January 30 / 15.00 Hereford

15.00

Soft

Hereford Motor Group Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8977.7
  • 2m 4f 194y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Hereford Motor Group Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 4-5742 C

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Good strike-rate in novice/handicap hurdles last winter, including on heavy; has taken time to adjust to fences but he didn't go down without a fight in 2m4f Leicester handicap last month; up 4lb; can progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

31st Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:40 Worcester

Honneur DAjonc

12st 0lb

J: James Turner

T: Alexander Gibbons

Some good runs in plating hurdles in the spring but soundly beaten back in handicaps on his last four starts, most recently when reverting to fences; lots to prove.

20/1

6th

5

24th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:10 Worcester

Honneur DAjonc

11st 12lb

J: James Turner

T: Alexander Gibbons

Won a selling hurdle for James Owen in March but was safely held in two handicap hurdles for new stable last month (2m/2m4f) and needs to raise his game on this first chasing start since January 2024.

25/1

7

29th Jun 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

15:40 Uttoxeter

Honneur DAjonc

11st 10lb

J: James Turner

T: Alexander Gibbons

Last win for James Owen came in a seller and was sold on for £5,500; 66-1 and tailed off on stable debut at Worcester.

50/1

13/2

  • Place: £3.10

Form: /4-7P2

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won point debut but missed two years and had not shown much in handful of rules starts until shaping nicely when runner-up in 2m3f Exeter handicap (heavy) on New Year's Day; up in grade but now of more interest.
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

Form: 521-45 C

Last run: 80 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Smart in bumpers and won two novice hurdles last winter, improving at 2m-2m2f in the spring (including on soft); finished ahead of Honneur D'Ajonc in two handicap chases in the autumn but the latter has done much better since; step forward needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

19th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:30 Cheltenham

Super Six

10st 12lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

midfield, dropped to rear 8th, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, went second 2 out, challenging when short of room and badly hampered run-in, kept on when switched right final 110yds, went third final strides, finished 3rd, placed 2nd

8/1

4th

7

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:05 Newbury

Super Six

11st 3lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Behind Honneur D'Ajonc at Hereford but not by far despite failing to handle the track and he posted by some margin his best form over fences to win with plenty in hand at Haydock (2m4f, good to soft; 9lb lower); jumped well there and is capable of further progress.

5/1

1st

7

18th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

15:50 Haydock

Super Six

11st 4lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Two-time novice hurdle winner (good to soft/good) who improved upon his first two chase starts when third at Hereford (2m5f, soft) last month; that latest run can be upgraded as he hung badly left and forfeited ground with a circuit to run; open to improvement and he's on the shortlist.

6/1

Form: 12/4-4

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Won three of first four hurdles at 2m-2m2f (soft/heavy); fair start to chase career in late 2021 but wasn't seen again for over a year and never involved at Hereford in December (2m, soft) when given time to overcome some rusty early jumps; still has potential and should come on for the run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

30th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 3

15:00 Hereford

Hooligan

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

Won three of first four hurdles at 2m-2m2f (soft/heavy); fair start to chase career in late 2021 but wasn't seen again for over a year and never involved at Hereford in December (2m, soft) when given time to overcome some rusty early jumps; still has potential and should come on for the run.

11/2

4th

1

21st Dec 2022

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 3

15:15 Hereford

Hooligan

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

3-5 over hurdles in 2020-21 season and made quite encouraging chasing debut in November 2021; subsequent 410-day absence is an obvious concern but he should still have potential.

7/1

Form: 24-811 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Low-key chase debut in October but has come good since, winning at Lingfield (2m4f, soft) and Kelso (2m6f, heavy), finding plenty on both occasions; is likely to continue on the upgrade despite 8lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

Bill Baxter

10st 11lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

10yo won this last year off 126 (yielding); mixed bag this term, undergoing wind surgery after third start and good comeback run when second in 3m Kelso handicap in February; mistakes when pulled up in Topham at Aintree but remains of interest.

12/1

22

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Bill Baxter

10st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Warren Greatrex

10yo who won this in 2023 (soft); he's had his ups and downs since but won at Punchestown (3m, yielding) last May and bumped into a well-handicapped novice when runner-up at Kelso (2m7f, heavy) last time, following wind surgery; could give a good account and be involved.

25/1

2nd

2

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 2

15:00 Kelso

Bill Baxter

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Uncharacteristically below par at Market Rasen four weeks ago; however, he's had a wind op since and two starts ago he ran pretty well when sixth in the Becher at Aintree (3m2f, soft); this is less competitive than that penultimate assignment and he won here in 2022 on his sole previous run here.

4/1

Form: 24-223 D BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Acts well on testing surfaces and stayed further over hurdles but seemingly ran out of options from handicapping point of view; lacks public experience of fences and probably needs to improve for them.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

30th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 3

15:00 Hereford

Franco dAunou

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Acts well on testing surfaces and stayed further over hurdles but seemingly ran out of options from handicapping point of view; lacks public experience of fences and probably needs to improve for them.

13/2

3rd

4

6th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 7f 174y

Class 3

15:30 Ludlow

Franco dAunou

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Easy winner of 2m4f novice at Fontwell (heavy) in February 2021; 0-6 since but runner-up in four of those, including on both this term; moves up in trip, having seen the 2m6f out well on soft ground on latest outing; improvement needed.

7/1

Form: F18-26 C

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
All three rules wins have come on good/good to soft and twice taken out of races on soft; the transition to fences hasn't been smooth and others are higher up the list; first-time cheekpieces fitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

26th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

13:30 Exeter

Moriko De Vassy

10st 8lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Well treated on his good second to very useful Notlongtillmay at Wetherby (1m7f; chase debut) last November; however, nowhere near that form in three runs since, latest in a notable race returned to hurdles; bit to prove back up in distance.

16/1

7th

10

15th Oct 2023

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 2

15:20 Ffos Las

Moriko De Vassy

10st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Won a pair of novice hurdles two seasons ago but rather struggled over fences last term; ground could be an issue on stable debut (was with Tom Symonds) and others appear to hold stronger claims.

20/1

5

30th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 3

15:00 Hereford

Moriko De Vassy

11st 5lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Tom Symonds

All three rules wins have come on good/good to soft and twice taken out of races on soft; the transition to fences hasn't been smooth and others are higher up the list; first-time cheekpieces fitted.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £28.10
Straight Forecast £27.26
Trifecta £171.30

Selections

RP Ratings:

Honneur D'Ajonc

SPOTLIGHT:

Bill Baxter

The Times:

Hooligan

TOPSPEED:

Honneur D'Ajonc

POSTDATA:

Honneur D'Ajonc

WEST COUNTRY:

Honneur D'Ajonc

The Guardian:

Honneur D'Ajonc

Daily Mail:

Honneur D'Ajonc

Daily Mirror:

Honneur D'Ajonc

The Sun:

Honneur D'Ajonc

LAMBOURN:

Bill Baxter

Telegraph:

Bill Baxter

D Express:

Bill Baxter

The Star:

Bill Baxter

Daily Record:

Bill Baxter