April 24 / 19.35 Taunton

19.35

Good

Final Lee Noonan Retirement Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5967.53
  • 2m 5f 150y
  • Class 5
  • 12 runners
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Final Lee Noonan Retirement Handicap Chase

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 45P434

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
His hurdle wins were in 2022 but they came on good ground; 0-4 chasing, his best run when a close third at Plumpton two runs back after rallying (2m3f, soft); didn't get home over 2m7f the last time; possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

25th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:30 Newton Abbot

American Gerry

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Hughie Morrison

This was the trip for his Taunton win in April (good) and he might have even surpassed that form with his recent seconds over C&D; has the same mark as last time and should have a big say.

9/2

2nd

3

5th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:40 Newton Abbot

American Gerry

11st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Hughie Morrison

Good second over C&D 16 days ago ridden by Freddie Gingell, keeping on well; could prove vulnerable for the win back up 3lb but with his chase experience he's likely to be thereabouts.

5/2

2nd

7

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:43 Newton Abbot

American Gerry

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Hughie Morrison

midfield

9/1

20/1

  • Place: £7.50

Form: 34P5P5

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Won a weak Worcester maiden hurdle last summer but fairly forgettable since then, including two poor runs over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

16:45 Huntingdon

Hobie

11st 13lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Dennis

Has only won at Worcester, going back-to-back there in late summer (2m4f hurdle/2m chase); didn't run at all well in his last two races, both over fences.

9/2

7

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

14:57 Worcester

Hobie

11st 8lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Dennis

All three of his wins under rules have been at this track, his last success over C&D (good) last month; decent fourth at Warwick (2m4f, good) 22 days ago and remains in form.

7/1

8/1

  • Place: £3.00

Form: 1-15PP

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Hit the ground running over fences with wins at Bangor (3m, good) and Fontwell (3m2f, good to soft) but was tailed off next time and pulled up since (last time after wind surgery); still a lightly raced 7yo so has time on his side.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

2nd May 2025

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Doctor Foley

12st 1lb

J: Miss Ellie Holder

T: Anthony Ward-Thomas

Dug deep to win low-grade Fontwell handicap (3m2f, good) for Anthony Honeyball last spring but has struggled in both points for new stable this year and faces another tough task here.

66/1

3

2nd May 2025

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Doctor Foley

12st 1lb

J: Miss Ellie Holder

T: Anthony Ward-Thomas

Dug deep to win low-grade Fontwell handicap (3m2f, good) for Anthony Honeyball last spring but has struggled in both points for new stable this year and faces another tough task here.

66/1

7th

3

26th Jul 2024

Good

3m 2f 13y

Class 5

17:35 Uttoxeter

Doctor Foley

11st 5lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Three-time chase winner, most recently when holding on well at Fontwell (3m2f, good) in May; bumped into a massive improver when well-held second at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good; first-time binkers) this month; ought to be on the premises again here.

5/1

Form: 21/PP4 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Hurdle/chase winner who has looked out of sorts since returning from a long absence and he comes with high risk right now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

25th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

14:23 Fontwell

Call Off The Dogs

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Gained three of his four chasing wins here and seems very versatile regarding trips but ended last season with two disappointing efforts and needs to be perked up by a change of headgear today.

7/1

1

25th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

14:23 Fontwell

Call Off The Dogs

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Gained three of his four chasing wins here and seems very versatile regarding trips but ended last season with two disappointing efforts and needs to be perked up by a change of headgear today.

7/1

7

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 135y

Class 4

14:15 Fontwell

Call Off The Dogs

11st 1lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Four wins and two seconds from 11 races at Fontwell; his last success was off this mark over an extended 2m3f in September but he's been well held in all three runs since and needs a major revival; stablemate of All Authorized.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: -45433 C

Last run: 44 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Won two 2m7f handicap chases here last year, on good and good to soft; he was unsurprisingly outpaced over 2m here last time but ran on well to be a close third; could have a major say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

15:05 Exeter

Imperial Joe

11st 10lb

J: Mr Jake Bament

T: Tim Dennis

in touch with leaders

10/1

1st

4

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

15:05 Exeter

Imperial Joe

11st 10lb

J: Mr Jake Bament

T: Tim Dennis

in touch with leaders

10/1

3rd

3

28th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

15:10 Taunton

Imperial Joe

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tim Dennis

All three chase wins have been over further, the last two here at 2m7f; below his best when last seen in June.

20/1

Form: 244-53

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Maiden hurdler who was twice runner-up in handicaps (2m4f/2m7f); not yet able to replicate that form over fences and this is his first run back from wind surgery.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

1st Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:40 Worcester

Royal Sam

11st 2lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Michael Blake

prominent, disputed lead 3rd, prominent before 4th

14/1

Form: 94P315

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Won an eventful novice handicap chase at Fakenham in February (2m, soft), in which he looked in trouble at one stage and the race essentially fell apart; finished last of the five next time at Plumpton.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

7th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Elpologreg

10st 2lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Seamus Mullins

Three places before stopping quickly and pulling up at Newton Abbot (3m2f, heavy; handles that ground) last time and his jumping wasn't the best; not overly appealing from 5lb out of the weights.

