December 21 / 14.55 Exeter

14.55

Soft

Join Us On New Year’s Day At Exeter Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 3m 0f 54y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Join Us On New Year’s Day At Exeter Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

15/2 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 15U-63 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner at trips just shy of 3m; signs that he's not straightforward were evident on chase debut but he ran a lot better over C&D last time in a fairly deep handicap for novices; down 1lb for that 6l defeat and he's one to be interested in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

32

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Top Of The Bill

10st 5lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

One of several who are now in the veteran stage but also in the form of their lives; 7l winner at Haydock (extended 3m1f) in November and returned there with an excellent, rallying second in the Grand National Trial (extended 3m4f, again good to soft) in February; ridden last three starts by Toby McCain-Mitchell; back up 2lb and an interesting prospect for 4m2f but this is a much stronger race.

50/1

2nd

1

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Top Of The Bill

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

10yo who posted a career-best performance with comfortable win here (extended 3m1f, good to soft) in November, and he's also won on soft ground; not written off after just one below-par run but he was well held in the Tommy Whittle here in December and has to leave that effort miles behind.

25/1

1st

1

21st Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 3

15:40 Ffos Las

Top Of The Bill

12st 0lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Took very well to fences last season, winning three times over 3m (good to soft-soft), but returned with two disappointing runs in the autumn; needs to get back on track and will have something to prove if the ground stays good (unraced on anything quicker than good to soft).

11/2

7/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 372-44 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Has only ever won here and from the front he went down fighting in Enjoy Your Life's recent C&D handicap; down another 2lb but he does look vulnerable to younger legs.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

23rd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

17:00 Newbury

Run To Milan

11st 2lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Victor Dartnall

This is his trip; unplaced on his previous run here and saves all his best efforts for Exeter where he again ran well last time from 5lb out of the weights; does have form elsewhere but it's on right-handed tracks; perhaps placed at best.

7/1

2nd

15

11th Feb 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 54y

Class 2

16:35 Exeter

Run To Milan

10st 2lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Victor Dartnall

Dual C&D winner, latterly in 2022 edition of this race (soft ground), and has made the frame over C&D on all three starts this season; 5lb out of the weights today but the form of his December second has been very well advertised by the winner since; considered each-way.

14/1

2nd

6

21st Dec 2023

Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 3

14:55 Exeter

Run To Milan

11st 4lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Victor Dartnall

Has only ever won here and from the front he went down fighting in Enjoy Your Life's recent C&D handicap; down another 2lb but he does look vulnerable to younger legs.

7/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: /227-4

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Second to the now smart chaser Broadway Boy in a 2m7f handicap hurdle at Market Rasen in March off this very mark; made mistakes and never really counted on his chase debut in a 2m4f handicap at Ludlow; returning to further should help and he now tries cheekpieces, but that last run leaves him with a bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

20th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:45 Exeter

Jubilee Express

11st 10lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Below form on sole jumps start on heavy; finished strongest when second in the Welsh National at Chepstow (extended 3m6f, soft) in December 2024; won the Trial there in December this season, which is far and away the best of his last four starts but the ground was surely not soft enough for him when he flopped as favourite in the Welsh National last time; major player if this is one of his better days.

11/4

7th

10

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Jubilee Express

10st 2lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

disputed lead early, in touch with leaders 3rd

13/2

2nd

12

27th Dec 2024

Soft

3m 6f 130y

Class 1

14:50 Chepstow

Jubilee Express

10st 4lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

7yo who is narrowly the most lightly raced horse in this field; raised his game upped to 3m5f and an extended 3m4f on soft on last two starts last term, snatching a win at Haydock last time; up another 4lb but gives the very strong impression he will keep on galloping at this trip as well.

6/1

Form: 52-721 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Winning chaser in France; back over fences for his last two runs, finishing second at Wincanton (2m4f) and then beating some of today's rivals over C&D (good to soft); won that with a nice bit in hand and a 7lb rise looks manageable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Enjoy Your Life

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

6lb lower than for November's second over 2m3.5f here (good to soft), but beaten 27l and 56l despite making the podium the last twice; enough to prove right now and probably wouldn't want a dryout, either.

14/1

6th

4

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Enjoy Your Life

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

6lb lower than for November's second over 2m3.5f here (good to soft), but beaten 27l and 56l despite making the podium the last twice; enough to prove right now and probably wouldn't want a dryout, either.

