February 23 / 16.45 Exeter

16.45

Soft

My Pension Expert Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 2 Elimination) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2178.4
  • 2m 0f 161y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
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My Pension Expert Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 2 Elimination) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £225,000 after winning sole Irish maiden point (3m, yielding) and justified favouritism on last month's bumper debut at Warwick (2m, soft); had something to spare from two fair yardsticks and he's a very bright prospect; leading claims under 7lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:13 Warwick

Bill Joyce

12st 1lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Bled from the nose when pulled up on chase debut in December; smart novice hurdler around 2m4f last season and no doubting his ability to be very competitive off this mark if he's back on song.

5/1

14th

9

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

16:15 Punchestown

Bill Joyce

11st 4lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won well at Carlisle and Sandown (Grade 2 on soft) in first two starts over hurdles and then third in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury and a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (both extended 2m4f); only 6-1 for his handicap debut over 3m at Aintree and departed too early to tell what might have happened; the first-time tongue-tie fitted there is retained; of interest.

10/1

14th

9

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

16:15 Punchestown

Bill Joyce

11st 4lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won well at Carlisle and Sandown (Grade 2 on soft) in first two starts over hurdles and then third in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury and a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (both extended 2m4f); only 6-1 for his handicap debut over 3m at Aintree and departed too early to tell what might have happened; the first-time tongue-tie fitted there is retained; of interest.

10/1

11/10

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1 CD

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on debut in Irish maiden point (3m, yielding) last March and made all when odds-on over C&D (2m, heavy) last month on his first rules start; this brother to Champion Bumper winner Envoi Allen could have lots more to offer for his top yard and is a major player under a 7lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 123y

Class 4

16:15 Ascot

Joyau Allen

11st 5lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Brother to high-class Envoi Allen; all starts on softer than good; heavy-ground bumper winner who has not made a serious impact in his four hurdle races (bled from the nose on first two occasions) but showed his best form when beaten about 19l at Taunton (2m3f) on last two outings; looks set to face very different ground here but the step up in trip and handicap debut could reveal him in a new light.

3/1

3rd

8

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

14:12 Taunton

Joyau Allen

11st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Heavy-ground bumper winner who took a step forward when eighth of 13 over C&D (good to soft) last month on his third hurdle start; this race isn't so deep and he's a place contender, but he needs something extra if he's to come out on top.

12/1

8th

8

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

12:55 Taunton

Joyau Allen

11st 6lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Paul Nicholls

Began 2024 with two very promising runs (one win) in heavy-ground Exeter bumpers but wasn't seen again until two disappointing hurdle runs this autumn (2m/2m4f; bled from the nose both times); in good hands and still has plenty of time to get career back on track but comes with obvious risk.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 63

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has displayed some ability on both starts, when sixth at Newton Abbot (2m1f, heavy) then soundly beaten third at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft), but improvement is needed today with the top two being useful prospects.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

16:57 Wincanton

Ambion View

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Yet to make any significant progress since winning hurdle debut in autumn 2024 but still has fairly low mileage and gave good account when keeping-on third in first-time tongue-tie at Chepstow (2m7f, soft; first run after wind op) last month; should be okay over this shorter trip; each-way claims.

5/1

3rd

8

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

14:55 Chepstow

Ambion View

10st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Runner-up at Newton Abbot (extended 2m6f) and Exeter (extended 2m2f) on his first two runs this term; weakened right out of it when upped in trip for King Of The Lake's C&D race at Christmas and had wind surgery soon afterwards; also now tongue tied first time and needs to resume progress.

10/1

2nd

5

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 3

14:53 Newton Abbot

Ambion View

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Exeter maiden winner (2m2f, good to soft) but he struggled on handicap debut at Plumpton (2m4f, good) in April; has good pedigree and is still unexposed in this sphere but he needs to resume his progress after a break.

16/1

Form: 6

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has a useful pedigree but one that suggests he'll come into his own when tackling further; 28-1 on debut at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) on Boxing Day and was well beaten when hampered in the straight.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

7th Oct 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:37 Huntingdon

Chedingtons Guest

11st 4lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Keiran Burke

Close third in a bumper in April 2024; showed nothing more than minor promise in three novice/maiden hurdles (2m-2m3f) but moves up in trip for this handicap debut and is a possible improver.

10/1

1

7th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

14:42 Fontwell

Chedingtons Guest

11st 4lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Keiran Burke

Displayed improvement when close third in soft-ground Taunton bumper in April 2024 but both hurdle runs there (2m/2m3f) towards end of last year were very underwhelming; back from 251-day break here; tongue-tie on.

14/1

7th

4

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

12:45 Taunton

Chedingtons Guest

11st 0lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Keiran Burke

Close third in what has turned out to be a fairly good course bumper in April (soft ground) but never really looked dangerous when sixth here (2m, good) on recent hurdling debut; needs that recent run to have brought him on.

20/1

Form: 7

Last run: 59 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
33-1 when well-beaten seventh on debut at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) on Boxing Day; the hood is retained; others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

23rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

16:45 Exeter

Eye Candy

10st 9lb

J: Miss Heidi Stevens

T: Victor Dartnall

33-1 when well-beaten seventh on debut at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) on Boxing Day; the hood is retained; others are preferred.

50/1

7th

12

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

15:45 Wincanton

Eye Candy

10st 9lb

J: Miss Heidi Stevens

T: Victor Dartnall

Fifth foal; half-sister to 2m1f/2m6f hurdle winner Too Much To Ask; dam 2m/3m hurdle winner, sister to bumper and 2m hurdle winner Tex Morgan; hooded for debut and probably best watched.

20/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second foal; unraced dam out of French maiden, is granddaughter of useful 5f performer Lady Jester; probably best watched on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

23rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

16:45 Exeter

Break Heart Hill

11st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Fiona Shaw

Second foal; unraced dam out of French maiden, is granddaughter of useful 5f performer Lady Jester; probably best watched on debut.

66/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.90
Straight Forecast £1.93
Trifecta £5.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bill Joyce

POSTDATA:

Joyau Allen

RP RATINGS:

Bill Joyce

Telegraph:

Bill Joyce

The Guardian:

Bill Joyce

D Express:

Bill Joyce

The Sun:

Bill Joyce

The Star:

Bill Joyce

WEST COUNTRY:

Joyau Allen

The Times:

Joyau Allen

Daily Mail:

Joyau Allen

Daily Mirror:

Joyau Allen

Daily Record:

Joyau Allen