November 24 / 14.20 Taunton

14.20

Good

Visit racingtv.com Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5990.6
  • 2m 7f 3y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Visit racingtv.com Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 6343-4

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Hasn't progressed as might have been anticipated after a 2m4f novice hurdle win last autumn but he didn't make too bad a start to his chase career after seven months off when fourth at Bangor (3m, good to soft) 30 days ago; entitled to come on for the run; has first-time cheekpieces added to his tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

17:10 Ludlow

Kayf Hernando

12st 2lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

in touch with leaders, not fluent 2nd, weakened 3 out

11/2

4th

3

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

17:10 Ludlow

Kayf Hernando

12st 2lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

in touch with leaders, not fluent 2nd

11/2

4th

1

22nd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 5

14:00 Newbury

Kayf Hernando

12st 6lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: Dan Skelton

Won two staying chases last season, both Class 4 handicaps at about 3m (good/good to soft); below that level this campaign (following wind surgery) and was particularly disappointing the last time, but might easily turn a corner for his in-form yard.

10/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 134-13 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
This point winner has taken well to fences, winning at Kempton and third at Exeter (every chance when mistake last) in recent weeks (both 3m, good); another 3lb higher now but he ought to remain competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

20th Sep 2024

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

17:30 Newton Abbot

Minella Buster

12st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

disputed lead, swerved sharply right and badly hampered rival before 1st, led clearly 2nd, went clear before 4th, reduced lead 8th

14/1

8th

2

14th Apr 2024

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Minella Buster

12st 0lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Emma Lavelle

Last season started well before he lost his way; however, he does seem best when fresh and was returning from 153 days off when going close at Stratford in October (2m6f, good); over this more suitable trip, after a break, he has to be of interest.

7/1

8th

2

14th Apr 2024

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Minella Buster

12st 0lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Emma Lavelle

Last season started well before he lost his way; however, he does seem best when fresh and was returning from 153 days off when going close at Stratford in October (2m6f, good); over this more suitable trip, after a break, he has to be of interest.

7/1

7/4

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 221111 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
French bumper winner (good to soft) who has left his hurdle form behind since going chasing, making it 4-4 over fences when cruising home in a match race at Newbury (2m6f, good to firm) three weeks ago; this a much deeper contest but he's only been nudged up another 2lb and there could easily be plenty more to come.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

24th Sep 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

13:20 Fontwell

Huelgoat

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

A five-time chase winner, he has adapted well since returning to hurdles in cheekpieces, making all at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in June and Stratford (2m6f, good to firm) last month (fell when holding a clear advantage in between); has a big penalty but will be difficult to keep tabs on.

9/4

1st

1

27th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

15:55 Stratford

Huelgoat

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

made all, kept on well, unchallenged

6/4

1

25th Jun 2024

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

15:00 Newton Abbot

Huelgoat

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Five-time chase winner who faced a simple task when opening his account in this discipline over C&D (good; first-time cheekpieces) this month; has more on his plate under a penalty in this deeper race but he's respected nonetheless.

5/4

Form: 1145-7 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Progressive when completing a hat-trick over hurdles to end 2021, the third success coming over 3m here on good to soft; comfortably held since, though, including on Kempton reappearance 17 days ago; also well beaten on previous attempt over fences nearly two years ago; others certainly arrive with more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

19th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

14:40 Cheltenham

Tip Top Cat

11st 13lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Beat a next-time-out winner to open chasing account at Uttoxeter (3m2f, good to soft) two starts ago and remains lightly raced over fences but didn't fire last time and is seemingly not one to rely upon heavily.

10/1

5th

4

4th Mar 2023

Good

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

16:35 Newbury

Tip Top Cat

11st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

towards rear, slow jump 4th, reminder after 8th, pushed along 5 out, soon no impression and beaten

7/2

1st

5

28th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

3m 2f 13y

Class 4

15:42 Uttoxeter

Tip Top Cat

11st 9lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

On fire when signing off 2021 with a hat-trick in handicap hurdles, the latest off this very mark; made a belated return to fences last time at Taunton (2m7f) and ran okay despite a 21l defeat; this stiffer test should be in his favour.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 125P-2

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Made a good start to last season with a win (2m5f, heavy) and second in handicap hurdles, and made a solid start to the current campaign when second on his 2m3f Ffos Las chase debut a month ago; may do better with that experience behind him and the step up in trip should help if anything; cheekpieces on first time; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

