February 09 / 14.50 Chepstow

14.50

Soft

Text Fitzdares On 07492 882213 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 2m 3f 98y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Text Fitzdares On 07492 882213 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 21-341 C

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Enhanced his good record at Exeter when digging deep to make it third-time lucky over fences there on New Year's Day (2m3f, soft); this looks a stronger race and he's gone up 4lb, but clearly a contender arriving here on the back of a win.
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

3/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 1-7315 BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Didn't jump all that well when a short-head winner at Newbury (2m, good to soft; won on softer) and found zero fluency over his fences when running no race at Haydock three weeks ago; perhaps the steadier pace of a longer race may help his jumping.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:30 Warwick

The Famous Five

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Having dropped back down to his last winning mark he returned to form when third in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) three weeks ago; he's a contender if backing up that effort.

13/2

3rd

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:40 Wincanton

The Famous Five

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Back on his last winning mark of Christmas 2024 but too little about either start this term suggests he'll capitalise, and not obviously crying out for this new trip of late either; cheekpieces added.

5/1

7th

4

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

The Famous Five

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Let down by his jumping over fences at times but still a capable performer in that sphere, although his reappearance last month was laboured; needs to be forgiven that effort but reverts to hurdles on a fair mark and is 2-7 in this discipline.

9/1

Form: 4-389F

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Perhaps flattered to win a Warwick handicap hurdle by so far last March (3m2f, soft) but back down to just a 1lb higher mark; however, that's for a reason and not ideal that he fell so early on recent chase debut.
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: 133-46 C

Last run: 51 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Bumper and maiden hurdle winner; ran as though his chase debut was needed (fitness wise) but failed to build on that when a fader at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft); still open to improvement in this discipline as he's lightly raced overall, but the new headgear is a grey area.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:00 Chepstow

Heros De Romay

11st 12lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Course winner over hurdles last season (2m3f, heavy) and made quite promising chase debut in December; yet to build on that performance but was in contention before bad jumping error seemed to knock the stuffing out of him in the straight here a fortnight ago (first-time visor); no surprise if he gets his act together over fences soon.

11/2

4th

5

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

14:50 Chepstow

Heros De Romay

10st 9lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

led, headed 10th, led again home turn, faced challenges when mistake and pecked on landing 5 out, soon lost three places, weakened from 4 out, no chance when not fluent 3 out

6/1

4th

5

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

14:50 Chepstow

Heros De Romay

10st 9lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

led, headed 10th

6/1

Form: U32P-2 D

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Winner of a point and novice hurdle (2m4f, soft); every bit as good over fences despite being 0-5 and made a pleasing return from 300 days away when second at Ffos Las (2m5f, heavy); very capable of defying this untouched mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:45 Chepstow

Hurricane Highway

11st 8lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Evan Williams

Lurks on dangerous mark and is very well suited by slow ground but did not achieve a great deal when remote second in four-runner race at Hereford (2m5f, soft) last month and has not run to form since December 2024.

14/1

2nd

5

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Hurricane Highway

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Evan Williams

Mixes hurdling and chasing but yet to win in this sphere; has dropped to a career-low mark but has his work cut out against more progressive rivals.

7/2

7th

4

26th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

15:53 Wetherby

Hurricane Highway

11st 11lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Pulled up over fences on two of his last three starts, jumping poorly most recently; however, in between he was a good second in a chase at Ffos Las (2m5f, heavy) and he's been effective at 3m and over hurdles in the past; no surprise to see a big performance now back over hurdles.

7/1

Non-runners

Largy Poet

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.30
Straight Forecast £11.16
Trifecta £46.40

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Donnacha

SPOTLIGHT:

Hurricane Highway

The Times:

Heros De Romay

TOPSPEED:

The Famous Five

RP RATINGS:

Hurricane Highway

POSTDATA:

Hurricane Highway

Telegraph:

Hurricane Highway

D Express:

Donnacha

Daily Mirror:

Donnacha

The Sun:

Donnacha

The Star:

Donnacha

Daily Record:

Donnacha