January 22 / 12.28 Huntingdon

12.28

Soft

Pertemps Network Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5545.05
  • 2m 0f 104y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
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Pertemps Network Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.60

Form: -P2431 CD

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Last year wasn't all plain sailing but he delivered on previous chasing promise when scoring over C&D (good to soft; first-time tongue-tie) just before Christmas and should be fine on the slower ground today; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 4

15:00 Chepstow

Touquet

11st 6lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Seemingly aided by new tongue-tie when winning twice at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft/soft) during the winter, and was not discredited when second to revitalised subsequent winner at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) last month; sometimes races a bit too freely but should be fine on this left-handed track; respected.

5/2

2nd

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:37 Wincanton

Touquet

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Always the risk his reluctance to settle will temper his late effort, as it did when over 1l behind A Great Excuse at Lingfield in December; 2-2 at Huntingdon since, however, deriving the benefit of the tongue tie once again when making most there latest (soft); 5lb rise appears pretty fair.

11/8

1st

4

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

12:28 Huntingdon

Touquet

11st 7lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Last year wasn't all plain sailing but he delivered on previous chasing promise when scoring over C&D (good to soft; first-time tongue-tie) just before Christmas and should be fine on the slower ground today; respected.

5/2

OUR TIP

Form: U2-U64

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Made shaky start to chasing career in the autumn but gave very good account when fourth in 0-130 contest at Haydock (2m4f, good to soft) last month; probably copes with soft ground and can be very dangerous in this lower grade if suited by the drop back in trip; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 2

16:40 Sandown

Kahavari

10st 4lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

0-13 since winning over hurdles on debut in France in 2024; runner-up in three chases since fitted with a tongue-tie this year, most recently at Kelso (2m7f, good) three weeks ago, but he is 3lb higher in a stronger race here and needs to find something extra.

5/1

2nd

1

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

16:46 Kelso

Kahavari

12st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

6yo who is 0-12 since winning on his debut in France in 2024; however, he's finished second over fences on two of his last three starts and the way he kept on at stiff Carlisle (2m5f, good to soft) last month suggests this step up in distance is worth a go; in the mix if seeing out the trip.

7/2

Form: F23-73

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
0-12 under all codes but made pretty good start to chasing career when third in race won by progressive subsequent winner at Leicester (2m, good; also suited by soft) last month and is 2lb lower here; a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

25th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

14:20 Wincanton

Plantaroma

12st 0lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

0-13 across all disciplines but she's been placed nine times, including when third in both her chases this term (2m, good and soft); often hangs right for pressure but the cheekpieces go on for this return to hurdles and this represents a drop back down in grade; big player.

5/4

3rd

6

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

12:28 Huntingdon

Plantaroma

11st 5lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

0-12 under all codes but made pretty good start to chasing career when third in race won by progressive subsequent winner at Leicester (2m, good; also suited by soft) last month and is 2lb lower here; a possible.

7/1

7th

1

22nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:53 Worcester

Plantaroma

12st 0lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Tom Symonds

Yet to win and unproven at the trip but has often run well, including on last season's reappearance and when keeping on for third at Hereford (2m, good) in April when last seen; could have a part to play on her return.

13/2

Form: 21-334 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Won two handicap hurdles (2m, good to soft/good) towards end of last season but has not really convinced on his three chasing starts this term, with best run coming in race in which half the fences were omitted; the forecast ground here might be slower than ideal; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

11th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

14:18 Huntingdon

Synchronist

11st 12lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Sarah Humphrey

A dual 2m hurdles winner last season; nowhere near that form sent chasing this season, a remote fourth of six in 2m handicap here 48 days ago; others appeal more.

10/1

4th

3

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

12:28 Huntingdon

Synchronist

11st 10lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Sarah Humphrey

Won two handicap hurdles (2m, good to soft/good) towards end of last season but has not really convinced on his three chasing starts this term, with best run coming in race in which half the fences were omitted; the forecast ground here might be slower than ideal; others preferred.

12/1

3

29th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 3

13:56 Newton Abbot

Synchronist

10st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Sarah Humphrey

Displayed significant improvement when switched to handicap hurdles towards end of last season, winning at Southwell (2m, good to soft) and by 10l at Plumpton (2m, good); makes chasing debut after 161-day absence and takes on two in-form rivals but could still have more to offer.

4/1

Form: 662145 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
1-6 over hurdles, the win gained in a three-runner Sedgefield maiden (2m1f, good) in October; ran well before fading into fifth on last month's handicap debut at Catterick (2m3f, good) and has some slow-ground pointing experience to call upon on this chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

12:28 Huntingdon

Tree Top Tyson

12st 1lb

J: James Bowen

T: Patrick Neville

1-6 over hurdles, the win gained in a three-runner Sedgefield maiden (2m1f, good) in October; ran well before fading into fifth on last month's handicap debut at Catterick (2m3f, good) and has some slow-ground pointing experience to call upon on this chasing debut.

8/1

4th

2

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

12:40 Wetherby

Tree Top Tyson

11st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

Runner-up at Perth (2m, good to soft) in September following wind surgery then easily went one better in three-runner maiden at Sedgefield (2m1f, good); things seems to have clicked and he could continue to progress; key player under penalty.

7/2

4th

2

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

12:40 Wetherby

Tree Top Tyson

11st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

Runner-up at Perth (2m, good to soft) in September following wind surgery then easily went one better in three-runner maiden at Sedgefield (2m1f, good); things seems to have clicked and he could continue to progress; key player under penalty.

7/2

Form: 575-41 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 6yo who built upon encouraging seasonal/chase/stable debut when keeping on strongly to lead on run-in at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) last month; holds Touquet on that form and has plenty of scope for further progress; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:37 Wincanton

A Great Excuse

11st 2lb

J: David Bass

T: Max Comley

Early casualty behind Touquet two runs ago and 2m3f looked too far for him last time out, but he appeared value for a greater rise than 5lb for his Lingfield success (2m, good to soft; Touquet over 1l third) before all of that; remains of interest.

4/1

3rd

3

9th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 51y

Class 5

15:30 Catterick

A Great Excuse

11st 11lb

J: David Bass

T: Max Comley

Off the mark on third chase start when scoring at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) in December; fair run over this trip at Ffos Las on previous start but he fell last time out; a possible on earlier form.

4/1

Non-runners

Sanitiser

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.70
Straight Forecast £22.75
Trifecta £68.80

Selections

The Times:

A Great Excuse

TOPSPEED:

Touquet

SPOTLIGHT:

Kahavari

RP RATINGS:

Plantaroma

The Guardian:

A Great Excuse

Daily Mail:

A Great Excuse

D Express:

A Great Excuse

The Sun:

A Great Excuse

Daily Record:

A Great Excuse

POSTDATA:

Touquet

Telegraph:

Touquet

Daily Mirror:

Touquet

The Star:

Touquet