January 08 / 14.10 Chepstow

14.10

Soft

Vickers.Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £9822.66
  • 2m 7f 131y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Vickers.Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 431-41 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Won a maiden hurdle on soft; had a tongue-tie (kept since) when winning over this trip here last March as a novice hurdler; handicap chasing this term and impressed in a seven-runner race at Newcastle (2m7f, good to soft) latest; raised 5lb but this lightly raced 7yo surely has more to give.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Monbeg Genius

11st 10lb

J: Mr J L Scallan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Third in the Ultima here (3m1f, soft) in March 2023; this 10yo has run respectably in the Welsh National (3m6f, good to soft) and Haydock Grand National Trial (3m4f, good to soft) on his last two starts and is now below his last winning mark; not discounted with blinkers replacing cheekpieces.

33/1

7th

2

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Monbeg Genius

11st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

10yo who won at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) last February and returned to form when fifth of 17 in the Welsh National at Chepstow (3m6f, good to soft) in December, when 7l and two places behind Deafening Silence; now back down to last winning mark and might not be far away.

11/1

6th

7

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Monbeg Genius

10st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Dictated the pace for a Uttoxeter win (3m, soft; 3lb higher today) in February with second-time cheekpieces (kept since) in a less demanding race than he's often appeared in; 13l fourth in the Welsh National (near 3m7f, soft) was respectable but he did not spark in the big one at Aintree three weeks ago and good ground would give him more to prove.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0/22-2

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Pretty consistent over hurdles during 2020-21 season and runner-up since in all three of his chases; favourite on the first two of those runs over fences but, after 571 days off with a leg injury, he was 28-1 when putting up a bold show at Ffos Las (2m5f, soft; goes well on heavy) on latest 17 days ago; probably stays and should go very well if he's in the same form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

20:40 Cartmel

First Lord De Cuet

12st 0lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: David Pipe

Useful handicapper in his prime and versatile regarding ground; badly out of form under rules last season but easily won five-runner point on latest outing in March, and it will be interesting to see whether he enjoys a new lease of life in hunter chases.

6/1

Form: 6/542-

Last run: 302 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Didn't make the progress over hurdles that seemed likely but he was runner-up in a handicap at Hereford (3m1f, soft) last March on latest start; needs to build on that on this chase/seasonal debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

19th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 3

15:45 Wetherby

Lord Of Kerak

10st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

prominent on outer, not fluent 13th, lost position and in rear 5 out, weakened 4 out

9/2

1st

2

8th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

14:20 Leicester

Lord Of Kerak

10st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

walked over

15/8

2nd

2

27th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

16:05 Leicester

Lord Of Kerak

12st 1lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

raced wide, led, briefly headed 3 out, headed before last, soon rallied, no extra final 110yds

9/2

Form: 21142-

Last run: 294 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Won two handicap hurdles last February (2m5f/3m1f) and good second in March on latest hurdles start; goes well on soft, unraced on heavy; career-best Flat form on latest outing when she justified warm favouritism in the Chester Plate in May; needs plenty of respect on this chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

(10)

12th May 2023

Soft

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:55 Chester

Bellatrixsa

9st 8lb

J: Franny Norton

T: Venetia Williams

Has a slight doubt over her current form, based on her results over jumps this year; however, won this contest (off 4lb lower; good ground) in 2022 when last seen on the Flat and remains unexposed in this sphere; acts on soft; has to be feared back here.

8/1

6th

2

21st Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 2

15:35 Ayr

Bellatrixsa

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

prominent, led narrowly or disputed lead 1st, led overall before 7th

6/1

10

14th Mar 2023

Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 1

17:30 Cheltenham

Bellatrixsa

11st 0lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Her greatest test of stamina was a hurdles win (3m2f, soft) and she also won the 2m2f Chester Plate on Flat; none of her form gives her a say in this, however, and soundly beaten this season in her two starts over fences.

100/1

Form: 92-785 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft; no win since January 2020 but well handicapped on last season's best form and latest start was a step back in the right direction in first-time cheekpieces (kept today); needs another today and he was below form in autumn 2020 in his only two attempts over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

23rd Dec 2023

Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 3

15:15 Haydock

Skandiburg

11st 0lb

J: James Davies

T: Charlotte Fuller

prominent, ridden after 4 out, no extra from 3 out

16/1

10th

11

1st Dec 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 2

15:35 Newbury

Skandiburg

10st 9lb

J: James Davies

T: Charlotte Fuller

Well held when fifth in this race in 2021 and 2022; C&D third when last seen in March but he was way behind the first two and he's now failed to win since New Year's Day 2020, despite his move down the weights.

25/1

Form: 332-3P

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Consistent maiden chaser (with a string of places in single-figure fields) before he ran a shocker in valuable 16-runner handicap at Cheltenham one week ago, soon backpedalling after he pecked on landing at the second fence; goes well on soft, below form sole start on heavy; unraced beyond 2m5f under rules.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:30 Kelso

Coconut Splash

10st 12lb

J: Mr Kit Alexander

T: N W Alexander

11yo who has a poor strike-rate and isn't the force of old but, following a wind op, he returned to form with a clear, close second in a first-time visor (retained) at Ayr (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; also effective on good to soft; in the mix if backing up that latest run, despite 6lb rise.

20/1

2nd

9

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:20 Ayr

Coconut Splash

11st 2lb

J: Mr Kit Alexander

T: N W Alexander

Useful in his prime but has been out of form since returning from long absence for new stable in the autumn; needs combination of wind surgery and first-time visor to prompt a revival.

20/1

8th

8

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

13:43 Ayr

Coconut Splash

11st 0lb

J: Mr Kit Alexander

T: N W Alexander

Veteran who has tumbled down the weights but his last win was in 2020 and he's been well held in three runs for new yard this winter; has something to prove and he needs a transformation with cheekpieces added

20/1

Non-runners

Coconut Splash

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £5.54

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Monbeg Genius

WEST COUNTRY:

First Lord De Cuet

RP Ratings:

Monbeg Genius

TOPSPEED:

Monbeg Genius

POSTDATA:

Monbeg Genius

The Times:

Monbeg Genius

Telegraph:

Monbeg Genius

D Express:

Monbeg Genius

Daily Mirror:

Monbeg Genius

The Sun:

Monbeg Genius

Daily Mail:

First Lord De Cuet

The Star:

First Lord De Cuet

Daily Record:

First Lord De Cuet