January 01 / 12.20 Exeter

12.20

Soft

Passage House Inn Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6073.15
  • 2m 3f 48y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
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Passage House Inn Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 3-31FF

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Came clear to win comfortably by 14l on chasing debut at Stratford (2m5f, good) but he's hit the deck in both his runs since then before either race had properly hotted up; can probably deal with this mark (8lb above his win) but, first and foremost, a clear round would be welcomed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:52 Newton Abbot

Sheldon

11st 2lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Seamus Mullins

Infrequent winner, but running well since the turn of the year and his recent Newbury second (2m6f, good to soft) was solid; nudged up 1lb for that but he remains on a workable mark and is high on the list of dangers.

3/1

2nd

2

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 4

16:07 Newbury

Sheldon

11st 8lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Seamus Mullins

Not overly consistent and can make mistakes, as was the case when the clear leader for a long way over 2m7f here a month ago (soft; fine on good to soft); that was a good run all things considered and won't mind coming back in distance.

12/1

3rd

8

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Sheldon

10st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Seamus Mullins

Not overly consistent and can make mistakes; however, ran well for a very long way on testing ground at Exeter before no match for an unexposed winner over C&D; could give another good account of himself.

12/1

12/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: F/4-7P

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Has seen precious little action for a 9yo since winning a point more than three years ago; fell in his only hurdle and hasn't looked the safest of conveyances over fences; bit risky at the minute.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 5

15:25 Wincanton

Upton Road

11st 12lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: T G Scudamore

Three seconds to his name in handicap chases but only as far as 2m5f and he's making his hunter chase debut after a long absence.

6/1

5

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 5

15:25 Wincanton

Upton Road

11st 12lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: T G Scudamore

Three seconds to his name in handicap chases but only as far as 2m5f and he's making his hunter chase debut after a long absence.

6/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 211-U4 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Progressed well to win two handicap hurdles at up to an extended 2m1f, one of them here on soft ground; ran quite a nice first race over fences at Chepstow before unseating and it was a decent Class 3 handicap in which he was found wanting there next time; that didn't quash some stamina doubts over this far but he's respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 3

15:30 Newbury

Hititi

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Has been racking up the places since completing a hat-trick two years ago, a sure sign that he's high in the weights; however, again ran well at Exeter (2m7f, good to soft) last time and finished just ahead of last week's Pertemps Final runner-up Jeriko Du Reponet; raised another 2lb for that but he's very solid.

3/1

2nd

1

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 2

15:33 Exeter

Hititi

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Completed a hat-trick in spring 2023 but has been chalking up the seconds since; two of those have been at this track in this race last year and a 3m chase on penultimate start (has worn cheekpieces this term); form dipped at Windsor latest and he's probably vulnerable if back on song for this return to hurdling.

14/1

Form: 24U3-1 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Only 1-8 over hurdles but bred to make a chaser and he made the perfect start at Bangor (2m4f, heavy) having benefited from his nearest rival's final-fence blunder; he didn't take that fence too well either but jumped soundly in the main; only 3lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

15th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 4

14:25 Newbury

Garincha

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Neil Mulholland

held up in rear, awkward jump 1st, headway after 14th, disputing third 2 out, stayed on final 110yds, went second towards finish

14/1

2nd

4

15th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 4

14:25 Newbury

Garincha

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Neil Mulholland

Sent chasing two seasons back and won three from six; absent 568 days before third of 15 at Bangor (extended 2m4f, soft) in November but tailed off at Exeter (2m3f) over three weeks later; not proven beyond 2m5f; latest win was under a 7lb claimer and another claimer gets the leg up today.

14/1

6th

6

6th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

13:00 Exeter

Garincha

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

prominent, lost position but in touch with leaders 6th, dropped to last before 7th

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 25P-25

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Competitive off a higher mark over hurdles when well suited by this sort of trip on softish ground; solid second on his chase debut at Ffos Las (2m3f) and didn't appear to see out the 2m7f at Taunton; should go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

11th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

17:10 Chepstow

Investment Manager

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Didn't run badly when third of five in Newton Abbot chase (3m2f, good) in May and today's switch back to hurdling won't be a problem but his record in recent years is mixed; others preferred.

14/1

3rd

2

28th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:48 Newton Abbot

Investment Manager

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Often leads; has five wins and five seconds to show from 12 previous visits to this track, including a win in this 12 months ago (on soft); returns off a 3lb lower mark and latest 12l defeat here was on good ground that would have been on the lively side; every chance with rain forecast.

11/4

3rd

2

28th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:48 Newton Abbot

Investment Manager

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Often leads; has five wins and five seconds to show from 12 previous visits to this track, including a win in this 12 months ago (on soft); returns off a 3lb lower mark and latest 12l defeat here was on good ground that would have been on the lively side; every chance with rain forecast.

