December 21 / 15.15 Hereford

15.15

Soft

Follow @attheraces On Twitter Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7352.1
  • 2m 0f 8y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Follow @attheraces On Twitter Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.00
  • Place: £3.70

Form: F13-

Last run: 320 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles in France in January (2m1f, very soft) and was placed in a Listed event the following month; today's British/chase debut comes after a 320-day absence and he's not an easy horse to weigh up, but he's in good hands and looks very interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

1st Jun 2026

Yielding

2m 7f 150y

16:42 Listowel

In Excelsis Deo

11st 11lb

J: Mr S J Kenny

T: E Bolger

Won a Grade 2 handicap over 2m4f a couple of years ago for Harry Fry before losing form; some good efforts in point-to-points, including recent win under this jockey; previously, was only around 7l off stablemate Solitary Man over 2m4f at Cork (disqualified, rider weighed in marginally light).

12/1

7th

12

2nd May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:35 Punchestown

In Excelsis Deo

12st 0lb

J: Emma Fitzgerald

T: E Bolger

Rated in 140s at peak over fences, best form over much further, others preferred.

14/1

11th

5

6th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

16:10 Cork

In Excelsis Deo

12st 0lb

J: Mr S J Kenny

T: E Bolger

Solid overall form in points, highlighted by a defeat of Its On The Line at Cragmore in January; unseated rider in Belclare contest won by Asian Master; stablemate Solitary Man has superior claims.

7/1

OUR TIP

7/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 64P-42 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Very useful hurdler who began chasing career with two very respectable runs in the autumn, latterly when second (no match for winner) at Carlisle (2m, soft); probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

6th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

16:10 Uttoxeter

Llandinabo Lad

11st 10lb

J: David Bass

T: Tom Symonds

led, raced in second when headed after 3rd, lost second 2 out (usual 3 out), weakened approaching last

7/1

7

23rd Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

13:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Llandinabo Lad

10st 10lb

J: David Bass

T: Tom Symonds

Not firing on all cylinders over fences this season and now reverts to hurdling for first time since March 2022; given very good chance by the handicapper and has conditions to suit but needs 119-day break to have done him good.

10/1

3rd

3

25th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

12:20 Ascot

Llandinabo Lad

10st 5lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tom Symonds

jumped slightly left throughout, led, pressed leaders when headed 16th, weakened before 2 out

8/1

Form: /15-42 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner; well beaten after racing too freely on seasonal/chase debut in October but fared much better when clear second to unexposed rival at Wincanton (1m7f, good) last month and will be suited by the slower ground here; good chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

28th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

16:48 Newton Abbot

Cap Du Mathan

12st 4lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Former useful handicapper and won a soft-ground 2m hunter chase early last year; back from an absence with a second at Ludlow and nothing wrong with his third in a deeper race than this at Cheltenham (2m4f); good chance.

13/8

2

28th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

16:48 Newton Abbot

Cap Du Mathan

12st 4lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Former useful handicapper and won a soft-ground 2m hunter chase early last year; back from an absence with a second at Ludlow and nothing wrong with his third in a deeper race than this at Cheltenham (2m4f); good chance.

13/8

3rd

5

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Cap Du Mathan

12st 1lb

J: Miss Natalie Parker

T: Paul Nicholls

took keen hold, midfield, in touch with leaders 7th, went third approaching last, not pace to challenge

8/1

Form: 312/4- D

Last run: 410 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
3-5 over hurdles in 2020-21 season and made quite encouraging chasing debut in November 2021; subsequent 410-day absence is an obvious concern but he should still have potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

30th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 3

15:00 Hereford

Hooligan

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

Won three of first four hurdles at 2m-2m2f (soft/heavy); fair start to chase career in late 2021 but wasn't seen again for over a year and never involved at Hereford in December (2m, soft) when given time to overcome some rusty early jumps; still has potential and should come on for the run.

11/2

4th

1

21st Dec 2022

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 3

15:15 Hereford

Hooligan

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

3-5 over hurdles in 2020-21 season and made quite encouraging chasing debut in November 2021; subsequent 410-day absence is an obvious concern but he should still have potential.

7/1

Form: 2U-412 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won low-grade Ludlow chase by wide margin at start of last month (2m, good) and also ran well when second of four there (good to soft) three weeks ago; evidently in good nick but contests a stronger race from 3lb out of the weights here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

16th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 4

13:15 Sandown

Presuming Ed

11st 2lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Adam West

Won over fences at Ludlow in November (2m, good to soft) but was well held at Hereford on his final run in that discipline and wasn't great back on the AW 19 days ago; has two wins to his name over hurdles but needs to get back on track.

20/1

9th

2

(9)

28th Jan 2023

Standard

1m 7f 218y

Class 6

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Presuming Ed

9st 12lb

J: Thore Hammer Hansen

T: Adam West

Fairly useful form over fences in recent months, including a 2m Ludlow win in November; beaten a long way in three novice events on the Flat but his jumps ability suggests he could be competitive from a modest opening mark in this sphere.

15/2

Form: /5110- D

Last run: 284 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced since his two bumper wins in 2018 but won two soft-ground handicap hurdles at start of this year and can be excused subsequent defeat in Grade 3 event at Sandown in March; makes chasing debut after nine-month break but current mark ought to be workable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

13:37 Southwell

Mr Grey Sky

11st 10lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Three wins from ten runs over fences, the latest at Leicester (2m, heavy) last February; may have needed the run after 312-day break when well beaten last time; a possible.

10/1

7th

6

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 67y

Class 3

15:45 Haydock

Mr Grey Sky

11st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

12yo who is racing for the first time since last February; however, he won at Leicester (2m, heavy) back then and he won after some time off in November 2023 (2m, good to soft); 2-2 here (bumpers in 2018); not discounted.

9/1

1st

2

25th Feb 2025

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 4

15:45 Leicester

Mr Grey Sky

11st 10lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Jumped poorly and was well beaten on seasonal debut in November but got back on track with front-running third at Exeter (2m1f, soft) last month and remains well handicapped on older form.

5/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £37.70
Straight Forecast £34.24
Trifecta £86.00

Selections

RP Ratings:

Llandinabo Lad

SPOTLIGHT:

Cap Du Mathan

TOPSPEED:

Llandinabo Lad

Telegraph:

Llandinabo Lad

Daily Mail:

Llandinabo Lad

The Sun:

Llandinabo Lad

The Star:

Llandinabo Lad

Daily Record:

Llandinabo Lad

POSTDATA:

Cap Du Mathan

WEST COUNTRY:

Cap Du Mathan

The Times:

Cap Du Mathan

The Guardian:

Cap Du Mathan

D Express:

Cap Du Mathan

Daily Mirror:

Cap Du Mathan