January 06 / 15.50 Wincanton

15.50

Heavy

Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 3m 1f 30y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 555-61

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced and was having only his second run over fences when staying on best to win over 2m7f at Lingfield (good to soft) a month ago; up 5lb but this further step up in distance should benefit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

16

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Haston Clermont

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Noel Williams

Progressive 7yo who kept on well to score at Catterick (3m1f, soft) six weeks ago and is now 3-5 over fences; has more on his plate here but open to further improvement over the longer trip.

9/2

7th

16

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Haston Clermont

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Noel Williams

Progressive 7yo who kept on well to score at Catterick (3m1f, soft) six weeks ago and is now 3-5 over fences; has more on his plate here but open to further improvement over the longer trip.

9/2

1st

4

6th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 4

15:45 Catterick

Haston Clermont

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Noel Williams

Lightly raced point runner-up who won at Lingfield (2m7f, good to soft) in December on second chase start and followed up at Wincanton (3m1f, heavy); beaten just a nose at Chepstow (2m7f, heavy) last time by a winner who has since defied a 6lb rise, and he has attractive claims up 4lb.

5/4

10/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 52P08P

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Runner-up over hurdles and fences but remains a maiden (0-18) and he had a bit of a shocker behind Percy Veering at Exeter last month.
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: 44373P D

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Won off a much higher mark over hurdles but very opposable on his chasing exploits, last time pulling up behind Haston Clermont.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

14:00 Plumpton

Hilltown

10st 2lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Seamus Mullins

Won over C&D in April 2023 and a chase here in April 2024; however, he's struggled this season following a long absence, including at this course on three occasions; 4lb out of the handicap; major turnaround needed.

14/1

5

9th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:00 Plumpton

Hilltown

10st 6lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Seamus Mullins

Returned from a long layoff with some disappointing efforts this season but took a step back in the right direction over hurdles at Fontwell (3m2f, soft) in January, where he put in a good front-running shift before tiring; now 1lb lower than when winning comfortably by 13l over C&D (good) in April 2024 and enters calculations; cheekpieces (worn for last two races) removed.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 576-62 BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced; signs of progress being made on his handicap debut over hurdles and duly built on that to chase home Percy Veering on his chase debut at Exeter (3m, soft); beaten 4.5l but kept the winner busy and has a 5lb pull this afternoon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

15

7th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

14:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Caeruleum

11st 1lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Has found improvement from somewhere to win back-to-back 3m2f handicaps with seemingly lots to spare, on soft and good to soft; raised in grade here and hit with 10lb for last time, but this 7yo looks firmly on the upgrade.

13/2

Form: P2-111 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Has gone 3-3 since further wind surgery and just kept on galloping when beating Caeruleum by just under 5l at Exeter (3m, soft); a further 6lb rise equates to a 19lb hike in all for that hat-trick but he's likeable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

4th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 3f 123y

Class 4

14:05 Market Rasen

Percy Veering

11st 5lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Completed a soft-ground hat-trick in late 2023 and, having had wind surgery, he returned to form with a close second over 3m here in November (soft), pulling clear with the favourite; off for 97 days, but goes well fresh so has clear claims off 3lb higher if he stays and handles this quicker surface.

9/4

Form: 7P-PP3

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
First worthwhile effort in handicaps (chases or hurdles) when fading late on in the Lingfield chase won by Haston Clermont; the form might be a tad dubious but it was his first run in cheekpieces and he's just 2lb higher for this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

18th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 4

14:12 Lingfield

Galway Mahler

11st 5lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Karen Jewell

led but pestered, headed but prominent 9th, slightly hampered and lost position 13th, weakened quickly 4 out, soon pulled up

12/1

8

18th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 4

14:12 Lingfield

Galway Mahler

11st 5lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Karen Jewell

Pulled up at Southwell (3m, heavy) in April when last seen but went there on a four-timer (good to soft-heavy, including C&D); no surprise if he rediscovers his progressive ways following a break; watch the market.

12/1

4

4th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:05 Southwell

Galway Mahler

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Karen Jewell

led

7/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.70
Straight Forecast £27.61
Trifecta £78.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Percy Veering

The Times:

Caeruleum

TOPSPEED:

Seymour Promise

Telegraph:

Galway Mahler

Daily Mail:

Caeruleum

Daily Mirror:

Caeruleum

The Star:

Caeruleum

Daily Record:

Caeruleum

RP RATINGS:

Percy Veering

WEST COUNTRY:

Percy Veering

The Guardian:

Percy Veering

D Express:

Percy Veering

The Sun:

Percy Veering

POSTDATA:

Seymour Promise