January 31 / 14.10 Exeter

14.10

Good To Soft

General Gilbert Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £9802.8
  • 3m 0f 54y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
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General Gilbert Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 5U-631 CD

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Always ridden these days by Jordan Nailor; the second of his two wins in handicap hurdles last season came on this card, while his 13l win six weeks ago on third chase start (3m, soft) was also at this track; 7lb higher this time but must still be of major interest.
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

11/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 512-U3 BF

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Unseated mid-race on chase debut here and lost his chance when sprawling on landing four out in Chepstow handicap (2m7f, heavy) next time; however, he was travelling very well at the time on that latest start and this lightly raced 6yo has untapped potential if avoiding mishaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:45 Chepstow

Hurricane Highway

11st 8lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Evan Williams

Lurks on dangerous mark and is very well suited by slow ground but did not achieve a great deal when remote second in four-runner race at Hereford (2m5f, soft) last month and has not run to form since December 2024.

14/1

2nd

5

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Hurricane Highway

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Evan Williams

Mixes hurdling and chasing but yet to win in this sphere; has dropped to a career-low mark but has his work cut out against more progressive rivals.

7/2

7th

4

26th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

15:53 Wetherby

Hurricane Highway

11st 11lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Pulled up over fences on two of his last three starts, jumping poorly most recently; however, in between he was a good second in a chase at Ffos Las (2m5f, heavy) and he's been effective at 3m and over hurdles in the past; no surprise to see a big performance now back over hurdles.

7/1

Form: 22-201

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Down the field on handicap hurdle debut at Cheltenham in November (first run since May) but has a solid record (up to 3m1f) otherwise and won by 13l in five-runner handicap at Sedgefield (2m5f, soft) 19 days ago on chase debut; 6lb higher today, under regular rider Chris Ward, but should still be capable of better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

2nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 3

15:40 Doncaster

Hauraki Gulf

11st 3lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Deborah Cole

pressed leader, weakened after 2 out

4/1

9

1st Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 7f 98y

Class 1

15:07 Sandown

Hauraki Gulf

10st 5lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Deborah Cole

Scored twice over fences early last year (once on heavy); 0-10 over hurdles but runner-up in eight of those, including at Warwick (3m2f, soft) on latest start when he blundered at the final flight but looked booked for second anyway; this race looks too tough.

16/1

9

1st Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 7f 98y

Class 1

15:07 Sandown

Hauraki Gulf

10st 5lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Deborah Cole

Scored twice over fences early last year (once on heavy); 0-10 over hurdles but runner-up in eight of those, including at Warwick (3m2f, soft) on latest start when he blundered at the final flight but looked booked for second anyway; this race looks too tough.

16/1

Form: 82-2U4 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Progressive in 3m handicap hurdles last season (including on soft) and took his form to a new level when second at Exeter (3m, good to soft) in November on chase debut; however, he unseated six out in Grade 2 at Sandown next time and tailed off in another Grade 2 at Warwick latest; well treated if he reverts to that C&D form of three starts back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

The Changing Man

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Unfair to knock his strike-rate of 1-12 over fences as he's run some crackers in defeat, with four seconds last season including a strong C&D handicap and the Ultima at Cheltenham in March; quite likely that he was over the top when last to finish in the 3m1f Grade 1 novice at Aintree; tough, consistent and much respected despite a challenging mark.

100/30

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

The Changing Man

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Unfair to knock his strike-rate of 1-12 over fences as he's run some crackers in defeat, with four seconds last season including a strong C&D handicap and the Ultima at Cheltenham in March; quite likely that he was over the top when last to finish in the 3m1f Grade 1 novice at Aintree; tough, consistent and much respected despite a challenging mark.

100/30

3rd

7

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

The Changing Man

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Only 1-11 over fences, the success in a Grade 2 Reynoldstown at Ascot that essentially fell apart; however, he's proved very consistent in good handicaps otherwise this term, second at the Cheltenham Festival (3m1f, good to soft) most recently; again likely to give his running.

10/1

Form: 04-213

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
His three wins have all been at about 2m4f, the latest at Lingfield (good to soft) in November in his second chase; solid placings on starts either side, rallying well when close behind Henry's Friend at Newbury (2m6f) last time, so he looks well worth this second attempt at 3m for in-form stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

13

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Passing Well

10st 11lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Only 1-10 as a chaser but he's a consistent gelding who ran another solid race to finish third in the Eider, albeit about 20l behind the easy winner Knockanore; likely to give his running once more but looks vulnerable off just 1lb lower.

16/1

3rd

7

22nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

4m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:10 Newcastle

Passing Well

11st 5lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

towards rear, headway on outer 19th, went fourth and no impression 3 out, left in third run-in

9/1

2nd

5

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

Passing Well

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Acts on soft, below form sole start on heavy; won over these fences in November 2023; no joy since but career-best form this season and he stuck to his task very well with the first-time cheekpieces over the extended 3m1f at Wincanton on latest start; going beyond that now looks worth a go.

7/1

Form: /11-13 C

Last run: 68 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
2-2 in novice hurdles and justified favouritism on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft; has won on good) last May; beaten 20l when third of four as second favourite for handicap at Ascot (2m3f, good) in November on chase debut, jumping to his left, form which he needs to leave way behind him but this is a new trip and there is stamina in his pedigree.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Henrys Friend

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.30
Straight Forecast £22.13
Trifecta £98.80

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Top Of The Bill

RP RATINGS:

The Changing Man

SPOTLIGHT:

Passing Well

LAMBOURN:

The Carpenter

D Express:

Hauraki Gulf

The Star:

Hurricane Highway

Daily Record:

Passing Well

Telegraph:

The Carpenter

POSTDATA:

Top Of The Bill

The Guardian:

Top Of The Bill

Daily Mirror:

Top Of The Bill

WEST COUNTRY:

The Changing Man

The Times:

The Changing Man

Daily Mail:

The Changing Man