January 01 / 12.25 Exeter

12.25

Soft

Passage House Inn Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5545.05
  • 2m 3f 48y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Passage House Inn Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.00
  • Place: £4.20

Form: 5/642-

Last run: 266 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Bettered low-key chasing debut when second of four behind well-handicapped rival at Huntingdon (2m4f, good to soft) last April; should have more to offer over fences but this is his first start for 266 days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 3

16:55 Chepstow

Charles Ritz

11st 6lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Tom George

Last month's near-5l third at Kempton was his most convincing effort to date both over 3m and on good ground, but also took his record in handicaps off marks in the 120s to 0-8; still needs to find a bit more.

6/1

3rd

4

14th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:28 Kempton

Charles Ritz

11st 6lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

Has won on good to soft and heavy; made light of an absence when winning at Southwell in December but he found little at Ludlow (also 2m4f) last month and has yet to distinguish himself over this far; reservations remain; yard won this in 2019.

9/2

4th

3

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

14:58 Ludlow

Charles Ritz

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

His second win over fences when returning from a long absence to take a 2m4f handicap at Southwell (good to soft; won on heavy) in mid-December; that race fell apart in behind but a 4lb rise isn't the end of the world.

11/2

9/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 21-231 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Placed on chasing debut at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) in November and was very well suited by the move back up in trip when making all at Fontwell (2m3f, heavy) three weeks ago, where all four rivals were very tired when pulled up between last two fences; could easily have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:45 Taunton

Good Friday Fairy

11st 12lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Ben Clarke

Resumed with victory at Exeter (2m3f) in November and in good form until pulled up in 2m3f handicap chase at Fontwell ten days ago; this course winner is the sort to bounce back in a change of headgear, though.

9/2

1

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

14:35 Fontwell

Good Friday Fairy

12st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Ben Clarke

Did well for cheekpieces going on last year, winning three times at 2m3f-2m5f, latterly off 3lb lower, and going a stone and a half up the weights; 2m7f looked to find him out at Newbury last month and this is less competitive back down in trip; holds decent claims.

5/2

4th

3

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Good Friday Fairy

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Ben Clarke

All good since the cheekpieces went on, winning three times (2m3f-2m5f, good to soft/soft); kept on well for third off today's mark at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month and returning to further looks the right move.

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: 331-23 D BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Ended last season with a hurdle win and has been placed in both chases this term, latterly when third at Chepstow (2m3f, heavy) last month; ought to be right in the thick of things again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

13th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

20:00 Newton Abbot

High Game Royal

12st 0lb

J: Mr Nicholas Romain

T: Mrs R A Romain

Beaten between 17l and 33l in his last three hunter chases, getting outpaced at trips from 2m5f to 3m1f; tongue-tie is now added; probably playing for minor money.

16/1

3rd

2

1st May 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 4

17:40 Warwick

High Game Royal

12st 0lb

J: Mr Nicholas Romain

T: Mrs R A Romain

Outpaced on all four starts this year, latterly in hunter chases at Stratford (2m5f) and Exeter (3m), on which evidence the marathon on this card might have been a more comfortable fit; others are more persuasive.

20/1

3rd

8

7th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

17:10 Exeter

High Game Royal

11st 12lb

J: Mr Nicholas Romain

T: Mrs R A Romain

Won over hurdles in 2023 for the Hobbs/White operation; beaten in two points before finishing well held at Stratford recently.

20/1

Form: 231/ D

Last run: 623 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Soft-ground Irish point winner who came good under rules at third attempt, on handicap hurdle debut at Chepstow (2m3f, good) in April 2022; makes chasing debut after 623-day absence but remains unexposed; had wind op in September 2022; tongue-tie fitted today; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

17th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:45 Wincanton

Tango Tara

11st 12lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

prominent, hit 10th, soon pulled up

11/2

Form: 42244-

Last run: 260 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Point winner in 2021 but 0-8 over hurdles and not seen since two 40l defeats in handicaps for Milton Harris towards end of last season; makes stable/chase debut from a workable mark but probably best watched at present; effective on soft ground; unraced on heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

1st Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:40 Worcester

Royal Sam

11st 2lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Michael Blake

prominent, disputed lead 3rd, prominent before 4th

14/1

Form: 3/23P-

Last run: 366 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Placed in two slow-ground Listed hurdles in France in spring 2022 but was pulled up in a handicap chase on British debut a year ago (bled from the nose) and has not raced again since; others have much less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

3

1st Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

12:25 Exeter

Mot Pour Mot

11st 12lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

held up in rear, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

12/1

2

31st Dec 2022

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Warwick

Mot Pour Mot

12st 2lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey

2m1f hurdle winner in France and he was placed in Listed hurdle events (2m3f, soft/heavy) in his final two runs there in the spring; has some chasing experience and he needs a close look back over fences on his British/stable debut.

5/1

Form: 2421-6 D BF

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
1-5 over hurdles, the win gained in an uncompetitive Newton Abbot maiden (2m2f, soft) last April; just a respectable sixth when back in a handicap in November, after a break, but was placed behind a smart horse in a slow-ground Irish point in 2022 and should have a future over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Western General

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Back to form after a second wind op, posting career-best RPRs when scoring at Chepstow in February and when runner-up at Hereford the following month (both at 2m); has his best form over shorter but shapes as though this trip should suit and he commands respect on that recent form.

2/1

2nd

1

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 3

14:52 Hereford

Western General

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Last year's winner on good ground; bounced back to form after wind surgery to beat four rivals at Chepstow (2m, soft) two weeks ago, making virtually all; back up 5lb but has leading claims again.

6/4

1st

4

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 2

15:40 Chepstow

Western General

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made excellent progress over fences last season, winning three times (1m7f-2m, good-heavy), but ended that campaign with a poor run and has not been at his best this term (three starts); needs last month's wind op to have made a difference.

2/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £43.50
Straight Forecast £43.72
Trifecta £140.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

High Game Royal

Telegraph:

Good Friday Fairy

The Guardian:

Tango Tara

Daily Mail:

Western General

TOPSPEED:

Charles Ritz

The Star:

Good Friday Fairy

RP RATINGS:

High Game Royal

POSTDATA:

High Game Royal

WEST COUNTRY:

High Game Royal

The Times:

High Game Royal

Daily Mirror:

High Game Royal

Daily Record:

High Game Royal

D Express:

Tango Tara