November 24 / 13.05 Chepstow

13.05

Soft

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  • Prize money: £4858.52
  • 2m 0f 11y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Best Prices Guaranteed Daily At Vickers.Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: /648-1 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Some long absences have punctuated his career and he's never quite hit the heights his bumper form promised; took advantage of a drop in the weights to make a winning reappearance (second chase start) at Huntingdon 19 days ago and today's slower conditions are in his favour; 5lb rise shouldn't prevent another big run.
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

OUR TIP

25/1

  • Place: £12.00

Form: 2/31-5 D

Last run: 186 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won a Punchestown maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott in May 2022 (2m, good), matching his peak RPR in the process; well beaten at Ffos Las in May on his stable debut; suspicion he'll need marked improvement for fences if he's to defy this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

26th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:23 Worcester

Showbusiness

11st 6lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Sold out of Gordon Elliott's in May 2022 but he's had only four races since; started his chase career with a good second at Chepstow (2m, soft) in November but he's been tailed off in both runs since and has plenty to prove again.

20/1

3

30th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:35 Ffos Las

Showbusiness

11st 8lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Sold out of Gordon Elliott's in May 2022; has had only three races since, all last year with far and away the best of those when second on chase debut at Chepstow (2m, soft) in November on penultimate start; no ground worries on good or soft and he has a strong chance if returning on song.

7/1

7th

8

27th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 3

15:25 Chepstow

Showbusiness

11st 5lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Ex-Irish 6yo; well beaten over hurdles on stable debut in May but, following a break, made good start to chasing career when clear second over C&D (soft) last month; nudged up only 1lb for that and will be a very tough nut to crack if in similar form.

7/2

Form: 2775-F BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
He hasn't progressed from his winning hurdle debut in March 2022 (2m4f, soft) but he was sent off the 2-1 favourite for his chase debut at Huntingdon 19 days ago, only to fall two out when close up in second; didn't look to be going as well as the reopposing Mr Grey Sky though and he could prove vulnerable once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

5th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

21:00 Ffos Las

New Found Fame

11st 2lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Bangor winner (2m3f, soft) in December and, after a lesser effort the following month, won back there (2m, soft) in February; however he's not the easiest to predict and was comfortably held at Chepstow in April; he comes with risk.

6/1

5

5th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

21:00 Ffos Las

New Found Fame

11st 2lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Bangor winner (2m3f, soft) in December and, after a lesser effort the following month, won back there (2m, soft) in February; however he's not the easiest to predict and was comfortably held at Chepstow in April; he comes with risk.

6/1

7th

4

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

New Found Fame

11st 8lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Kerry Lee

Scored in first-time cheekpieces at Bangor (2m3f, soft) in December and put a lesser run behind him when winning in first-time blinkers there (2m1f, soft) in February; it's hard to predict how well he'll perform in refitted cheekpieces but the forecast good ground won't be a problem.

6/1

Form: U1102- D BF

Last run: 223 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Unseated rider at the first hurdle on his racecourse debut one year ago; went on to win his next two starts in juvenile hurdles before finishing down the field in the Fred Winter; beaten a neck here when last seen in April; had wind surgery prior to this reappearance/chase debut and wears a tongue-strap for the first time; interesting in receipt of his 4yo allowance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

12th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

13:00 Wincanton

Romancero Le Dun

10st 9lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

in touch with leaders, outpaced 4 out, slow jump 3 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off

11/2

4th

5

24th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

13:05 Chepstow

Romancero Le Dun

11st 5lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Unseated rider at the first hurdle on his racecourse debut one year ago; went on to win his next two starts in juvenile hurdles before finishing down the field in the Fred Winter; beaten a neck here when last seen in April; had wind surgery prior to this reappearance/chase debut and wears a tongue-strap for the first time; interesting in receipt of his 4yo allowance.

5/1

2nd

2

15th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

12:45 Chepstow

Romancero Le Dun

11st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Dual hurdle winner against own age-group this season, latterly at Ludlow (2m, soft) in January; found Cheltenham Festival handicap too hot last month but is back in much calmer waters here and commands respect.

