February 03 / 14.35 Sandown

14.35

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £56950
  • 2m 4f 10y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV3
View Course
Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.20
  • Place: £3.00

Form: 2-1122 D BF

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Front-runner; has developed into a solid performer, having recorded form figures of 1122 over fences, looking well ahead of the assessor in handicaps then runner-up in Grade 2 events at Newbury (behind Hermes Allen) and Kempton; needs a personal best to win this race, however.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

13:50 Huntingdon

Nickle Back

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

Often goes off in a clear lead and he wasn't for catching a few times as a novice chaser last season, the highlight his success in Grade 1 at Sandown (2m4f, good); could steal this race but the removal of his usual hood presents a question mark.

9/1

4th

4

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

13:50 Huntingdon

Nickle Back

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

Often goes off in a clear lead and he wasn't for catching a few times as a novice chaser last season, the highlight his success in Grade 1 at Sandown (2m4f, good); could steal this race but the removal of his usual hood presents a question mark.

9/1

1

27th Apr 2024

Good

2m 4f 10y

Class 2

16:45 Sandown

Nickle Back

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

took keen hold, led, clear 2nd, not fluent 4th, reduced lead after 6th, mistake 12th, headed just before 3 out, soon weakened quickly and pulled up

11/4

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 8-111F BF

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Comfortable success in Grade 2 at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) took his chase record to 3-3; poor luck resulted in an early exit (first-fence faller having been badly hampered) at Lingfield when bidding for four-timer; has taken very well to this discipline and remains of major interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

Djelo

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Well beaten in Grade 1s on final two starts last season; however, he impressed with two Grade 2 wins earlier in the campaign, namely the Peterborough at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) and the Denman at Newbury (extended 2m7f, soft), and he has a very positive reappearance record; respected under 6lb penalty.

9/4

1

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

Djelo

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Well beaten in Grade 1s on final two starts last season; however, he impressed with two Grade 2 wins earlier in the campaign, namely the Peterborough at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) and the Denman at Newbury (extended 2m7f, soft), and he has a very positive reappearance record; respected under 6lb penalty.

9/4

6th

2

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Djelo

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Always behind and well beaten in the Ryanair but may benefit from this step back up in distance, having been well suited by 2m7f in the Denman Chase at Newbury (one of two soft-ground Grade 2 wins this term) the time before; largely progressive prior to latest start and unexposed over staying trips.

20/1

Form: 12-121 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Strong-finishing second to Le Patron in similar event here (1m7f, heavy) in December, then justified favouritism in Grade 2 at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) where he proved suited by going back up in trip; progressive in general and is particularly unexposed at this sort of distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:05 Cheltenham

Colonel Harry

11st 4lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

held up in rear, headway 10th, hampered 12th, midfield when fell 4 out

7/2

3

1st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:05 Cheltenham

Colonel Harry

11st 4lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

held up in rear, headway 10th, hampered 12th, midfield when fell 4 out

7/2

1

27th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

13:05 Chepstow

Colonel Harry

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Form: 30-111 CD

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Stuck on well to beat strong-finishing Colonel Harry in similar event here (1m7f, heavy) eight weeks ago, taking chase record to 3-3 and Sandown record to 2-2; posted wide-margin wins in 2m3f/2m4f handicaps otherwise this term; big improver over fences and warrants respect back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 164y

Class 1

14:25 Sandown

Le Patron

11st 5lb

J: David Noonan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase here (1m7f, heavy) in December 2023 and comfortably won handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) last November; the return to Sandown is an interesting angle but he's been well beaten the last twice and needs to be better than ever today; headgear applied.

16/1

8

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 164y

Class 1

14:25 Sandown

Le Patron

11st 5lb

J: David Noonan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase here (1m7f, heavy) in December 2023 and comfortably won handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) last November; the return to Sandown is an interesting angle but he's been well beaten the last twice and needs to be better than ever today; headgear applied.

16/1

5

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 8y

Class 1

15:37 Ascot

Le Patron

11st 10lb

J: David Noonan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Record of 4-7 over fences includes a Grade 1 novice win last term and impressive handicap performance at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) on reappearance; perhaps unsuited by the return to Cheltenham last time; has something to find at the weights but looks interesting as a second-season chaser who could rate higher still.

16/1

Form: 163-12 D BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Grade 1 scorer as a novice hurdler; comfortably beat Nickle Back in Grade 2 at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) on the switch to chasing, then ran respectably in Grade 1 at Kempton (3m) without proving a match for hugely impressive Il Est Francais; leading player back down in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 10y

Class 1

14:35 Sandown

Hermes Allen

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, chased clear leader after 6th, not fluent 8th, still plenty to do 3 out, 13 lengths down when fell 2 out

11/10

2nd

2

26th Dec 2023

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:20 Kempton

Hermes Allen

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Won 2m4f Grade 1 Challow Hurdle during last year's festive period; failed to justify favouritism at the spring festivals but had wind surgery prior to his successful chase debut at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) and that was impressive in many ways; unraced over this far under rules but with his pointing background he should stay well; still unexposed and held in the highest regard by a trainer who has won this five times.

13/8

1st

2

1st Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

13:50 Newbury

Hermes Allen

11st 4lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Below-par favourite in Grade 1 novice hurdles at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals but may well benefit from the subsequent wind surgery and he starts this campaign as a major prospect for novice chases; earlier progress culminated in an easy win in the Challow here (2m4f, soft; Grade 1) and that form has worked out well; point winner; leading player.

11/8

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £61.30
Straight Forecast £61.71
Trifecta £161.50

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Hermes Allen

The Guardian:

Djelo

SPOTLIGHT:

Le Patron

LAMBOURN:

Colonel Harry

Daily Mail:

Nickle Back

Daily Mirror:

Djelo

The Sun:

Djelo

The Star:

Le Patron

TOPSPEED:

Hermes Allen

POSTDATA:

Hermes Allen

WEST COUNTRY:

Hermes Allen

The Times:

Hermes Allen

D Express:

Hermes Allen

Daily Record:

Hermes Allen

Telegraph:

Colonel Harry