10/1

Form: 6-P93P

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Only win was a shock one when 40-1 for a mares' novice hurdle at Wincanton last March (1m7f); only effort of note this season was her 15l third at Fontwell; pointing background suggests this switch to fences over further might benefit but he wouldn't be the obvious answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

11

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

17:10 Taunton

Stopherandgo

10st 2lb

J: James Robottom

T: Kevin Pickard

On a lengthy losing sequence and she has been pulled up in handicap chases at Wincanton (3m1f) and Ludlow (2m4f) either side of Christmas; reverts to hurdles with lots to prove.

25/1

12

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 5

14:17 Ludlow

Stopherandgo

10st 2lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Kevin Pickard

Regressive mare who was pulled up when returned to fences and tried in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) last month; drops back in trip with tongue-tie added here; 7lb out of the weights.

33/1

Form: 094-75

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Struggled to get competitive over hurdles when trained in Ireland; not helped by a mid-race blunder when tailed off on British debut in a Huntingdon handicap hurdle (2m4f, good); chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 5f 150y

Class 5

19:35 Taunton

Twoconduit

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Henrietta C Knight

Struggled to get competitive over hurdles when trained in Ireland; not helped by a mid-race blunder when tailed off on British debut in a Huntingdon handicap hurdle (2m4f, good); chase debut.

7/1

4

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 5f 150y

Class 5

19:35 Taunton

Twoconduit

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Henrietta C Knight

Struggled to get competitive over hurdles when trained in Ireland; not helped by a mid-race blunder when tailed off on British debut in a Huntingdon handicap hurdle (2m4f, good); chase debut.

7/1

5th

1

1st Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

14:10 Huntingdon

Twoconduit

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Henrietta C Knight

towards rear

10/1

Form: 4-2174 C

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Just lasted home in a 2m7f chase on good to soft here in December when only 1lb lower; nowhere near as good since then but returning here will be no bad thing (also finished fourth in this 12 months ago).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

18:50 Stratford

Hard Frost

11st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Below par in last two completed starts, then early faller latest; won off just 1lb lower at Taunton (2m7f) in December and a return to that form would put him in the picture.

5/1

2nd

2

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

18:50 Stratford

Hard Frost

11st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

pressed leader, led last (usual 2 out), headed home straight, kept on but no match for winner

5/1

7

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 5f 150y

Class 5

19:35 Taunton

Hard Frost

11st 3lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Just lasted home in a 2m7f chase on good to soft here in December when only 1lb lower; nowhere near as good since then but returning here will be no bad thing (also finished fourth in this 12 months ago).

5/1

Form: 656642

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
0-6 in Britain and was beaten 19l by the winner at Exeter last time (2m3f, soft); others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

14th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

16:17 Newton Abbot

I Love You Sivola

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Helen Nelmes

Has had just the one win, gained in a French chase back in 2022, and there's little in recent hurdle form to suggest he's about to add to that; 6lb out of the handicap.

20/1

9th

17

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

14:20 Exeter

I Love You Sivola

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Helen Nelmes

Gained only win (from 43 starts) in a French chase in 2022 and recent hurdling form does not suggest he's poised to add to his tally.

50/1

5th

11

24th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

20:27 Newton Abbot

I Love You Sivola

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Helen Nelmes

Ended a run of non-completions when finishing fifth of seven over C&D last time (Presenting Yeats behind); although that was an improved effort, it did appear to stretch his stamina; much more required again from out of the weights.

50/1

Form: -21844

Last run: 226 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Hasn't been running particularly well since successful at Southwell in June (3m, good) when in a first-time tongue-tie which was left off last time at Newton Abbot; off since September and others are safer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:10 Fontwell

Prince Cleni

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Christian Williams

Looked set to finish second before last-fence unseat at Hereford (3m1f, good) in March and bumped into revitalised subsequent winner when second at Fakenham (3m5f, good) last month; went close in 2024 edition of this race on only previous visit to Fontwell; good chance.

3/1

2nd

3

13th Apr 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 5

16:10 Fakenham

Prince Cleni

10st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Soundly beaten in February, after a layoff, but looked set to finish second before last-fence mishap at Hereford (3m1f, good) last month, and this move back up in trip will probably suit (placed over 3m3f last summer).

3/1

8

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

17:00 Hereford

Prince Cleni

10st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

All three chase wins have come over 3m at Southwell (good/soft) and latest was off 2lb higher last January; well held at Southwell last month but he may have needed that run after six months off and he's a player if he can get back near best.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £146.90
Straight Forecast £143.87
Tricast £1415.23
Trifecta £2393.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hard Frost

The Guardian:

Imperial Joe

RP RATINGS:

American Gerry

The Sun:

Royal Sam

WEST COUNTRY:

Doctor Foley

Daily Record:

Royal Sam

TOPSPEED:

Hard Frost

Telegraph:

Hard Frost

Daily Mirror:

Hard Frost

The Star:

Hard Frost

Daily Mail:

Imperial Joe

D Express:

Imperial Joe

POSTDATA:

American Gerry

The Times:

American Gerry