4th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

14:25 Taunton

Investment Manager

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

pressed leader, jumped left and hampered rival 1st, lost position 7th, dropped to rear 8th, outpaced 11th

20/1

6th

5

4th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

14:25 Taunton

Investment Manager

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

pressed leader, jumped left and hampered rival 1st, lost position 7th, dropped to rear 8th, outpaced 11th, lost touch before 3 out, tailed off

20/1

4th

3

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 3

14:30 Exeter

Investment Manager

11st 6lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Joe Tizzard

Has won here over fences and he scored at favourite course Newton Abbot over hurdles in September (3m2f, soft; beat two rivals); never really looked happy over fences at Wincanton last time and he could appreciate today's return to hurdling, but the drop back in trip poses a question.

9/2

Form: 13P-05

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Made a winning handicap hurdle debut at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) a year ago; well beaten in France in August but made a respectable British return when fifth in a 3m Ffos Las handicap hurdle 18 days ago; certainly bred to make a chaser and the stable's good form provides hope.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

14

1st Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:10 Worcester

Helios Allen

10st 8lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Phillippa Taylor

Sole win was over hurdles in 2021; hurtling down the weights this summer for new yard and some ability remains, including when back to chasing in first-time cheekpieces on latest start, so he's not entirely dismissed.

25/1

6th

4

17th Aug 2024

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

19:20 Market Rasen

Helios Allen

11st 3lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Phillippa Taylor

Hurdling recently; thrown in on his late-2021 win and place form on softer ground than may await here; mark tumbling despite offering slightly more latest, but he didn't look entirely happy in two chasing starts at the end of 2022.

33/1

9th

11

18th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

20:55 Worcester

Helios Allen

11st 3lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Phillippa Taylor

Has shown little on both starts for this stable since returning from a long absence; hard to recommend.

66/1

Form: 32/04-

Last run: 355 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
In the frame all three starts in Irish points, notably second to now useful chaser Castle Robin; fair form in four outings over hurdles, including fourth on 3m Aintree handicap debut just under a year ago; brings potential to this chase debut but the length of his absence means that a watching brief has to be the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

18

27th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 3

16:30 Cheltenham

Enemenemynemo

11st 2lb

J: Miss Izzie Marshall

T: D J Jeffreys

Jumped well and never headed at Perth (2m4f, good) in July and returned to that level when reeled in late on at Huntingdon (2m4f); not sure the winner of that race was particularly well handicapped and there are stamina doubts over this far.

16/1

2nd

3

17th Oct 2023

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

16:25 Huntingdon

Enemenemynemo

11st 7lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

raced in second, pushed along after 3 out, good jump and led 2 out

100/30

Form: F53-P1

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Picked up by new connections for £5,200 in May and got most of it back with when landing a 3m2f Newton Abbot handicap chase (good) last month; it was only a four-runner race but the second filled the same position in a stronger contest at Uttoxeter since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

28th Apr 2023

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

20:10 Chepstow

Potters Venture

11st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Keiran Burke

Made a winning debut for this yard in a 3m2f handicap chase at Newton Abbot in October; four heavy defeats have followed (one over hurdles) but he's back down to his last winning mark as a consequence; tongue tied on penultimate start and tried cheekpieces on latest; has neither today.

20/1

10

23rd Apr 2023

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 3

16:00 Plumpton

Potters Venture

10st 9lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Keiran Burke

Made a winning debut for this yard in a 3m2f handicap chase at Newton Abbot in October; four heavy defeats have followed (one over hurdles) but he's back down to his last winning mark as a consequence.

16/1

8th

6

21st Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:00 Taunton

Potters Venture

11st 6lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Keiran Burke

led, mistake and headed then prominent 4th, mistake and lost ground 8th, in rear when reminder after 10th, reminder 11th, not fluent 12th, got well behind from 5 out

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £27.70
Straight Forecast £31.50
Tricast £86.88
Trifecta £96.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Huelgoat

POSTDATA:

Minella Buster

TOPSPEED:

Investment Manager

The Times:

Potters Venture

RP Ratings:

Huelgoat

WEST COUNTRY:

Huelgoat

Telegraph:

Huelgoat

D Express:

Huelgoat

Daily Mirror:

Huelgoat

The Sun:

Huelgoat

The Star:

Huelgoat

Daily Record:

Huelgoat

Daily Mail:

Minella Buster

The Guardian:

Investment Manager