14/1

2nd

5

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

16:20 Wincanton

Enjoy Your Life

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Won twice last season and is below his last winning mark; reappeared with encouraging second at Chepstow in November but two lesser runs have followed and he needs to get back on track.

5/1

Form: F13P-2 CD

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won a C&D handicap on heavy ground last New Year's Day off only 1lb lower; a thorough stayer who was best of the rest behind an easy winner on his Chepstow comeback; should give his running.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

14:35 Chepstow

In Rem

10st 13lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Five-time hurdle winner but much less prolific as a chaser, and seemingly on the downgrade now; fell at first fence when tried in blinkers this month; usual cheekpieces are refitted here; others have more pressing claims.

33/1

17

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

14:35 Chepstow

In Rem

10st 13lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Five-time hurdle winner but much less prolific as a chaser, and seemingly on the downgrade now; fell at first fence when tried in blinkers this month; usual cheekpieces are refitted here; others have more pressing claims.

33/1

1

16th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:08 Worcester

In Rem

11st 12lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Sole chase win came over 3m at Exeter (heavy; from 12lb higher) on New Year's Day 2023; weakened, finishing down the field (beaten 27l) on recent Warwick seasonal reappearance; now dropping in trip, into a Class 5 in newly applied blinkers.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: P22-0U D

Last run: 12 days

W: 12st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Excellent efforts in defeat in 3m4f handicaps to close last season; could be that he needed his comeback run and he then unseated midrace over Aintree's National fences 12 days ago; his assured stamina should come in handy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

23rd Feb 2024

Soft

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:40 Exeter

Sidi Ismael

12st 0lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: David Pipe

10yo who is having a substandard campaign, but last month's fifth at Plumpton was a step back in the right direction and he's well handicapped on last season's marathon chase form (including on soft); not ruled out.

14/1

5th

2

7th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 4f 102y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Sidi Ismael

11st 9lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: David Pipe

Well-held fifth in this last year off 2lb higher; ended that campaign well with two seconds over 3m4f and a blind eye could be turned to this season's no-shows for one reason or another (lost his action last time).

40/1

Form: 463-1P D BF

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Bookended his latest campaign with chase wins at Bangor (2m4f) and Uttoxeter (3m); disappointing favourite on his return at Warwick (3m1f, soft) but was found to be suffering from post-race ataxia and he's had a wind op since; may well have more to offer off this sort of mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

Arizona Cardinal

11st 5lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

midfield in centre of group

20/1

10th

5

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

Arizona Cardinal

11st 5lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

midfield in centre of group

20/1

Form: 342-U3

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
No wins in 12 but surely his turn will come and he was beaten under 4l by Enjoy Your Life off this mark here last month; should give the winner more to think about on 7lb better terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

2nd May 2025

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Cheltenham

Mumbo Jumbo

11st 12lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: Mrs G Andrews

Useful chaser for Emma Lavelle; consistent pointer and closely matched with Clashhill on his penultimate run, since when he's won easily at High Easter (3m, good to firm); looks a player.

7/2

6th

6

2nd May 2025

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Cheltenham

Mumbo Jumbo

11st 12lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: Mrs G Andrews

held up in rear, some headway 3 out, weakened before 2 out

7/2

2nd

5

4th May 2024

Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:35 Uttoxeter

Mumbo Jumbo

11st 6lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Emma Lavelle

Placed off 7lb higher mark in stronger race than this at Exeter (3m, good to soft) in November but was pulled up on next two outings and was last of four (albeit not beaten far) when cheekpieces were added for latest run; now 0-15 under all codes and needs to up his game; drops back in trip with visor tried today.

5/1

Non-runners

Ask Me Early

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £49.40
Straight Forecast £46.87
Tricast £225.60
Trifecta £316.90

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Enjoy Your Life

WEST COUNTRY:

In Rem

RP RATINGS:

Mumbo Jumbo

SPOTLIGHT:

Top Of The Bill

POSTDATA:

Enjoy Your Life

Telegraph:

Enjoy Your Life

Daily Mail:

Enjoy Your Life

D Express:

Enjoy Your Life

Daily Mirror:

Enjoy Your Life

The Sun:

Enjoy Your Life

Daily Record:

Enjoy Your Life

The Times:

In Rem

The Guardian:

In Rem

The Star:

In Rem