December 20 / 13.25 Newbury

13.25

Soft

JM Finn Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10033.9
  • 2m 7f 86y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
RTV
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JM Finn Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.50

Form: /131/1

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Very lightly raced 7yo; his only defeat over hurdles came in a Grade 2 and he returned from a long absence with an all-the-way win on his handicap/chase debut at Plumpton (2m3f, good to soft; first run after wind surgery) last month; up 5lb but he stayed on strongly to seal the deal last time and is open to more progress at this new trip; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Brave Kingdom

10st 6lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Lightly raced 10yo who posted a resurgent effort in small field at Taunton (2m7f) most recently; form at Newbury features a success over 2m7f in 2023 and placed effort in the Mandarin over 3m2f in 2024; respected off an attractive mark switched to a veterans' contest.

5/1

2nd

1

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:45 Taunton

Brave Kingdom

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Lightly raced 10yo who disappointed on seasonal debut in November (first run after latest of three wind ops) and has now been pulled up on three of his last four appearances; eased in grade today but needs to get career back on track.

100/30

Form: 7312/5 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Clearcut winner of a 3m maiden hurdle at Ludlow (soft) in February 2022 but he's had only two runs since and was well held on his chase debut at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last month; that was after a long absence but this is a tougher race and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

2nd Mar 2024

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

16:05 Newbury

Pulling Stumps

10st 10lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Bumper and 3m maiden hurdle winner; chasing this term, second of five over C&D (soft) in December; made most and still upsides the winner, miles clear of the third, when getting the second last all wrong at Chepstow (near 3m, heavy) on latest outing; back up 1lb since and that leaves him on a tempting mark, with improvement still possible.

3/1

0

1

24th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:00 Chepstow

Pulling Stumps

11st 13lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

led, went clear with winner before 3 out, joined when fell 2 out

100/30

Form: 2121-2

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who made it 2-4 over hurdles with an impressive win at Kempton (2m5f, soft) in his final run last season; kicked off his chase career with a creditable second over C&D (good to soft) last month and that was behind a major improver who followed up off a 10lb higher mark; looks interesting on this drop back in grade and he's unexposed at staying trips.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:40 Newbury

Theatre Man

11st 1lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Launched chasing career with three good runs last season but fell next time and suffered heavy defeats in his three starts since; this should be a good mark but plenty now seems to depend on January's wind surgery.

5/1

4th

2

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

13:42 Uttoxeter

Theatre Man

11st 6lb

J: David Bass

T: Richard J Bandey

Launched chasing career with three good runs last season, most notably when chasing home subsequent dual Grade 1 runner-up Ginny's Destiny at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) in January; holds strong claims here if judged on that evidence but was a disappointing favourite when returned to Cheltenham for seasonal debut in October and needs to rebound.

4/1

4th

2

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

13:42 Uttoxeter

Theatre Man

11st 6lb

J: David Bass

T: Richard J Bandey

Launched chasing career with three good runs last season, most notably when chasing home subsequent dual Grade 1 runner-up Ginny's Destiny at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) in January; holds strong claims here if judged on that evidence but was a disappointing favourite when returned to Cheltenham for seasonal debut in October and needs to rebound.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 54140- D

Last run: 279 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Won a 3m hurdle handicap at Cheltenham (soft) on New Year's Day but he was tailed off the the Pertemps Final there in March; should have a future as a stayer over fences but he returns after a lengthy absence and this looks a tough enough starting point in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

3rd Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

14:55 Warwick

Hector Javilex

11st 8lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Made a good start to handicap career when winning at Cheltenham (3m, soft) in January 2023 but rather patchy since, including when finishing a well-beaten fourth of five on chase debut at Newbury in December; probably best watched on his reappearance over a trip short of his best.

7/1

6th

7

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 2

15:50 Cheltenham

Hector Javilex

11st 0lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

took keen hold, in touch with leaders

12/1

6th

7

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 2

15:50 Cheltenham

Hector Javilex

11st 0lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

took keen hold, in touch with leaders

12/1

Form: 2413-2

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Point and hurdle (2m5f, soft) winner, who took his form to a new level with a bold bid on his chase/seasonal debut at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month; up 4lb but he pulled 10l clear with the winner last time and is respected on this step back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

2nd May 2025

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Amrons Sage

11st 12lb

J: Mrs Izzie Hill

T: Alan Hill

Fairly useful under rules for Nicky Henderson in 2023 and was evidently suited by the thorough stamina test when winning open point at Kingston Blount (4m, soft) in February; slightly disappointing when only third behind Norton Hill and Assassins Lullaby on good ground in March, though.

14/1

5th

6

2nd May 2025

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Amrons Sage

11st 12lb

J: Mrs Izzie Hill

T: Alan Hill

Fairly useful under rules for Nicky Henderson in 2023 and was evidently suited by the thorough stamina test when winning open point at Kingston Blount (4m, soft) in February; slightly disappointing when only third behind Norton Hill and Assassins Lullaby on good ground in March, though.

14/1

7th

6

13th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 3

18:50 Worcester

Amrons Sage

11st 6lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Low-mileage 7yo; ran big race in defeat on chasing debut at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) in November but two very disappointing performances have followed; needs to get career back on track.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.40
Straight Forecast £17.06
Trifecta £39.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Brave Kingdom

POSTDATA:

Theatre Man

TOPSPEED:

Amrons Sage

D Express:

Pulling Stumps

The Times:

Hector Javilex

LAMBOURN:

Amrons Sage

The Star:

Amrons Sage

Telegraph:

Theatre Man

Daily Mirror:

Theatre Man

The Sun:

Theatre Man

RP RATINGS:

Brave Kingdom

WEST COUNTRY:

Brave Kingdom

The Guardian:

Brave Kingdom

Daily Mail:

Brave Kingdom

Daily Record:

Brave Kingdom