January 13 / 13.38 Exeter

13.38

Soft

Exeter Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8185.55
  • 2m 3f 48y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Exeter Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £8.30
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 01-463 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Goes chasing off only 1lb higher than for his last win over hurdles but hasn't been in quite the same form this season; cheekpieces are removed; perhaps lacks the same potential as some of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Issam

11st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Tom Symonds

Seemed a non-stayer over 3m on penultimate start; readily justified favouritism at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) latest, taking chase record to 3-6 and overall strike-rate to 9-25; largely progressive and a useful 3lb is claimed with Callum Pritchard back on board; one to consider.

8/1

1st

3

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:07 Kempton

Issam

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Out of the money over 3m at Ascot last time, seeming a non-stayer; solid record otherwise since switched to fences, winning twice and posting two sound efforts; may have more to offer back down in trip; not ruled out.

9/2

6th

2

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 3

13:00 Ascot

Issam

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Overall strike-rate is 8-23; solid set of form figures (1213) since switch to fences, keeping on for creditable effort at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) most recently; should be thereabouts provided he stays this new trip.

9/1

5/4

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 2122-F D BF

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Smart novice hurdler, winning at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) before finishing second in strong handicaps at Sandown (soft/good); crumpled on landing mid-race when odds-on for chase debut at Carlisle (handicap) but had jumped fine till that point; has lots of potential as a chaser.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Pic Roc

11st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Soundly beaten when just 17-2 at last year's Festival (2m4f); finally opened his chase account in November, before staying-on fifth in major handicap at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) where he was badly hindered at the unsatisfactory start; 13l win at Sandown (3m, soft; made most) on latest outing confirmed he's got his act together, which earned a 7lb rise but he needs respect.

16/1

1st

3

31st Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 42y

Class 2

15:42 Sandown

Pic Roc

10st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Opened his chase account on reappearance, then did well to finish fifth in major handicap at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) having badly hindered at the unsatisfactory start; lost chance with bad mistake four out when beaten favourite at Ascot since; remains of interest, assuming he puts in an error-free round.

9/2

1st

2

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 3

13:48 Huntingdon

Pic Roc

11st 5lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Has the best hurdles form in this field and his good efforts (twice runner-up) over fences last season were even better; however, he was below form in first-time cheekpieces on penultimate outing and failed to complete on starts either side, the latest 11 days ago; that dents his case today (in returning cheekpieces) but he is the standout on form.

10/11

Form: 716-41

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Perhaps not straightforward and flashed his tail when asserting in a small field at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) but the potential is there to rate higher; raised 4lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 4

15:30 Kempton

Denemethy

12st 1lb

J: Mr Harry O’Dwyer

T: Fergal O’Brien

Consistent since sole chase success and has solid handicap form this season; receives hardly any respite from the assessor but gets other help on this occasion, with Harry O'Dwyer taking off 7lb.

11/4

3rd

1

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Denemethy

12st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Consistent since sole chase success and has solid handicap form this season; latest effort, in Sandown Class 2, received a boost when the winner followed up in Grade 2 event on Saturday; respected at this level.

6/5

Form: /012P- C

Last run: 331 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Bumper/hurdle winner who was highly tried in a Grade 2 in February, when the company and trip of 3m were feasible excuses; only had six races and connections evidently keen to get him over fences; all his best form is on slow ground; likely contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Alcedo

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

All four wins have been from 2m to 2m4f (on good to soft to heavy), two of those over fences; clearly in fair nick after a win and two seconds in his last three races (3m/2m4f; all in cheekpieces) but he'll be into unknown territory a long way from home over this distance; too risky.

14/1

2nd

1

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:05 Warwick

Alcedo

11st 11lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

8yo who is lightly raced for his age and won in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in November; close second at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) since; fully effective on testing ground and he holds leading claims.

13/8

Form: 14-389 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Went up 8lb for waltzing home in a 3m2f handicap hurdle at Warwick (soft) last March and perhaps flattered to win by so far (opposition below their best); has edged back down the weights ahead of this chasing debut but others are more intriguing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:45 Newton Abbot

Astronomic View

11st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sue Gardner

Didn't appear to stay 3m5f at Bangor two starts ago but fared little better when pulled up at Exeter last month back at a trip that should have suited; had been in good form prior to those runs and would hold at least place claims if able to rekindle that earlier spark.

10/1

6

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

14:55 Exeter

Astronomic View

11st 9lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

In good form over fences prior to heavy defeat at Bangor where he failed to stay 3m5f; could go well now back down in trip on first hurdle start since December 2024.

16/1

6th

8

25th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

16:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Astronomic View

11st 4lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

0-7 over fences but has been running well, not beaten at all far the last twice in races at about 3m; however, although a 3m2f winner over hurdles, 3m6f appeared too far at Exeter in December.

10/1

Form: -PP1P4 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Won a low-grade handicap chase over 2m1f here in October and comparable form last time; however, he's a mile out of the weights on this occasion.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:42 Fontwell

Wellwillya

10st 5lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Helen Nelmes

Record of 2-7 over fences and he ran a big race in defeat at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month; is also well suited by this track and he should be in the mix again after a short break.

10/1

2nd

10

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Wellwillya

10st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Helen Nelmes

2-6 over fences and was running well when last seen 12 months ago; trip/ground fine and on a competitive mark, while has won after a break in the past.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.70
Straight Forecast £14.47
Trifecta £54.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Pic Roc

TOPSPEED:

Denemethy

Daily Record:

Alcedo

POSTDATA:

Denemethy

Daily Mail:

Denemethy

WEST COUNTRY:

Pic Roc

The Times:

Pic Roc

Telegraph:

Pic Roc

The Guardian:

Pic Roc

D Express:

Pic Roc

Daily Mirror:

Pic Roc

The Sun:

Pic Roc

The Star:

Pic Roc