April 26 / 14.00 Perth

14.00

Good To Soft

BetVictor Balnakeilly Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6865.3
  • 2m 4f 20y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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BetVictor Balnakeilly Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.80
  • Place: £2.90

Form: 2-7541

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Failed to shine in first three chases and, after a wind op, he was 8l behind in a match at Sedgefield last month when the leader unseated after the final fence; however, it was still a fair run against a highly progressive rival, and he's well treated on last season's hurdle form; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

15th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 209y

Class 4

19:30 Aintree

Grey Skies

11st 11lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Won twice in blinkers on good ground last summer (2m/2m1f) but was given a break after two disappointing runs in the autumn and made a low-key return without blinkers last month; has blinkers back on today but needs to get back in the groove.

20/1

7th

7

16th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

19:00 Hereford

Grey Skies

11st 3lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Two wins last summer (2m/2m1f, good), the latest off just a 1lb lower mark; form has dipped in his last two races, at Cheltenham and then Carlisle where he should have run better; absent since November.

12/1

15

24th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 87y

Class 3

14:25 Cheltenham

Grey Skies

10st 4lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Perked up by blinkers this summer, winning twice, but faded into third after setting the pace in run-of-the-mill Worcester handicap (2m, good) last month and is patently not the force of old.

25/1

11/4

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 4-2821

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles at Market Rasen last month and runs off the same mark now back over fences; showed promise this season on the first of his two chase starts but his jumping hasn't been totally convincing in this sphere, which is a bit of a concern today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

9th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 4

16:00 Carlisle

Universal Folly

11st 13lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

in touch with leaders, headway and prominent 13th, pressed winner before last, stayed on

33/1

6th

2

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:45 Market Rasen

Universal Folly

12st 0lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

midfield, outpaced before 5 out, no impression after 4 out

20/1

6th

2

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:45 Market Rasen

Universal Folly

12st 0lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

midfield, outpaced before 5 out, no impression after 4 out

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 524113 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Easily made all in a handicap match at Newcastle (2m, good) in February, following wind surgery, and he comfortably followed up in three-runner Catterick novice (2m3f, good) 12 days later; faced very tough task in Aintree Grade 1 last time; could have potential off current mark now back in a handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

5th Mar 2025

Good

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:25 Catterick

Fusain

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

prominent on inner, weakened gradually after 2 out

13/2

7

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

15:10 Ayr

Fusain

11st 4lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Patrick Neville

in touch with leaders, niggled along briefly after 4th, lost ground after 5th, dropped to last after 7th, detached and pulled up after 8th

12/1

7

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

15:10 Ayr

Fusain

11st 4lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Patrick Neville

in touch with leaders, niggled along briefly after 4th, lost ground after 5th, dropped to last after 7th, detached and pulled up after 8th

12/1

Form: 111322 D

Last run: 121 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Won four times in a row last autumn (2m3f-2m6f, good/good to firm); continued in good form, finishing second at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day when last seen, and this 6yo could still have more to offer for his top yard; key player on return from a break.
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: U33215 D BF

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
He could do with cutting out the mistakes but he's won twice over fences this season (1m7f/2m4f, soft/good) and was a respectable fifth at Carlisle last time; might not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

15:57 Musselburgh

Captain Quint

10st 12lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Paul Robson

held up in rear, not fluent 11th, struggling 13th, lost touch when mistake 14th

12/1

5

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

15:57 Musselburgh

Captain Quint

10st 12lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Paul Robson

held up in rear, not fluent 11th, struggling 13th, lost touch when mistake 14th

12/1

Form: 314324 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Pretty consistent this season and he may run well once more, but he was probably fortunate to win at Musselburgh last December (left clear at final fence) and he could find some of these to be too good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

25th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:13 Perth

Diamond State

11st 12lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

Placed twice here this season (2m4f/3m) and probably won't be far away today but he's nothing like the force of old and has not won since 2022; others have more exciting profiles.

16/1

9th

8

17th Aug 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

19:05 Perth

Diamond State

11st 5lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Last hurdles win was in December 2021; consistent this summer, keeping on into fourth (immediately behind Dalileo) over C&D last month; needs to find extra to resume winning ways; stablemate of Starlyte.

14/1

4th

10

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 4

16:15 Perth

Diamond State

10st 5lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

in rear, hit 4th

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.60
Straight Forecast £30.68
Trifecta £134.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Fusain

Telegraph:

Universal Folly

TOPSPEED:

Huelgoat

POSTDATA:

Diamond State

WEST COUNTRY:

Huelgoat

Daily Record:

Huelgoat

Daily Mail:

Universal Folly

Daily Mirror:

Universal Folly

The Star:

Universal Folly

RP Ratings:

Fusain

The Times:

Fusain

The Guardian:

Fusain

D Express:

Fusain

The Sun:

Fusain