January 13 / 14.15 Wetherby

14.15

Soft

William Hill Epic Value Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13202.5
  • 1m 7f 36y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
RTV
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William Hill Epic Value Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 13-281 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Returned to form in first-time blinkers to win at Sandown (1m7f, soft) last month on his third chase start, showing plenty of zest and building a nice advantage before holding on from the clear runner-up; a 5lb rise isn't harsh and he could have more to offer in the retained headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

12th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

15:52 Chepstow

Mount Tempest

10st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Sophie Leech

Ex-Dan Skelton; started off for Sophie Leech with two disappointing French hurdle runs this summer (wore cheekpieces) but caused a 50-1 shock when back over fences at Worcester (2m4f, good to soft; blinkers) last month; subsequent 4lb rise is not insurmountable if he's in the same form.

11/2

1st

10

15th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:00 Worcester

Mount Tempest

10st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sophie Leech

Last win for the Skeltons was off this mark last December (1m7f, soft) but he's offered little since, including in two French hurdles for current yard.

20/1

4

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Mount Tempest

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

towards rear

12/1

13/2

  • Place: £5.60

Form: /5P3-F D

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 10lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
12yo who didn't look a likely winner when falling four out on reappearance at Ascot in November, and Aintree brings out the best in him; however, he's also won elsewhere and is 2lb lower than when third in a hot handicap at the Liverpool track last April; not discounted on first run here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

15th Feb 2024

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 3

13:55 Sandown

The Last Day

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Evan Williams

Won twice on heavy early in career; Aintree brings out the best in him and he was below form last January on his only start at Sandown; Wetherby second last time (the race in which Xcitations and Gunsight Ridge came a cropper) was a step back in the right direction but others are preferred.

10/1

2nd

3

13th Jan 2024

Soft

1m 7f 36y

Class 2

14:15 Wetherby

The Last Day

11st 10lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

didn't jump with fluency, held up in rear, awkward jump 1st, headway and disputing third 8th, left in second 4 out

13/2

Form: 4243-2 CD

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
10yo who has a regressive profile and is 1-15 over fences; well-beaten second of three on November's reappearance here but could improve for the run and he's dropped to a dangerous mark on last season's best form; won this two years ago (soft) and is not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

16:40 Hexham

Cornerstone Lad

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

Regressive 11yo; returned from layoff with two disappointing runs in February and absent for another 101 days since but will be favoured by the forecast rain here and is too well handicapped to rule out.

12/1

6th

5

26th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

15:18 Wetherby

Cornerstone Lad

11st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

always behind

16/1

10th

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

14:08 Wetherby

Cornerstone Lad

10st 12lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

High-class hurdler in his prime but it's now over three years since his latest win; ended last season with some very respectable efforts and resumes on a tempting mark but younger rivals appeal more all the same; swaps blinkers for refitted cheekpieces.

14/1

Form: 5P-513 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Won two in a row last winter (2m/1m7f, good/soft) and back on the scoresheet at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft) in November; soundly beaten by the first two when third at Newbury (2m, good to soft) last time but that looked a hot race and he's respected; unraced on heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Xcitations

11st 2lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Pam Sly

Grand servant for the yard with eight wins (six over fences) and he showed he was no back number when second of four at Leicester (2m, soft; handles good) in February; took the wrong course last time; has form here and should be thereabouts.

7/1

1

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

14:50 Stratford

Xcitations

12st 1lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Pam Sly

Grand servant for the yard with eight wins (six over fences); showed he was no back number when second of four in returning cheekpieces (left off here) at Leicester (2m, soft) 13 days ago; should run his race.

9/4

2nd

2

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Xcitations

12st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

Veteran who achieved nothing at Uttoxeter on reappearance but may be back in better form with that outing under his belt; gained last three wins at Sandown but he's 1-1 at Leicester.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3P/15- D BF

Last run: 406 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Absent since December 2022 but he goes well fresh and is just 2lb higher than when winning at Aintree (2m, soft) on last season's reappearance; has also won on heavy; could play a leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:03 Uttoxeter

Gunsight Ridge

11st 5lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Mike Sowersby

Smart at his best for Olly Murphy but last season never got off the ground and he's moved yards.

10/1

6th

1

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

15:40 Exeter

Gunsight Ridge

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Had a disappointing season and usually goes well at Sandown where he disappointed last time; has since undergone a fourth wind operation.

7/2

7th

2

31st Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

14:02 Sandown

Gunsight Ridge

11st 11lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Olly Murphy

Below-par fourth at Cheltenham in both outings this term; however, has form figures of 1321 at Sandown, most recently winning this race (off current mark on heavy ground) last year; possibilities back here.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £27.20
Straight Forecast £24.21
Trifecta £79.70

Selections

POSTDATA:

Mount Tempest

SPOTLIGHT:

Gunsight Ridge

The Star:

The Last Day

TOPSPEED:

Cornerstone Lad

The Times:

Mount Tempest

The Guardian:

Mount Tempest

Daily Mail:

Mount Tempest

Daily Mirror:

Mount Tempest

Daily Record:

Mount Tempest

RP RATINGS:

Gunsight Ridge

Telegraph:

Gunsight Ridge

D Express:

Gunsight Ridge

The Sun:

Gunsight Ridge