11/4

Form: 121- D

Last run: 309 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
All three starts at Chepstow, winning a bumper (good to soft) and a 2m3f maiden hurdle on heavy; dangerously unexposed for his handicap/chase debut and interesting to gauge the confidence behind him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

10th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 1y

Class 4

15:05 Doncaster

Marco Island

11st 4lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Looked one to follow when winning a bumper and maiden hurdle in winter 2021-22; then absent until early last year, when struggling on first two chase starts; plenty to prove but a market move would be interesting on this first outing since last April.

12/1

7

25th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 199y

Class 4

14:50 Ffos Las

Marco Island

11st 5lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Looked a good prospect when scoring over hurdles at Chepstow (2m4f) last February but he's yet to fire in two runs in this sphere after a ten-month absence, tried in blinkers when pulled up in 2m4f Uttoxeter handicap 38 days ago; he needs to take a big step forward.

14/1

Form: 72-232

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Definite signs of ability over hurdles/fences in France without winning; bought for 55,000euros and the market will probably be the best guide to his chances.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

16:45 Newbury

King Turgeon

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Won good-quality handicaps at Aintree (2m5f) and Cheltenham (3m2f) towards end of 2024; not at best in 2025 but he shaped as if retaining ability; missed the Grimthorpe at Doncaster in February due to soft ground; drying conditions should help and, back to his last winning mark, he's a possible.

4/1

15

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

King Turgeon

11st 1lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

The writing was on the wall very early when pulled up at Musselburgh latest and it's hard to be confident on the back of that; however, this 7yo has enjoyed a progressive season otherwise, completing a hat-trick with his win here (3m2f, good to soft) in December before solid third at Wincanton (3m2f, good to soft); can make bold bid if bouncing back.

16/1

Form: 219-25

Last run: 60 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won off only 1lb lower over hurdles; only two finished when runner-up on his chase debut and then struggled at Chepstow, albeit in a decent race; cheekpieces are soon turned to after that; longer trip should at least suit having won a 3m point.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

15th Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:32 Kempton

Dibble Decker

11st 9lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Added to his fine Huntingdon record when runner-up over 2m4f (good to soft) 13 days ago; claims if showing up in similar form.

7/2

2nd

7

2nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 3

15:52 Huntingdon

Dibble Decker

10st 12lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Could so easily have been chasing a hat-trick in this race having won it two years ago and gone down by just a neck to Lounge Lizard last year; returns again on a competitive mark and he wasn't far away last time at Ludlow despite some mistakes; respected.

7/2

5th

1

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

15:45 Ludlow

Dibble Decker

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

prominent

6/1

Form: 4214-F D

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Bumper/point wins before running well in most of his hurdle starts; was about to continue the good work with at least a placed effort before a late fall on his chase debut at Plumpton (2m3f, good; fine on softer); remains to be seen whether that has knocked his confidence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

4m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:43 Newcastle

Dom Of Mary

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: James Owen

Trained by David Bridgwater to win the 2024 Sussex National at Plumpton and nearly win it last term, both on soft; has made a solid start for James Owen this term, notably with a strong-finishing win here (3m6f, good to soft) but he was also sixth in the Welsh National last time; each-way player.

7/1

19

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Dom Of Mary

10st 4lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: David Bridgwater

First and a close second in last two runnings of the Sussex National at Plumpton (extended 3m4f, soft); turned for home with a place chance in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham (3m2f; finished eighth) last time and 4m is worth a go, but this company looks too demanding.

50/1

19

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Dom Of Mary

10st 4lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: David Bridgwater

First and a close second in last two runnings of the Sussex National at Plumpton (extended 3m4f, soft); turned for home with a place chance in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham (3m2f; finished eighth) last time and 4m is worth a go, but this company looks too demanding.

50/1

Form: U563-3

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Outclassed behind McFabulous on his chase debut here but he was 0-2 in points, 0-9 as a hurdler, and finds himself well out of the weights here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

12th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

14:00 Exeter

Merchant In Milan

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Helen Nelmes

prominent, became detached after 11th, no chance from 4 out, tailed off

66/1

10

1st Jan 2023

Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

12:20 Exeter

Merchant In Milan

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Helen Nelmes

Outclassed behind McFabulous on his chase debut here but he was 0-2 in points, 0-9 as a hurdler, and finds himself well out of the weights here.

66/1

3rd

3

14th Nov 2022

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

13:30 Exeter

Merchant In Milan

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Helen Nelmes

prominent, left in second 1st, hit 8th, ridden home turn, soon weakened, tailed off

100/1

Non-runners

Dibble Decker, Dom Of Mary

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £70.10
Straight Forecast £65.68
Tricast £245.75
Trifecta £227.60

Selections

The Times:

Marco Island

SPOTLIGHT:

Hititi

POSTDATA:

Garincha

WEST COUNTRY:

Dom Of Mary

RP Ratings:

Sheldon

D Express:

Marco Island

Daily Mirror:

Marco Island

Daily Record:

Marco Island

TOPSPEED:

Hititi

Daily Mail:

Hititi

The Star:

Hititi

Telegraph:

Garincha

The Sun:

Garincha