6/5

Form: U491-2 D

Last run: 73 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Both hurdle wins came on good ground but he handles it slower; form of his stable/chase debut second is nothing out of the ordinary; new headgear now tried.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

14:15 Market Rasen

Iron Heart

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

0-9 over fences but twice runner-up; has another go in this discipline on the back of a comfortable win over hurdles here (2m4f, good) in a race he also won 12 months earlier; now rated 10lb lower as a chaser so has obvious claims.

4/5

1

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

14:15 Market Rasen

Iron Heart

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

0-9 over fences but twice runner-up; has another go in this discipline on the back of a comfortable win over hurdles here (2m4f, good) in a race he also won 12 months earlier; now rated 10lb lower as a chaser so has obvious claims.

4/5

1st

2

9th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

17:00 Market Rasen

Iron Heart

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

9lb lower when an easy winner of this 12 months ago but he can deal with this mark and latest close third at Ffos Las (good to soft) was commendable given he likes good ground; could very easily win this again.

13/8

Form: /2315- C BF

Last run: 249 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Positives include a bumper and hurdle win at this track and a proven ability on soft ground; absent since a modest hurdle run at Taunton in March but he has gone well fresh in the past and he's a half-brother to a useful chaser; still has some potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Libberty Hunter

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Evan Williams

In touch and still going okay when falling three out in this race last year but it's difficult to ascertain where he'd have finished with a clear round; overall record at Cheltenham is 121FU, both wins in handicaps on the New course; ran creditably, one place behind Saint Segal, in the Game Spirit most recently; at the age of ten he's unlikely to find the major improvement that's needed on ratings.

66/1

3rd

5

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:45 Newbury

Libberty Hunter

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Evan Williams

Acts on heavy ground; continued his progress with a good second to Master Chewy in this contest 12 months ago and he meets the winner on better terms in this rematch; subsequent form comprises two non-completions at Cheltenham and a remote fourth, albeit facing stiff assignment, in the Tingle Creek; return to this scenario puts him in calculations.

7/1

5

12th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Libberty Hunter

11st 10lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Has form figures of 112312 in completed chase starts and 121 (three handicaps) at Cheltenham; good second in the Grand Annual on this card 12 months ago and filled the same position in the Game Spirit at Newbury most recently; progressive but has the lowest rating of the field.

33/1

Form: 58U-5P D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Two hurdle wins in France; 22-1 and pulled up in the race won by Mr Grey Sky at Huntingdon on his stable debut/reappearance 19 days ago; slower ground will help but he's not easily recommended.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

23rd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

15:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Orange Diamond

11st 7lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Has record of 11142132 for his current yard, with those first three wins over hurdles at Worcester (2m4f) and his last success over fences at Market Rasen (2m7f); up another 3lb after his second over hurdles at Warwick (2m3f, good) last month, but he went down fighting after making a mistake at the last; could still have more to offer and he's a big player.

100/30

2nd

8

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Warwick

Orange Diamond

11st 9lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: T Ellis

Three hurdle wins (2m4f; good and good to soft) in the middle of 2025, then made a winning return to fences at Market Rasen (3m) in December; not so effective on soft next time but has a weights chance back hurdling.

9/1

3rd

2

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

13:30 Huntingdon

Orange Diamond

12st 0lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Record of PPPPF over fences in 2023-24 but travelled strongly and mostly jumped fine returned to them at Market Rasen on Boxing Day (3m, good to soft), he and the runner-up pulling 17l and more clear; this is a warmer 0-100, but a 5lb rise isn't prohibitive next to his recent RPRs.

100/30

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £76.80
Straight Forecast £71.12
Trifecta £357.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mr Grey Sky

The Times:

Romancero Le Dun

D Express:

New Found Fame

The Star:

Libberty Hunter

The Sun:

Romancero Le Dun

RP RATINGS:

Mr Grey Sky

TOPSPEED:

Mr Grey Sky

POSTDATA:

Mr Grey Sky

WEST COUNTRY:

Mr Grey Sky

Telegraph:

Mr Grey Sky

The Guardian:

Mr Grey Sky

Daily Mail:

Mr Grey Sky

Daily Mirror:

Mr Grey Sky

Daily Record:

Mr Grey Sky