January 09 / 14.55 Exeter

14.55

Soft

Download The Rhino.Bet App Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6073.15
  • 3m 0f 54y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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Download The Rhino.Bet App Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 5U-631 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 12st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
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No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

32

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Top Of The Bill

10st 5lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

One of several who are now in the veteran stage but also in the form of their lives; 7l winner at Haydock (extended 3m1f) in November and returned there with an excellent, rallying second in the Grand National Trial (extended 3m4f, again good to soft) in February; ridden last three starts by Toby McCain-Mitchell; back up 2lb and an interesting prospect for 4m2f but this is a much stronger race.

50/1

2nd

1

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Top Of The Bill

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

10yo who posted a career-best performance with comfortable win here (extended 3m1f, good to soft) in November, and he's also won on soft ground; not written off after just one below-par run but he was well held in the Tommy Whittle here in December and has to leave that effort miles behind.

25/1

1st

1

21st Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 3

15:40 Ffos Las

Top Of The Bill

12st 0lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Took very well to fences last season, winning three times over 3m (good to soft-soft), but returned with two disappointing runs in the autumn; needs to get back on track and will have something to prove if the ground stays good (unraced on anything quicker than good to soft).

11/2

Abandoned

Form: 2070-6 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
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No / Draw
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Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

17th Mar 2025

Good

3m 1f 185y

Class 4

14:20 Southwell

Dr Kananga

11st 10lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Ben Clarke

Three chase wins, the latest at Sandown in February 2022 (3m, soft); creditable 14l third to a subsequent winner in a veterans' chase at Doncaster last time (3m, good); contender.

11/4

3rd

5

2nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

14:00 Doncaster

Dr Kananga

11st 4lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Ben Clarke

led, headed 13th, not fluent and dropped to last 5 out, rallied and went third after 3 out, soon no extra

8/1

10

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

Dr Kananga

10st 8lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Ben Clarke

Not the force of old and his losing spell goes back to February 2022; pulled up in this race last year but runner-up on next two starts (3m2f/3m1f) and his front-running sixth in the 3m4f London National at Sandown eight weeks ago wasn't a bad reappearance; stamina not proven.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: /32U-4 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
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No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

8th Apr 2024

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

17:08 Wincanton

Golden Sovereign

11st 4lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

3m2f winner on soft ground but hasn't been at his best this season following wind surgery, from 3m to 3m6f; tongue-tie joins cheekpieces sported the last twice; others appeal more.

7/1

5th

4

8th Apr 2024

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

17:08 Wincanton

Golden Sovereign

11st 4lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

3m2f winner on soft ground but hasn't been at his best this season following wind surgery, from 3m to 3m6f; tongue-tie joins cheekpieces sported the last twice; others appeal more.

7/1

5th

3

21st Mar 2024

Soft

3m 6f 130y

Class 4

15:15 Chepstow

Golden Sovereign

11st 9lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

3m2f winner on soft ground but hasn't offered a great deal when sent further; has yet to get going this season and the cheekpieces didn't appear to have much of an effect when a tailed-off third at Exeter last month.

6/1

Form: 1/3P-2

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

25th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

16:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Pimlico Point

11st 13lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Kerry Lee

Handicapped to be competitive and he'll go on the ground, but he had a complete off-day at Wincanton last month and blinkers now replace cheekpieces.

11/1

5

29th Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

15:33 Wincanton

Pimlico Point

10st 13lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Heavy-ground winner; back from another break, as was the case when second at Worcester (2m7f, good to soft) and a respectable fifth at Ffos Las (3m1f, soft); handicapped to be competitive.

8/1

Form: 214P85 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 9lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
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No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

13

13th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 5f 54y

Class 1

15:00 Warwick

Duc De Beauchene

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Two wins last spring included 3m5f Norfolk National at Fakenham (good; used to act on soft); 2lb lower today as he's failed to fire in his four starts since; reverting to blinkers from recent cheekpieces might help.

20/1

Form: 4137-5 C BF

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
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No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price

1

6th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

15:05 Ffos Las

Hermes Du Gouet

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Performed poorly in handicap chases this season, blinkered on last two outings; easily his best run over fences came in a four-runner race (3m2f, heavy) last March and he's 11lb lower today, also dropped in class, but some recent positives would have been preferable.

16/1

7th

1

6th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

15:05 Ffos Las

Hermes Du Gouet

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

disputed lead, led clearly before 5th, headed before 4 out, soon weakened

16/1

6th

6

20th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 100y

Class 4

15:15 Warwick

Hermes Du Gouet

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Has performed poorly in 3m1f/2m4f handicap chases this season, latterly tried in the blinkers which are retained; easily his best run over fences came in a four-runner race; others are more compelling.

16/1

Form: PP8-24 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

21st Apr 2024

Good

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:35 Wincanton

Raddon Top

11st 11lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Down

Has won four times at Exeter and yet he has struggled in handicap hurdles there the last twice; has won over fences but tried this discipline only once in the last 12 months and he was well beaten.

14/1

4th

6

21st Apr 2024

Good

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:35 Wincanton

Raddon Top

11st 11lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Down

Has won four times at Exeter and yet he has struggled in handicap hurdles there the last twice; has won over fences but tried this discipline only once in the last 12 months and he was well beaten.

14/1

5th

4

7th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

15:00 Exeter

Raddon Top

11st 13lb

J: James Turner

T: Chris Down

Four-time course winner (twice over C&D) who will be suited by today's ground; on a good mark now but was safely held when fourth here last month and needs to up his game.

16/1

Form: 1123-7 C

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 8lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

25th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

16:20 Exeter

Haldon Hill

11st 7lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Victor Dartnall

Won two in a row (good/heavy) prior to finishing second in this last year (good to soft); he's 5lb lower than 12 months ago and is one to watch in the betting, but this 11yo has been tailed off/pulled up on his two runs this season and a major turnaround is required.

10/1

0

9

22nd Jan 2024

Frozen

3m 1f 100y

Class 4

15:40 Warwick

Haldon Hill

11st 9lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Victor Dartnall

Back-to-back wins at Ffos Las (3m, good) and Taunton (2m7f, heavy) last March and only 3lb higher than for the latest of those; however, he's an 11yo now and his reappearance was underwhelming even if that was over 2m4f.

9/1

Verdict

Pimlico Point ran well in defeat over C&D on his chasing debut in November and is an obvious one for the shortlist but the answer might be HERMES DU GOUET, who shaped as though he might have needed his run over 2m3f here in November, and could have significant untapped potential over 3m. Raddon Top is back on the same mark as when winning this race a year ago, while Top Of The Bill was a wide-margin C&D winner 19 days ago and also features prominently in calculations.[Chris Wilson]