December 21 / 15.55 Exeter

15.55

Soft

Merry Exeter Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5116.24
  • 2m 3f 48y
  • Class 5
  • 11 runners
RTV
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Merry Exeter Handicap Chase

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £12.40
  • Place: £2.90

Form: 23-335

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Back from a year off with three fair runs, most recently when an 8l fifth at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) two weeks ago; should run his race again but he's still a maiden after 25 starts and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

27th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:53 Newton Abbot

Time To Bite

11st 13lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Admirable veteran who recorded his ninth chase win when making all to score from 2lb out of the weights at Fakenham (3m, good) this month; this is tougher off 4lb higher but he seems as good as ever as an 11yo and three of his wins have come at this track; key player.

9/4

1st

7

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Time To Bite

10st 2lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Eight-time chase winner who often makes the running and is very well suited by good or faster ground; went close off his lower hurdle mark last month; on career-high mark from just out of the weights here and usually runs over slightly shorter trips but still features prominently in calculations.

7/2

2nd

6

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 3

16:00 Wincanton

Time To Bite

10st 9lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Most wins and best form are over fences and he ran pretty well at Exeter last month; the time before, in October, he won a small-field handicap hurdle at Exeter off his much lower hurdle mark (now 3lb higher); could have some part to play.

9/2

11/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 11-243

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner who got back near his best with a clear third at Taunton (2m2f, good) last month; 1lb lower here and versatile ground-wise but his wins have come at around 2m and this trip could be on the outer limits of his stamina.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Flash Gorcombe

11st 9lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Strike-rate of 6-23 over fences; not firing as he can this season but there's time yet and he's well handicapped.

4/1

3rd

2

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

Flash Gorcombe

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Dual winner here (including C&D) who was second in this in 2024; built on seasonal debut when third over C&D (soft) in December but jumped right and disappointed at Exeter last time; contender to bounce back returned to this venue.

3/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.00

Form: 25-787

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Nine-race maiden; placed a couple of times over hurdles (2m1f/2m3f) but he's weakened in his two chase runs this autumn; still early days in this sphere and mark is falling but he needs to raise his game significantly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

27th May 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

17:30 Newton Abbot

Belgarum

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Pulled up in his final two runs last year but he returned after wind surgery with a front-running win at Fontwell (2m3f, good; 22-1) this month; this is a different test but he won over fences here (3m2f) last spring and 3lb rise for that last success looks fair; respected.

4/1

1st

6

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

18:10 Fontwell

Belgarum

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Four-time chase winner who was out of sorts when last seen in the autumn, most recently when pulled up on return to hurdling; had another wind op (his fourth) during 168-day break; needs to get career back on track.

16/1

Form: /83P-3

Last run: 209 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent seven-race maiden but third at Worcester (2m, good; cheekpieces added) in May last time and that form has worked out; out of the weights again on his return but this step back up in trip should be fine and he could get involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

13

19th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 5

19:00 Exeter

Etincelle Artiste

10st 2lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Fiona Shaw

Second in an Irish point; moderate form over fences and pulled up at Taunton (2m2f, good) latest; not easy to fancy from 3lb out of weights.

28/1

Form: 6624-4

Last run: 222 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Triple Flat winner who won a maiden over hurdles; 0-5 over fences but he ran some creditable races over a variety of trips early this year, including a second off 4lb higher at Hereford (2m5f, good to soft); still has potential in this sphere and has run well when fresh in the past; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

27th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

15:05 Leicester

Natty Night

12st 0lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Venetia Williams

walked into the start, in touch with leaders, dropped to last 2nd, mistake 8th, mistake 10th, mistake 12th, weakened omitted 3 out

6/4

5th

3

14th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

15:00 Hereford

Natty Night

11st 11lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Venetia Williams

Has stamina to prove today and is not one for maximum faith, having virtually refused to race three outings ago and looked reluctant to line up last time; however, he drew clear on the run-in to open his chasing account at Leicester (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago and today's 4lb higher mark ought to be manageable.

4/1

1st

4

23rd Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

13:35 Leicester

Natty Night

11st 8lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Venetia Williams

prominent, jumped left 2nd, led after 4th, headed but prominent 6th, lost position 9th, pushed along and rallied before 3 out

100/30

OUR TIP

Form: 6/60-8 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Had two long layoffs in recent years and there's hardly been an echo of his old form; way down the weights but his last win was in 2019 and he has plenty to prove on this return to chasing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

11

31st Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

16:15 Exeter

Saintemilion

10st 10lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Jimmy Frost

C&D winner in 2019 but he hasn't been in much form since returning from two years off last March.

66/1

6

1st Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

15:20 Exeter

Saintemilion

11st 1lb

J: Angus Cheleda

T: Jimmy Frost

Has not seen much action in recent years and he returned from another absence with two heavy defeats here (hurdle/chase) last month; mark is tumbling but he's well into the veteran stage now and has plenty to prove.

33/1

6th

1

21st Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

15:55 Exeter

Saintemilion

12st 0lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Jimmy Frost

Had two long layoffs in recent years and there's hardly been an echo of his old form; way down the weights but his last win was in 2019 and he has plenty to prove on this return to chasing.

