novices' hurdle (2m5f, good) in April; failed to back that up at Worcester (2m4f, good) latest, giving her a bit to prove again.

12/1

1

4th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:35 Newton Abbot

Mistletoe

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Joe Tickle

Won a point bumper last November (soft); showed little on her first two rules starts before improving to be 6l second in a Fontwell mares' novices' hurdle (2m5f, good) in April; failed to back that up at Worcester (2m4f, good) latest, giving her a bit to prove again.

12/1

Form: 6/0

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten long way in two contests almost two years apart; poor claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

16:08 Exeter

Geoffs Lad

11st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Claire Hitch

led narrowly, headed over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off

100/1

7th

2

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

16:08 Exeter

Geoffs Lad

11st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Claire Hitch

led narrowly, headed over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off

100/1

10th

5

31st Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:30 Warwick

Geoffs Lad

11st 2lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: Claire Hitch

always behind, tailed off

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.90
Straight Forecast £4.59
Trifecta £16.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Realco

The Times:

Uptown Dandy

WEST COUNTRY:

Limerick Lass

Telegraph:

Mistletoe

Daily Mirror:

Uptown Dandy

The Star:

Limerick Lass

RP RATINGS:

Realco

POSTDATA:

Realco

The Guardian:

Realco

Daily Mail:

Realco

D Express:

Realco

The Sun:

Realco

Daily Record:

Realco