February 21 / 14.17 Chepstow

14.17

Soft

Pertemps Network Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 3f 98y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Pertemps Network Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.30
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 2-2632 D BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
0-7 over fences but has posted some good efforts this season, most recently when second at Sandown (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago; should be fine on this left-handed track; respected.
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

13/8

  • Place: £1.90

Form: F1-511 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Pipped a next-time-out winner to score over hurdles here (2m, good to soft) just after Christmas and took another step forward when winning by 3l on chasing debut at Doncaster (2m4f, soft) 16 days ago; still unexposed over this sort of trip and makes obvious appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 4

16:07 Newbury

Another Fine Mess

11st 6lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Jeremy Scott

Won over hurdles before a successful chase debut at Doncaster (2m4f, soft; by 3l); bumped into a well-treated favourite off this 5lb higher mark at Chepstow when the hood was left off (as today); should have some part to play.

8/1

2nd

6

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:17 Chepstow

Another Fine Mess

11st 11lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Jeremy Scott

Pipped a next-time-out winner to score over hurdles here (2m, good to soft) just after Christmas and took another step forward when winning by 3l on chasing debut at Doncaster (2m4f, soft) 16 days ago; still unexposed over this sort of trip and makes obvious appeal.

13/8

1st

5

5th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 115y

Class 4

15:35 Doncaster

Another Fine Mess

11st 2lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Jeremy Scott

Pipped a next-time-out winner to score over hurdles at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) just after Christmas and is now 2-7 in that sphere; open to more improvement over today's longer trip and over fences; looks interesting on chase debut.

3/1

Form: 1-1466 C

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Five-time winner over hurdles (once here) but began chasing career with three underwhelming runs in the autumn (all 2m); back on a good mark now and ought to be aided by the refitted cheekpieces but still has something to prove over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

2nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

My Friend Sean

11st 2lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

All five wins have been over hurdles; 0-5 over fences and finished last of six at Kempton (2m2f, good) in March; others preferred.

10/1

6th

5

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 4

15:30 Kempton

My Friend Sean

11st 6lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Productive spell over hurdles culminated in a hat-trick last spring; 0-4 switched to fences since but ran encouragingly at Chepstow most recently; clear possibilities off a reduced mark.

4/1

Form: 5-75FP D

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Just ahead of Gris Majeur when falling at third-last fence at Taunton (2m7f, good to firm) in November, his second chase, but struggled on next outing; others in this line-up look much less risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 4

19:00 Taunton

Holeshot

11st 12lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Tim Vaughan

Chasing on last five starts has not really worked out; Taunton (2m3f) last February and Warwick (2m) last March saw him register a double over hurdles and he's back to his last winning mark for today's switch in codes but, after three non-completions at about 3m over fences, stamina also has to be proved.

10/1

1

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

14:50 Wetherby

Holeshot

12st 0lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

Mixed results (5FP4) since switched to chasing but is now only 1lb above last winning hurdles mark and Edward Vaughan takes off a bonus 7lb; possibilities, provided he stays returned to 3m.

7/1

4th

8

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:17 Chepstow

Holeshot

11st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Tim Vaughan

Just ahead of Gris Majeur when falling at third-last fence at Taunton (2m7f, good to firm) in November, his second chase, but struggled on next outing; others in this line-up look much less risky.

10/1

Form: 344-

Last run: 303 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Very unexposed 7yo who came second in a soft-ground Irish point in 2023 and made the frame in three maiden hurdles (2m3f-2m4f) last season; makes chase/handicap debut after ten-month absence but good market support will make him of strong interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

15:47 Wetherby

Jack To Bat

11st 7lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Point runner-up who also showed ability over hurdles; tailed off at 17-2 on last month's chase/handicap debut at Chepstow but that was his first run since last April and he may have needed it; wears first-time cheekpieces and the step up in trip could be a firm plus; interesting for in-form yard.

9/2

5th

5

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:17 Chepstow

Jack To Bat

11st 11lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Very unexposed 7yo who came second in a soft-ground Irish point in 2023 and made the frame in three maiden hurdles (2m3f-2m4f) last season; makes chase/handicap debut after ten-month absence but good market support will make him of strong interest.

8/1

Form: 5-2R17 D BF

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
5-19 over hurdles, the latest win gained at Taunton (2m3f, good to firm) in November; makes chasing debut from fairly tough mark, though, and does not have a good record on soft ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:32 Worcester

Melton Mossy

11st 4lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Multiple hurdle winner at up to 2m5f on a sound surface; 1-2 over fences; won a three-runner chase at Wincanton (1m7f, good) when last seen in March; encouraging record after a break; up 3lb and is unexposed as a chaser over this trip; player.

6/1

1st

2

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:47 Wincanton

Melton Mossy

11st 5lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

5-19 over hurdles, with all wins gained on good/good to firm; well beaten on last month's chasing debut at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) but will be much better suited by today's quicker conditions and may yet have a future over fences.

6/1

6th

9

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:17 Chepstow

Melton Mossy

11st 8lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

5-19 over hurdles, the latest win gained at Taunton (2m3f, good to firm) in November; makes chasing debut from fairly tough mark, though, and does not have a good record on soft ground.

16/1

Form: 8-6058 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Nine-time hurdle winner who was useful in his prime and is versatile regarding ground; out of form since rejoining Harriet Dickin this season, though, and has left it late in the day to launch his chasing career; hood/cheekpieces removed; first-time blinkers tried.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:17 Chepstow

Pyramid Place

11st 13lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Nine-time hurdle winner who was useful in his prime and is versatile regarding ground; out of form since rejoining Harriet Dickin this season, though, and has left it late in the day to launch his chasing career; hood/cheekpieces removed; first-time blinkers tried.

33/1

8th

2

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 3

14:02 Chepstow

Pyramid Place

11st 12lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Harriet Dickin

Nine hurdle wins (various ground), including valuable C&D race in 2023; safely held on both starts since rejoining Harriet Dicken, though, and has much more to prove than some of these; cheekpieces added to usual hood.

33/1

1

26th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 149y

Class 3

12:40 Aintree

Pyramid Place

12st 0lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

Nine-time hurdle winner (including here for Harriet Dickin) who is below his last winning mark but struggled in the first half of this year for Olly Murphy; went through the sales ring for £13,500 in May and has plenty to prove, including stamina, on his first start since rejoining this trainer.

25/1

Non-runners

Star Of Affinity, Gris Majeur, Arctic Conditions

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.30
Straight Forecast £4.79
Tricast £12.29
Trifecta £19.50

Selections

The Times:

Another Fine Mess

SPOTLIGHT:

Risk De Pluie

D Express:

My Friend Sean

Daily Mail:

Star Of Affinity

Telegraph:

Another Fine Mess

The Guardian:

Another Fine Mess

Daily Mirror:

Another Fine Mess

The Star:

Another Fine Mess

Daily Record:

Another Fine Mess

RP RATINGS:

Risk De Pluie

TOPSPEED:

Risk De Pluie

POSTDATA:

Risk De Pluie

The Sun:

Risk De Pluie