February 12 / 14.00 Exeter

14.00

Good

Virgin Bet Charles II Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £9802.8
  • 2m 3f 48y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Charles II Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88

Form: 5-4231 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Off the mark at the fourth attempt over fences when making all in a four-runner handicap at Taunton (2m, soft) last month; has something to find with Lac De Constance but he stays 2m3f and is effective on good ground, and he can give another good account.
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: 111-1U C BF

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Unraced on good ground (wins on soft/good to soft) and unseated five out in a Grade 2 novice chase at Kempton in December; however, he won the Listed novice hurdle on this card last year (2m) and impressed on his chase debut at Kempton (2m2f) in November; on form he's the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

20th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

14:02 Leicester

Lac De Constance

12st 0lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Fell on only appearance last season and didn't fire on either hurdling start this autumn (albeit not beaten that far on latter occasion); very well handicapped on old form but has quite a bit to prove on first chasing start since spring 2023.

9/1

Form: 563-3P

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
11yo who didn't show much over hurdles and has been tailed off/pulled up here on his first two chase starts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

12th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

14:00 Exeter

Merchant In Milan

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Helen Nelmes

prominent, became detached after 11th, no chance from 4 out, tailed off

66/1

10

1st Jan 2023

Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

12:20 Exeter

Merchant In Milan

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Helen Nelmes

Outclassed behind McFabulous on his chase debut here but he was 0-2 in points, 0-9 as a hurdler, and finds himself well out of the weights here.

66/1

3rd

3

14th Nov 2022

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

13:30 Exeter

Merchant In Milan

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Helen Nelmes

prominent, left in second 1st, hit 8th, ridden home turn, soon weakened, tailed off

100/1

OUR TIP

Form: F-PPP5

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
11yo maiden who has struggled to get competitive this winter and would be a shock winner today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

28th Feb 2023

Good To Firm

2m 4f 25y

Class 4

15:00 Leicester

Captain Cuckoo

10st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Mark Gillard

4th

3

12th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

14:00 Exeter

Captain Cuckoo

11st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Mark Gillard

prominent, pushed along from 8th, ridden after 11th, soon no chance, tailed off

50/1

5th

8

29th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

16:00 Fontwell

Captain Cuckoo

10st 9lb

J: David Noonan

T: Mark Gillard

0-9 in points and 0-14 under rules; badly out of sorts this season (pulled up on all three appearances) and beginning to look a lost cause.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.90
Straight Forecast £3.15
Trifecta £8.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lac De Constance

WEST COUNTRY:

Cap Du Mathan

RP Ratings:

Lac De Constance

TOPSPEED:

Lac De Constance

POSTDATA:

Lac De Constance

The Times:

Lac De Constance

Telegraph:

Lac De Constance

D Express:

Lac De Constance

Daily Mirror:

Lac De Constance

The Sun:

Lac De Constance

Daily Record:

Lac De Constance

The Star:

Cap Du Mathan