April 09 / 14.30 Hereford

14.30

Soft

Dowload The Racing App Now Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 0f 8y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Dowload The Racing App Now Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.50
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 423560

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Dropped out of contention in the blink of an eye at Huntingdon last month and is now 0-12 over fences; continues to slide down the weights but urgently needs a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

14:07 Ludlow

Trapista

11st 8lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Easily the most experienced over fences, and a 2m4f win here (good) off 17lb higher rounded off a spring 2024 hat-trick; no successes since, however, and it's a push to say this step up to 3m has long been needed.

4/1

3

7th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

16:12 Fontwell

Trapista

11st 4lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won three chases in a row (2m-2m4f, good-soft) in spring 2024 but generally disappointing since; beaten out of sight when 20-1 at Newton Abbot 17 days ago; revival needed.

10/1

7th

6

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

17:35 Newton Abbot

Trapista

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Completed chase hat-trick in spring 2024 but generally disappointing since; May's second of three at Ludlow (2m4f, good) was encouraging but she's been soundly beaten since and was weak in the market when an early casualty over C&D last month; easy to look elsewhere.

20/1

7/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: P6081 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Didn't hang about over hurdles and made a successful chase debut at Huntingdon (2m, soft) where he jumped well; up 7lb but could be an improver.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

Pep Talking

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Bold-jumping front-runner with seven wins from 18 starts over fences; ideally served by further than 2m but won over this trip at Chepstow (good to soft) in April; ran well again when runner-up at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) last month and will be the one to catch.

5/1

2nd

4

7th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

13:45 Huntingdon

Pep Talking

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Took form to another new level when winning by 10l from the front at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) last month and is now 7-17 over fences (includes course win); today's trip-and-ground combination will also suit; respected.

5/2

1st

5

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 4

13:40 Chepstow

Pep Talking

11st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Billy Aprahamian

Record of 5-12 for current yard; campaigned mostly at longer trips but the way he shaped over a sharp 2m2f last time (ran well on return from break) suggests this galloping 2m may not be a problem; in the mix.

11/4

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 231342 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Three-time chase winner, latterly on good ground over C&D in January; has continued to run quite well and he goes on this ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

13:37 Worcester

Famoso

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Six-time chase winner whose form dipped in May/June and he fared little better over hurdles three weeks ago; should be sharper for that now back over fences but needs to find some spark.

25/1

1

6th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

18:55 Stratford

Famoso

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Six-time chase winner (once here); competes off lower mark on this rare hurdling start but was not firing on all cylinders when last seen in the spring and needs to have been refreshed by three-month break.

16/1

Form: 852338 C BF

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who made the frame in handicaps over hurdles off marginally higher marks; bred to make a chaser and conditions won't faze him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

12

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

13:00 Chepstow

Out Of Focus

11st 2lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Has often run well in handicap hurdles, including over C&D on heavy, but below best this winter despite falling in the weights and he didn't put up much of a show last time out; first-time cheekpieces on.

16/1

3rd

9

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:43 Newton Abbot

Out Of Focus

11st 4lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

midfield

7/1

3rd

9

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:43 Newton Abbot

Out Of Focus

11st 4lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

midfield

7/1

Form: P5/7-P

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Hasn't built on some early promise and never really threatened in his handicaps over hurdles (2m3f-3m); lengthy breaks are a feature in his profile and he looks best watched on chase debut with cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

7th Jun 2024

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

16:20 Market Rasen

Hooky Street

10st 13lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Harriet Dickin

Placed at Exeter (2m1f, good) in April on his second start over fences but he's struggled in both runs since; now drops back in trip but overall record stands at 0-13 and others are preferred; tongue-tie added.

12/1

6th

4

16th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:10 Fontwell

Hooky Street

11st 5lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Harriet Dickin

led, headed 7th, led again 8th, headed before 3 out, soon weakened

9/1

6th

4

16th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:10 Fontwell

Hooky Street

11st 5lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Harriet Dickin

Placed in a bumper and also over fences, the latter coming at Exeter (2m1f, good; first-time blinkers) on his penultimate start; weakened quickly when pulled up at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) latest; return to further could help him be more competitive.

9/1

Form: 4-P113

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Won back-to-back chases last summer at Market Rasen (2m1f, good) and Cartmel (2m1f, heavy); faded into third on his return at Huntingdon but that may have been needed after 247 days away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

17:40 Cartmel

Ensel Du Perche

10st 8lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Stella Barclay

1-1 over C&D and won twice over 2m at Catterick (soft/good) earlier in year; well held despite making the frame in his last two starts and needs a bit more from this mark.

12/1

5

9th Jun 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

15:10 Southwell

Ensel Du Perche

11st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Stella Barclay

Four chase wins, making all in two small fields at Catterick (1m7f, good/soft) last season; remains in good form and he's better over shorter than the 2m4f he ran over here last time.

4/1

Form: 380395

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Modest on the Flat and over hurdles; went off at 50-1 for recent chase debut here and ran accordingly; cheekpieces return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

9th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Book Of Verse

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Modest on the Flat and over hurdles; went off at 50-1 for recent chase debut here and ran accordingly; cheekpieces return.

50/1

7

9th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Book Of Verse

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Modest on the Flat and over hurdles; went off at 50-1 for recent chase debut here and ran accordingly; cheekpieces return.

50/1

5th

8

27th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

15:10 Hereford

Book Of Verse

10st 3lb

J: Miss Jess Stewart

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Modest on the Flat and over hurdles and he's 0-19 across both codes; needs to improve for the switch to fences if he's to win this.

33/1

Form: 247P4P

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Has placed form over fences but a longstanding maiden and he's 7lb out of the weights; blinkers are new.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

31st Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

14:55 Warwick

Lonimoss Bareliere

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Rob Summers

in rear, hampered by loose horse 7th, not fluent 8th, soon struggling, pulled up before last

33/1

11

31st Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

14:55 Warwick

Lonimoss Bareliere

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Rob Summers

in rear, hampered by loose horse 7th, not fluent 8th, soon struggling, pulled up before last

33/1

7th

12

4th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

16:20 Hereford

Lonimoss Bareliere

10st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Rob Summers

His second at Stratford came in a weak race and was pulled up next time to extend losing sequence to 37.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.30
Straight Forecast £24.72
Tricast £57.29
Trifecta £76.20

Selections

The Times:

Pep Talking

POSTDATA:

Famoso

RP RATINGS:

Trapista

SPOTLIGHT:

Out Of Focus

Daily Mirror:

Ensel Du Perche

The Guardian:

Pep Talking

D Express:

Pep Talking

The Sun:

Pep Talking

The Star:

Pep Talking

Daily Record:

Pep Talking

Telegraph:

Famoso

Daily Mail:

Famoso

WEST COUNTRY:

Trapista