December 13 / 15.05 Leicester

15.05

Heavy

William Hill Epic Value Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 2m 4f 25y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
William Hill Epic Value Handicap Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 2P48-1 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Returned to form with game win from the front on seasonal debut at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) last month and is now 2-7 over fences; not one to rely upon too heavily and not yet tested on heavy ground but remains well handicapped on older form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

14:05 Haydock

The Edgar Wallace

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Front-runner who hasn't been at his best this term and was a 12l third behind two of these at Market Rasen (2m5f, good to soft) last time; however, he deserves credit for that performance having set a strong pace and he continues to drop down the weights; every chance he'll make a bold bid.

7/1

3rd

7

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 2

13:25 Market Rasen

The Edgar Wallace

11st 1lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Front-runner; well handicapped on some of last season's form but failed to build upon his satisfactory reappearance run when well held at Newbury last month; needs to get back in the groove.

10/1

3rd

7

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 2

13:25 Market Rasen

The Edgar Wallace

11st 1lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

set good pace, led, hit 7th, headed 3 out, soon lost second, kept on

10/1

15/8

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 22-261 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on four of his five hurdling starts before opening rules account with pushed-out success on chasing debut at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) 18 days ago; 6lb rise probably demands more from him here but further progress is possible; effective on soft ground; unraced on heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

13th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 10y

Class 3

16:12 Sandown

Mylesfromwicklow

11st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Made mistakes when pulled up at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) in December last time and needs to bounce back; however, he's now 5lb lower than when second at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) in October and is not written off; also effective on soft ground.

5/1

3

18th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Mylesfromwicklow

11st 2lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Won twice in small fields over 2m4f/2m6f last term and second at Market Rasen in October; however, he needs a lot better than was forthcoming on last two outings, back down to 2m5f from 3m for latest.

11/2

3

18th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Mylesfromwicklow

11st 2lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

towards rear

11/2

Form: 16-P D

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Heavy-ground point winner; far too good for Mylesfromwicklow when winning over hurdles on rules debut in January but performed very poorly on recent seasonal/handicap hurdle debut at Newbury and has a point to prove on today's chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

19th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

13:50 Lingfield

Regal Blue

11st 7lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Inconsistent 9yo who often looks very unenthusiastic; made all in valuable novices' handicap chase at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) in March 2024 but absent since two lacklustre runs at end of that year; had wind in September and now sports first-time cheekpieces; this first run after a layoff might be a good day to catch him in the right mood, but others are much less risky.

25/1

3

21st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

14:05 Haydock

Regal Blue

11st 8lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Inconsistent and pulled up on last month's reappearance at Bangor but he may have needed the run and this lightly raced 7yo could be tailor-made for today's assignment in view of last season's best efforts, including two fine runs on heavy ground here and a win at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) in March.

8/1

3

21st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

14:05 Haydock

Regal Blue

11st 8lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Inconsistent and pulled up on last month's reappearance at Bangor but he may have needed the run and this lightly raced 7yo could be tailor-made for today's assignment in view of last season's best efforts, including two fine runs on heavy ground here and a win at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) in March.

8/1

Form: P/121- D

Last run: 233 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Seemed to get career back on track in the spring, winning a point and two soft-ground hunter chases, and has subsequently rejoined Dan Skelton; makes his handicap return after a 223-day absence but is proven on heavy ground; could have a say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

15th Mar 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

17:05 Fakenham

Firak

12st 6lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Hampered but not unlucky when second dropped back to 2m at Leicester latest (soft); work to do with Rebel Dawn Rising and Janika on last Easter's C&D clash, and Hexham win afterwards might not be infallible proof of his effectiveness at 3m under rules (tired and just held on in slowly run race).

4/1

2nd

2

8th Mar 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

16:50 Leicester

Firak

12st 6lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Won three times for Nick Pearce last spring, including when value for more than the winning margin at Hexham (3m, soft; 5-2; first-time cheekpieces); yet to fire since returning to Dan Skelton, pulling up in the Walrus at Haydock (2m6f, heavy) three weeks ago; questions to answer, especially at 2m.

9/2

2

17th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 6f 54y

Class 3

16:55 Haydock

Firak

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Won two hunter chases last spring (2m4f/3m, soft) and returned from some time off with fair fourth of five in Leicester handicap (2m4f, heavy) in December; could show the benefit of that outing today; possible contender.

13/2

Form: 58-153 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Just held on to double chasing tally at Cartmel (2m5f, good) in May and also has winning form on heavy ground; ultimately well beaten when last of three finishers at Wetherby (2m3f, heavy) last month, after a break, but didn't run badly and the outing might have brought him on.
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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.30
Straight Forecast £4.54
Trifecta £13.20

Selections

TOPSPEED:

The Edgar Wallace

RP RATINGS:

Mylesfromwicklow

SPOTLIGHT:

Ubetya

POSTDATA:

Mylesfromwicklow

The Sun:

Mylesfromwicklow

Daily Record:

Mylesfromwicklow

WEST COUNTRY:

The Edgar Wallace

The Times:

The Edgar Wallace

Telegraph:

The Edgar Wallace

The Guardian:

The Edgar Wallace

Daily Mail:

The Edgar Wallace

D Express:

The Edgar Wallace

The Star:

The Edgar Wallace

Daily Mirror:

Ubetya