May 21 / 15.35 Stratford

15.35

Good

William Hill Epic Value Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3775.91
  • 2m 0f 213y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
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William Hill Epic Value Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 7/324- BF

Last run: 61 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in two good-ground chases for Laura Morgan last summer (2m4f/2m) and has claims here if judged on those exploits but returned from break with disappointing effort in March and it's hard to know what to expect from him on today's stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

15:30 Exeter

First Angel

11st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

Campaigned mostly at about 2m; doing well (3-6) for current yard but has stamina to prove back up in trip and wellbeing to prove on return from 14-month layoff.

7/2

11/4

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 31332-

Last run: 164 days

W: 12st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Won maiden hurdle just under a year ago and bumped into an improver when second off today's mark in Newcastle handicap (2m, good to soft) in December; makes chasing debut after 164-day break but has some pointing experience to call upon; might be the answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

7th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

15:18 Market Rasen

Copper Fox

11st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Won a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter in June 2022 (2m, good); some fair efforts over fences and hurdles without winning since, last time finishing creditable fifth in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (2m1f, good; cheekpieces tried); headgear retained; worth considering.

13/2

5th

4

10th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

20:05 Sedgefield

Copper Fox

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Did not progress after winning maiden hurdle in June 2022 but gave pretty good account when close fourth of 11 at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) a fortnight ago; drops back in trip with tongue-tie and cheekpieces both refitted; one to consider.

4/1

5th

4

10th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

20:05 Sedgefield

Copper Fox

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Did not progress after winning maiden hurdle in June 2022 but gave pretty good account when close fourth of 11 at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) a fortnight ago; drops back in trip with tongue-tie and cheekpieces both refitted; one to consider.

4/1

12/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 1244P-

Last run: 137 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in both chases in 2021 and raced exclusively over hurdles since; now 4lb lower than when awarded a race at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) last summer but was pulled up (bled from the nose) on latest outing in January; swaps blinkers for refitted cheekpieces; others are much less risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

7th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

20:30 Hereford

Henri Le Bon

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Kerry Lee

Won a Uttoxeter handicap hurdle in July 2022 (2m, good to soft); lightly raced since; best run over fences when third at Stratford last May (2m1f, good) but absent since.

8/1

7

7th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

20:30 Hereford

Henri Le Bon

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Kerry Lee

Won a Uttoxeter handicap hurdle in July 2022 (2m, good to soft); lightly raced since; best run over fences when third at Stratford last May (2m1f, good) but absent since.

8/1

5

15th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:50 Worcester

Henri Le Bon

11st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Kerry Lee

Form: 60095- D BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Became very disappointing over hurdles last season and, after running well to a point, faded out of contention on last month's chasing debut at Fontwell (2m3f, good; first-time blinkers; well backed); today's drop back in trip could be a good move but his overall profile is not convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

21st May 2023

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

15:35 Stratford

George Bancroft

10st 9lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Became very disappointing over hurdles last season and, after running well to a point, faded out of contention on last month's chasing debut at Fontwell (2m3f, good; first-time blinkers; well backed); today's drop back in trip could be a good move but his overall profile is not convincing.

4/1

5th

4

21st Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:30 Fontwell

George Bancroft

10st 13lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Won a juvenile hurdle here (2m1f, good to soft) in October 2021 but he's failed to get competitive this season and has been beaten 34l or more in his last three starts; has dropped a long way in the weights but he needs a major revival on this switch to chasing; first-time blinkers.

10/1

9th

11

6th Mar 2023

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

15:50 Wetherby

George Bancroft

10st 13lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Charlie Longsdon

Won a juvenile hurdle at Fontwell in October 2021 and has dropped down the weights, but he's failed to get competitive in his seven runs this season, with and without cheekpieces, and it's hard to be confident today.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: /7442- D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
0-4 since switched to fences for new stable this year but ran big race under enterprising ride when second (albeit well held in the end) at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month; interesting to see whether Beau Morgan is again very positive over today's shorter trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

28th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:18 Newton Abbot

Blue Ribbon

10st 11lb

J: David Noonan

T: Ryan Chapman

Winning hurdler; no wins in 11 over fences and hard to make a compelling case; finished last of the four to complete here three weeks ago.

