February 23 / 15.05 Exeter

15.05

Soft

Dont Retire Without My Pension Expert Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hdl Qualifier) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £4084.5
  • 2m 0f 161y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Dont Retire Without My Pension Expert Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hdl Qualifier) (GBB)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

4/7 (Won)

  • Win: £1.67
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 131-2F D

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dual bumper winner who was second to a useful rival on hurdling debut at Sandown (2m, soft) in November and looked set to be placed before last-flight fall in good race at Cheltenham (2m1f, soft) the following month; the one to beat here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Spirits Bay

10st 13lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Ran okay when seventh in this last year and he reappeared with a win at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) in October; however, his subsequent form has been mixed (fences/hurdles) and Top Jimmy looks the yard's chief hope.

33/1

7th

4

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 3

15:25 Taunton

Spirits Bay

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Made a winning reappearance in Newton Abbot handicap hurdle (2m1f, good to soft) in October; switched to fences subsequently, matching his peak RPR over timber when fourth in 2m3f Exeter novice handicap (good to soft) five weeks ago; won his previous outing on heavy.

8/1

1

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 3

12:55 Warwick

Spirits Bay

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Two wins during his novice campaign included a handicap (2m, soft); 0-5 last season but ran well at the weights behind Constitution Hill at Cheltenham in January and comfortably regained the winning thread on his reappearance at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) three weeks ago; up 4lb but he's bred for fences and looks a player on debut in this sphere.

11/8

7/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 21-61 D

Last run: 89 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who built upon November's encouraging seasonal/hurdle debut when battling well to collect Uttoxeter maiden (2m4f, soft) four days later; has a major role to play here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

19th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Ten Lengths Tom

11st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

prominent

15/2

9

19th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Ten Lengths Tom

11st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

prominent

15/2

2nd

1

23rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

15:05 Exeter

Ten Lengths Tom

11st 9lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Bumper winner who built upon November's encouraging seasonal/hurdle debut when battling well to collect Uttoxeter maiden (2m4f, soft) four days later; has a major role to play here.

7/4

20/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 065

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made some encouraging late headway when sixth of 16 over C&D (soft) on hurdling debut in December but never really got involved at Warwick last month; probably one for further down the line; tongue-tie added today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:15 Newton Abbot

Elusiveness

10st 12lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

3-3 since swapping cheekpieces for blinkers, the latest win gained at Haydock (3m, good) in April; subsequent six-month break may have checked her momentum but today's drop back in trip should not be a problem.

5/1

1st

4

19th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

16:25 Haydock

Elusiveness

11st 7lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

prominent, went second 2 out, challenging approaching last, ridden and led narrowly last, kept on

3/1

1st

4

19th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

16:25 Haydock

Elusiveness

11st 7lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

prominent, went second 2 out, challenging approaching last, ridden and led narrowly last, kept on

3/1

Form: 747

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Safely held in two course bumpers this winter and was in rear throughout when 100-1 for recent hurdling debut here (2m2f).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

15:08 Newton Abbot

Bredon Hill Dart

11st 7lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Course winner who was in good form until pulled up in 3m Chepstow handicap 19 days ago; he may have found that run coming too quickly so is worth another chance in refitted cheekpieces.

4/1

10

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:50 Chepstow

Bredon Hill Dart

10st 12lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

Not always one to rely upon heavily but won at Exeter (2m5f, heavy) last month and stayed on for third (just behind Blue In The West) in big field there (2m7f, good to soft) nine days ago; could have a say.

12/1

3rd

12

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

14:20 Exeter

Bredon Hill Dart

11st 3lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

Returned to form with 4l win here (2m5f, heavy) last month but was safely held when fourth over C&D (good to soft) 11 days ago and is not one to rely upon; others preferred.

10/1

Form: 7-41P0 D

Last run: 105 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Won run-of-the-mill handicap chase in Ireland last summer (2m, yielding to soft) but struggled in C&D handicap hurdle for new stable in November and needs subsequent wind op to have made a big difference.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

10th Oct 2024

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

16:43 Exeter

Royal Juniper

10st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Helen Nelmes

midfield, headway 11th

20/1

7th

8

24th Sep 2024

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

16:15 Fontwell

Royal Juniper

10st 9lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Helen Nelmes

in touch with leaders

9/2

Form: 6

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Struggled over C&D when a big-priced outsider for last month's belated debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

28th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

12:15 Taunton

Confused Again

10st 2lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Jackie Du Plessis

Tailed off at triple-figure odds on all three starts (2m); a leap of faith is required to support her but she makes her handicap debut off a basement mark and her dam is from a prolific pointing family, so the step up in trip is an interesting move.

20/1

11

28th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

12:15 Taunton

Confused Again

10st 2lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Jackie Du Plessis

Tailed off at triple-figure odds on all three starts (2m); a leap of faith is required to support her but she makes her handicap debut off a basement mark and her dam is from a prolific pointing family, so the step up in trip is an interesting move.

20/1

6th

6

23rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

15:05 Exeter

Confused Again

10st 9lb

J: James Best

T: Jackie Du Plessis

Struggled over C&D when a big-priced outsider for last month's belated debut.

100/1

OUR TIP

Form: 6/70

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten at triple-digit odds on first two hurdling starts, both times over 1m7f at Wincanton.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

17:20 Wincanton

Benville Bridge

10st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Fiona Shaw

towards rear, mistake 4th, reminders after 6th, badly hampered by faller 3 out, soon lost touch

50/1

12

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

14:25 Wincanton

Benville Bridge

10st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Fiona Shaw

Didn't show much in novice hurdles last winter and pulled up last month on first two handicap/chase starts; a transformation is needed now back over hurdles in first-time cheekpieces.

33/1

12

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

14:25 Wincanton

Benville Bridge

10st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Fiona Shaw

Didn't show much in novice hurdles last winter and pulled up last month on first two handicap/chase starts; a transformation is needed now back over hurdles in first-time cheekpieces.

33/1

Form: 00-95

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of a half-sister to Gold Cup winner Sizing John; bettered inauspicious hurdling debut when fairly respectable fifth of nine in C&D mares' maiden (good to soft) last month; that form isn't anything to get excited about but it gives her a chance to grab a minor prize today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

8th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

16:10 Exeter

Spice Heaven

11st 2lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

held up in rear, weakened after 5th, pulled up before 3 out

20/1

8

23rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

15:05 Exeter

Spice Heaven

10st 9lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Out of a half-sister to Gold Cup winner Sizing John; bettered inauspicious hurdling debut when fairly respectable fifth of nine in C&D mares' maiden (good to soft) last month; that form isn't anything to get excited about but it gives her a chance to grab a minor prize today.

20/1

5th

7

31st Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

15:15 Exeter

Spice Heaven

11st 6lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

held up in rear

66/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.70
Straight Forecast £2.05
Trifecta £4.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Spirits Bay

POSTDATA:

Ten Lengths Tom

Telegraph:

Ten Lengths Tom

The Sun:

Ten Lengths Tom

Daily Record:

Ten Lengths Tom

RP RATINGS:

Spirits Bay

TOPSPEED:

Spirits Bay

WEST COUNTRY:

Spirits Bay

The Times:

Spirits Bay

The Guardian:

Spirits Bay

Daily Mail:

Spirits Bay

D Express:

Spirits Bay

Daily Mirror:

Spirits Bay

The Star:

Spirits Bay