25/1

Form: 0758-0

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Has not finished closer than 16l to a winner in his nine runs over hurdles and he's 8lb out of the weights on this chase debut; no appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Sans Of Gold

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jimmy Frost

Returned to racing under rules with 41l defeat at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago and is now 0-17 under all codes; 11lb wrong here; needs major help from new tongue-tie and/or blinkers.

50/1

7th

9

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

Sans Of Gold

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jimmy Frost

No rules form to speak of for this yard; 25-1 and beaten 24l in a point for Nikki Frost when last seen nearly a year ago; out of the weights.

50/1

8

29th May 2024

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:28 Newton Abbot

Sans Of Gold

10st 2lb

J: Angus Cheleda

T: Jimmy Frost

Modest maiden who hasn't looked any different since sent over fences and he's 9lb out of the weights this time.

14/1

Form: 4093-3 BF

Last run: 45 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who is lightly raced under rules and he returned after wind surgery with a rallying third in a similar race at Plumpton (2m3f, good to soft) last month; sent off favourite that day and he's a big player if he can build on that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

14th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

15:30 Hereford

Divine Inspiration

11st 11lb

J: David Bass

T: Richard J Bandey

prominent

5/1

0

2

21st Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

15:55 Exeter

Divine Inspiration

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Irish point winner who is lightly raced under rules and he returned after wind surgery with a rallying third in a similar race at Plumpton (2m3f, good to soft) last month; sent off favourite that day and he's a big player if he can build on that.

7/2

3rd

3

6th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

13:37 Plumpton

Divine Inspiration

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Irish point winner; had to settle for third when warm favourite for chase/handicap debut at Wetherby (3m, soft) in March but that was still a pretty good run and he may benefit from today's drop back in trip; had wind surgery in September.

7/2

Form: 326-79

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on his best hurdles form but he was tailed off at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) on his return in October; that took his record to 0-11 and he has something to prove on this switch to chasing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:55 Warwick

Groom De Cotte

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Gary Brown

Won over fences 13 months ago but returned from layoff with lacklustre hurdle run in April and is difficult to enthuse over after that performance; has usual tongue-tie refitted; seems versatile ground-wise.

14/1

8th

2

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:39 Chepstow

Groom De Cotte

11st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Gary Brown

Won over fences at Huntingdon (2m7f, good to soft) last March and returned from break with pleasing fourth over hurdles there (3m1f, good to soft) in November; absent for another 131 days since but won't be far away if in similar form again.

5/1

Form: F0/8-3

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Point and chase winner (2m4f, soft) who returned from another lengthy absence with a respectable third over hurdles here (2m) last month; should benefit from that run and he looks interesting now switched back to fences over this more suitable trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:50 Worcester

Tribesmans Glory

10st 12lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Down

Won off this mark on good ground at Warwick last May; only effort of note this year was his third at Chepstow in March; others safer.

12/1

5

21st May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:50 Warwick

Tribesmans Glory

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Chris Down

Pulled up on heavy ground on two of last three appearances but between those he ran a big race when third on good ground at Chepstow (2m3f); back on a sound surface today and only 2lb higher than when landing this prize in 2024; respected.

10/1

4th

5

21st May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:50 Warwick

Tribesmans Glory

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Chris Down

Pulled up on heavy ground on two of last three appearances but between those he ran a big race when third on good ground at Chepstow (2m3f); back on a sound surface today and only 2lb higher than when landing this prize in 2024; respected.

10/1

Form: 8F-5PU

Last run: 56 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Very lightly raced 9yo but he's failed to complete in three of his four chase runs and was beaten 34l on the other; has had wind surgery but he's 5lb out of the weights here and needs a transformation after a short break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

13

15th Jan 2024

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

15:07 Hereford

Mix Master

10st 2lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Katy Price

Has failed to complete in four of his five chases and was beaten 34l when he did complete; well out of the weights in new headgear.

100/1

0

13

21st Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

15:55 Exeter

Mix Master

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Katy Price

Very lightly raced 9yo but he's failed to complete in three of his four chase runs and was beaten 34l on the other; has had wind surgery but he's 5lb out of the weights here and needs a transformation after a short break.

33/1

0

9

26th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 5

13:50 Ludlow

Mix Master

10st 2lb

J: Miss Carys Morris

T: Katy Price

Very lightly raced, with a whiff of ability but this is a tough task from 11lb out of the handicap.

40/1

Non-runners

Caro Des Flos, Lightonthewing, My Rockstar

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £66.40
Straight Forecast £56.45
Tricast £477.64
Trifecta £653.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Divine Inspiration

POSTDATA:

Flash Gorcombe

RP RATINGS:

Natty Night

The Star:

Lightonthewing

Telegraph:

Divine Inspiration

D Express:

Divine Inspiration

Daily Record:

Divine Inspiration

WEST COUNTRY:

Flash Gorcombe

The Guardian:

Flash Gorcombe

Daily Mirror:

Flash Gorcombe

The Times:

Natty Night

Daily Mail:

Natty Night