November 26 / 12.53 Bangor-on-Dee

12.53

Heavy

Excel Signs Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7079.8
  • 2m 4f 72y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Excel Signs Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.10
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 4F21-2 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
2-5 over hurdles last season and ran big race when second in what looked a warm novices' handicap chase at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) last month; not yet tested on heavy ground but has won on soft; good chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 2

15:40 Chepstow

Harpers Brook

11st 4lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Quirky customer who tends to idle when striking the front and needs to be produced with a well-timed challenge; on a good mark now and Kielan Woods knows his foibles well but he's seemingly on the downgrade and always comes with extra risk.

11/2

5th

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

15:13 Doncaster

Harpers Brook

10st 12lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Back in better form, albeit wilted a bit late on, at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) last time and remains below last winning mark but continues to carry risk, being a quirky sort.

8/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 2341-3 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Won for Paul Nicholls in first-time cheekpieces at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) in April, his sixth start over fences, and was very respectable third (albeit 15l behind Harper's Brook) on recent seasonal/stable debut at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft); can give another good account here but less exposed rivals appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

25th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:50 Worcester

Ubetya

11st 5lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

midfield

14/1

3rd

1

15th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

20:15 Uttoxeter

Ubetya

12st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Very well handicapped on old chasing form and seemed to have turned a corner when fourth over hurdles at Ludlow (3m, good) in April but last month's Huntingdon fouth was a rather laboured effort and others in this field have more persuasive profiles; won't mind what the weather does.

14/1

4th

7

21st May 2024

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 3

19:40 Huntingdon

Ubetya

11st 4lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Lost his way over fences last season and was safely held when back over hurdles in February but last month's staying-on fourth at Ludlow (3m, good; about 6l behind Planet Legend) was much more encouraging, and he remains very well handicapped on older form.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4117-3 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Won four times over hurdles last season (twice here) and made good start to chasing career when third behind two next-time-out winners at Uttoxeter (2m, good) last month; today's trip-and-ground combination will also suit and he's likely to be right in the thick of things again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

8th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

14:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Barrichello

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Won four times as a novice during 2021-22 season but has been out of form over the last 18 months or so and needs a significant boost from the first-time blinkers today.

14/1

8th

3

14th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Barrichello

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Rather disappointing since two wins in early 2022 (both over 2m on good to soft); very well handicapped (19lb lower than last success) so quite interesting back from a break on second run after wind surgery.

13/2

8th

3

14th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Barrichello

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Rather disappointing since two wins in early 2022 (both over 2m on good to soft); very well handicapped (19lb lower than last success) so quite interesting back from a break on second run after wind surgery.

13/2

Form: 12/ D

Last run: 743 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Won Chepstow novice hurdle (2m3f, good) on rules debut in October 2020 and was second in Cheltenham Grade 2 (2m5f, good) the following month; today's chase/handicap debut comes after a two-year absence but market support will make her of significant interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 5

15:15 Wetherby

Wild Romance

11st 5lb

J: Mr Shay Halton

T: Mrs Jody Anne Lancaster

Placed in a Grade 2 over hurdles during a light career with Dan Skelton; that was a long time ago now but she's been running well in points and has less to prove than a few of these from a wellbeing perspective.

11/2

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 5

15:15 Wetherby

Wild Romance

11st 5lb

J: Mr Shay Halton

T: Mrs Jody Anne Lancaster

Placed in a Grade 2 over hurdles during a light career with Dan Skelton; that was a long time ago now but she's been running well in points and has less to prove than a few of these from a wellbeing perspective.

11/2

3

15th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

13:55 Chepstow

Wild Romance

11st 13lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

midfield

3/1

Form: 15/59/

Last run: 741 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Very creditable fifth in 2020 Triumph Hurdle; absent since the following autumn and not an easy horse to weigh up on today's chasing debut but remains in the care of Paul Nicholls and has been given a good chance by the handicapper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

Sir Psycho

10st 13lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

in touch with leaders

12/1

Form: 1F314- D

Last run: 260 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Dual novice hurdle winner on soft ground for Jack Barber last season (2m3f/2m7f); ran well when second on yesterday's chase/stable debut at Ffos Las (2m3f, soft; beaten about 9l) and he's open to improvement in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

27th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:53 Newton Abbot

Blackjack Magic

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Well treated on old form but his last win was in November 2023 and he's generally struggled since then; has something to prove and all of his wins have come on good to soft or slower.

12/1

4th

4

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:50 Carlisle

Blackjack Magic

11st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Ran quite well when fifth in valuable final of this veterans' series at Sandown (3m, good) in January but was well beaten there later that month and has become far too inconsistent to support with any confidence; tried in a visor for the first time.

11/2

4th

4

31st Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 42y

Class 2

15:42 Sandown

Blackjack Magic

10st 3lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Proved somewhat resurgent, following several non-completions, in the Veterans' Final over C&D on seasonal debut; however, needs to build on that effort and prove that he's still capable of peak form, on which he's admittedly well treated.

14/1

Non-runners

Blackjack Magic

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.80
Straight Forecast £7.80
Trifecta £13.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Harper's Brook

Telegraph:

Sir Psycho

RP Ratings:

Harper's Brook

TOPSPEED:

Harper's Brook

POSTDATA:

Harper's Brook

WEST COUNTRY:

Harper's Brook

The Times:

Harper's Brook

The Guardian:

Harper's Brook

Daily Mail:

Harper's Brook

D Express:

Harper's Brook

Daily Mirror:

Harper's Brook

The Sun:

Harper's Brook

The Star:

Harper's Brook

Daily Record:

Harper's Brook