May 31 / 15.30 Newton Abbot

15.30

Good

Racing Partnership Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5527.68
  • 2m 4f 216y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Racing Partnership Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.67
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 5696-1

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 7yo; no win in his first 15 starts (points/hurdles) but he looked a totally different proposition on his chase/stable debut when trouncing six rivals at Market Rasen (3m, good) last Monday; drops back in trip but he looks very well treated under a penalty for that easy win and should be hard to beat in his bid to make it 2-2 over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

19th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:40 Newton Abbot

Chief Black Robe

11st 7lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

10yo who has come a long way down the weights and he's had a sticky period since finishing second at Market Rasen five runs back; however, coming back from 3m could be a good move.

7/2

6th

2

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

Chief Black Robe

11st 12lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Difficult times since back from absence last June but he's dropped a long way in the weights and there have been some signs of life; non-stayer over the extended 3m3f at Stratford recently (Carpe Diem runner-up) but he didn't run badly and better is expected.

4/1

3rd

1

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

15:43 Stratford

Chief Black Robe

12st 0lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Back with his former trainer on his last five starts; landed a four-timer for this yard in 2023; hasn't won since and has failed to complete on his last two starts; visor worn last time is left off; well handicapped if able to return to anywhere near his best form.

5/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: /266-6 BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Won AW bumper in December 2021; made promising start over hurdles when runner-up at Stratford in the autumn but he's not gone on from that and was down the field on his handicap debut at Huntingdon (2m3f, good; 9-4 favourite) three weeks ago; still lightly raced and with top yard but he needs improvement on this switch to fences; cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

14:15 Market Rasen

Swapped

12st 0lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Michael Chapman

A three-time winner over fences but little to shout about for a while now and finished last of the four runners on stable debut.

25/1

2

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

14:15 Market Rasen

Swapped

12st 0lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Michael Chapman

A three-time winner over fences but little to shout about for a while now and finished last of the four runners on stable debut.

25/1

4th

3

12th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:00 Southwell

Swapped

11st 4lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Michael Chapman

pressed leader, led 15th, headed 3 out, dropped to rear before 2 out, weakened approaching last

25/1

Form: 8399-7

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
0-17 over hurdles and was tailed off on his chase debut at Ffos Las (3m, good to firm) last Monday; 4lb out of the weights again and can only be watched on this drop back in trip; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

28th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 4

17:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Justshortofabubble

10st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Grace Harris

Three-time chase winner (including C&D), but he's been well held over fences and hurdles in last three runs; made a mistake at a crucial stage at Southwell last time but he needs to get right back near his best on this return to fences.

8/1

8th

10

11th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

18:05 Southwell

Justshortofabubble

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Grace Harris

held up in rear

13/2

4th

8

28th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

18:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Justshortofabubble

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Grace Harris

Three chase wins last season, the latest gained at Taunton (2m7f, good to soft) in November; has 6lb lower hurdle mark but remains without a win in this discipline after 17 attempts and tends to need his first run back from a break (absent since December); others make more appeal.

6/1

Form: 0896-3

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Beaten upwards of 42l in his first three hurdle runs but he ran well for a long way on his recent handicap debut at Ludlow (3m, good; 17l third); should have more to offer now switched to fences for top yard and he's an interesting contender on this drop back in trip; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

31st May 2023

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:30 Newton Abbot

Imprevu Du Large

10st 2lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Paul Nicholls

Beaten upwards of 42l in his first three hurdle runs but he ran well for a long way on his recent handicap debut at Ludlow (3m, good; 17l third); should have more to offer now switched to fences for top yard and he's an interesting contender on this drop back in trip; tongue-tie added.

4/1

3rd

5

14th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 174y

Class 5

17:05 Ludlow

Imprevu Du Large

10st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Beaten upwards of 42l in three qualifying runs at up to 2m5f (good/good to soft) this year but it's very rare for his top trainer to get one in off such a low opening mark; dangerous to ignore.

9/4

14

13th Apr 2023

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

15:10 Taunton

Imprevu Du Large

10st 2lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Paul Nicholls

Beaten upwards of 42l in three qualifying runs at up to 2m5f (good/good to soft) this year but it's very rare for his top trainer to get one in off such a low opening mark; one of three runners from the stable and it'll be very interesting to see how he goes in the betting.

9/1

Form: /2227-

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Versatile sort who returned after a long absence with runner-up efforts over hurdles (1m7f-3m2f) in his first three runs this year; looks interesting on those efforts but his form nosedived at Exeter in March and he was pulled up in his only previous run over fences in May 2021; comes with risks attached back in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

5th Jun 2024

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:10 Newton Abbot

Seymour Promise

10st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Joe Tizzard

Only 1-24; won at Taunton (2m7f, soft) in April but none too consistent and finished well back in Lightonthewing's race here recently; 1lb wrong.

25/1

5th

7

20th May 2024

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:43 Newton Abbot

Seymour Promise

10st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Joe Tizzard

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, not fluent 6th, lost ground before 12th

9/1

5th

7

20th May 2024

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:43 Newton Abbot

Seymour Promise

10st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Joe Tizzard

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, not fluent 6th, lost ground before 12th

9/1

Form: 5P77-P

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Has not finished closer than 13l to a winner in his eight starts and was pulled up over fences here (3m2f, good) two weeks ago; was always behind in that race and he has a lot to prove; 2lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

14th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 5

16:10 Newton Abbot

Mountain Grey

10st 2lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Seamus Mullins

prominent, hit 1st, jumped right and slow jump 6th, ridden after 9th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up after 2 out

25/1

6th

5

31st May 2023

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:30 Newton Abbot

Mountain Grey

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Seamus Mullins

Has not finished closer than 13l to a winner in his eight starts and was pulled up over fences here (3m2f, good) two weeks ago; was always behind in that race and he has a lot to prove; 2lb out of the weights.

20/1

7

17th May 2023

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:10 Newton Abbot

Mountain Grey

10st 10lb

J: Daniel Sansom

T: Seamus Mullins

Unplaced all seven starts, the latest on last month's chasing/handicap debut at Exeter; young enough to improve but now takes a major step up in trip, which is not certain to work on pedigree.

14/1

Form: P324P-

Last run: 38 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Nine-race maiden; went close over fences at Wincanton (2m4f, good) in March but was only a modest fourth there next time and he was pulled up at Stratford in his last outing; has plenty to prove again and this looks a tough assignment against Chief Black Robe.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

6th Feb 2024

Good

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

15:20 Taunton

Broadoak

10st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Fiona Shaw

Pulled up in four consecutive handicap chases since last spring and now 0-12 overall; huge leap of faith required to support him here; 3lb wrong.

66/1

0

10

12th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

14:00 Wincanton

Broadoak

10st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Fiona Shaw

held up in rear

25/1

0

7

26th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 1f 165y

Class 5

13:42 Fontwell

Broadoak

10st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Fiona Shaw

0-10; placed twice over fences on good ground, at up to 2m4f last season; form tailed off in the spring; returns with a bit to prove, including if it's soft ground and from 5lb out of the handicap.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.80
Straight Forecast £4.27
Trifecta £26.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Chief Black Robe

RP RATINGS:

Chief Black Robe

POSTDATA:

Chief Black Robe

WEST COUNTRY:

Chief Black Robe

The Times:

Chief Black Robe

Telegraph:

Chief Black Robe

The Guardian:

Chief Black Robe

Daily Mail:

Chief Black Robe

D Express:

Chief Black Robe

Daily Mirror:

Chief Black Robe

The Sun:

Chief Black Robe

The Star:

Chief Black Robe

Daily Record:

Chief Black Robe