10/1

4th

7

28th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:18 Newton Abbot

Blue Ribbon

10st 11lb

J: David Noonan

T: Ryan Chapman

Winning hurdler; no wins in 11 over fences and hard to make a compelling case; finished last of the four to complete here three weeks ago.

10/1

4th

5

7th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 5

14:45 Newton Abbot

Blue Ribbon

10st 5lb

J: David Noonan

T: Ryan Chapman

prominent, outpaced before 2 out, weakened last

10/1

Form: 44255-

Last run: 45 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
0-7 over fences and 0-24 overall but his second at Southwell (2m, good) in March was a good effort and he certainly didn't run badly when fifth of seven at Hereford (2m, good to soft) last month; not out of this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

31st Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

14:55 Warwick

Lonimoss Bareliere

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Rob Summers

in rear, hampered by loose horse 7th, not fluent 8th, soon struggling, pulled up before last

33/1

11

31st Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

14:55 Warwick

Lonimoss Bareliere

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Rob Summers

in rear, hampered by loose horse 7th, not fluent 8th, soon struggling, pulled up before last

33/1

7th

12

4th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

16:20 Hereford

Lonimoss Bareliere

10st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Rob Summers

His second at Stratford came in a weak race and was pulled up next time to extend losing sequence to 37.

33/1

Form: 7236-6

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who was placed in two soft-ground novice hurdles in late 2022; soundly beaten in two handicap hurdles this spring, though, and has questions to answer on today's chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

29th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 4

15:37 Fakenham

Fancy Stuff

10st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Tom Gretton

2-13 over fences, latest off 1lb higher in June 2024 under Sean Bowen; form has been mixed since but she ran well for a long way at Chepstow on return from nearly four months off; on a fair mark if building on that.

4/1

5

29th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 4

15:37 Fakenham

Fancy Stuff

10st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Tom Gretton

2-13 over fences, latest off 1lb higher in June 2024 under Sean Bowen; form has been mixed since but she ran well for a long way at Chepstow on return from nearly four months off; on a fair mark if building on that.

4/1

Form: 945P9-

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Gained the latter of his two hurdling wins in June 2021 and has not contested a chase since the following September; well beaten on both appearances this year; new headgear tried today; 3lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

11

27th Jul 2023

Soft

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

17:07 Worcester

Phoebus Lescribaa

10st 2lb

J: Miss Holly Flynn

T: Harriet Dickin

Both wins over shorter on good ground; not in great form earlier this year and fell in a chase on latest start two months ago.

33/1

8

21st May 2023

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

15:35 Stratford

Phoebus Lescribaa

10st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Harriet Dickin

Gained the latter of his two hurdling wins in June 2021 and has not contested a chase since the following September; well beaten on both appearances this year; new headgear tried today; 3lb out of the weights.

33/1

16

9th May 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

17:48 Ffos Las

Phoebus Lescribaa

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Harriet Dickin

Form: 33PP3-

Last run: 69 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
0-13 over hurdles; put two poor performances behind him when keeping on for modest third at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in March but is out of the weights again for today's chasing debut; others look much stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

30th Nov 2023

Good

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

14:35 Taunton

Foillmore

10st 2lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Jimmy Frost

0-16 under rules and 0-20 overall; struggled from early stage on chasing debut in May and well beaten on both subsequent hurdling starts; 1lb wrong here; difficult to enthuse over.

20/1

10th

16

8th Nov 2023

Heavy

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

15:50 Chepstow

Foillmore

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jimmy Frost

towards rear, outpaced and struggling before 3 out

33/1

9th

15

22nd Aug 2023

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

17:00 Newton Abbot

Foillmore

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jimmy Frost

prominent

66/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £20.00
Straight Forecast £21.04
Tricast £67.53
Trifecta £125.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Copper Fox

WEST COUNTRY:

First Angel

RP RATINGS:

Blue Ribbon

The Times:

Fancy Stuff

The Star:

Henri Le Bon

D Express:

Copper Fox

Daily Mirror:

Copper Fox

The Sun:

First Angel

Daily Record:

First Angel

POSTDATA:

Blue Ribbon

Telegraph:

Blue Ribbon