May 08 / 13.50 Newton Abbot

13.50

Heavy

newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £15843
  • 2m 4f 216y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
ITV4
View Course
newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 145U4- D

Last run: 26 days

W: 12st 0lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
12yo who started last season with a wide-margin win on Aintree's Mildmay course and ran a cracker over the big fences there last month to be close up in the Topham; raised 3lb for that but Elizabeth Gale, aboard for that last win, is reunited with her handy 7lb claim.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

31

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Celebre DAllen

10st 6lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Completed on all three attempts over these fences, easily best of those efforts when close fourth in last season's Topham (2m5f, soft); has twice won well over about 3m/3m1f, including in November on sole start this term, but today's trip is a leap in the dark and this 13yo has easily his highest mark.

100/1

31

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Celebre DAllen

10st 6lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Completed on all three attempts over these fences, easily best of those efforts when close fourth in last season's Topham (2m5f, soft); has twice won well over about 3m/3m1f, including in November on sole start this term, but today's trip is a leap in the dark and this 13yo has easily his highest mark.

100/1

Form: 11220- D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Began last season with two front-running wins (2m3f/2m4f, soft/heavy) and was bang there in his next two races; can probably turn a blind eye to his heavy defeat over the National fences in the Topham; still on a competitive mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

14:05 Haydock

The Edgar Wallace

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Front-runner who hasn't been at his best this term and was a 12l third behind two of these at Market Rasen (2m5f, good to soft) last time; however, he deserves credit for that performance having set a strong pace and he continues to drop down the weights; every chance he'll make a bold bid.

7/1

3rd

7

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 2

13:25 Market Rasen

The Edgar Wallace

11st 1lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Front-runner; well handicapped on some of last season's form but failed to build upon his satisfactory reappearance run when well held at Newbury last month; needs to get back in the groove.

10/1

3rd

7

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 2

13:25 Market Rasen

The Edgar Wallace

11st 1lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

set good pace, led, hit 7th, headed 3 out, soon lost second, kept on

10/1

Form: 46735-

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Modest strike-rate overall and as a chaser; didn't look straightforward when well beaten over this far at Ayr last month and soft ground was no excuse.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

20

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Take All

12st 0lb

J: Mr Samuel Scott

T: Myles Osborne

Good efforts in defeat behind Java Point (3m, good to soft) and Unexposed Party (2m6f, good to soft) this year and ran well for a long way before fading at last month's Cheltenham Festival (3m2f); could have an each-way shout at big odds now back down in trip; reapplied cheekpieces replace hood.

40/1

8th

19

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Take All

12st 0lb

J: Mr Samuel Scott

T: Myles Osborne

125-1 for this last year but was still travelling within himself when falling three out; returns on the back of a positive performance at Haydock when just ahead of Shearer; hood returns; he's no forlorn hope by any means.

50/1

2nd

4

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 54y

Class 3

16:30 Haydock

Take All

12st 1lb

J: Mr Samuel Scott

T: Myles Osborne

Ran well when fifth in this race a year ago (good to soft) and has some notable form since, including fourth of 16 in amateur riders' handicap at Cheltenham (3m1f, heavy) in November and third in recent Ludlow hunter chase (3m, good to soft); can make his presence felt.

7/1

Form: /1215- D BF

Last run: 74 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Didn't last long over hurdles and has made a progressive start to his chase career with 2m4f wins at Warwick (soft) and Kempton (good to soft); last of the five to complete back at Kempton last time but wasn't beaten far after hitting the last; could easily get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

14:58 Ludlow

Pepe Le Moko

11st 2lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Rallied for a near miss over C&D in December (Regal Renaissance challenging when falling) and he was part responsible for the strong pace off which Rodney won at Hereford (2m5f, soft); capable of being involved should this pan out more favourably.

8/1

3

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:02 Warwick

Pepe Le Moko

11st 8lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Won this race on chasing debut in 2023 and was also on target at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) the following January; drew a blank and became rather disappointing last season but can be very dangerous off current mark if revitalised after 225-day break.

8/1

3

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:02 Warwick

Pepe Le Moko

11st 8lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Won this race on chasing debut in 2023 and was also on target at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) the following January; drew a blank and became rather disappointing last season but can be very dangerous off current mark if revitalised after 225-day break.

8/1

Form: 1615P- D

Last run: 66 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Good strike-rate in France, winning on the Flat, over hurdles and fences; blew out when 7-1 for stable debut in a handicap chase at Huntingdon two months ago (2m4f, soft) but she's better than that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

11th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:02 Lingfield

Eximia

11st 3lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

took keen hold, led, joined 7th, headed 8th, lost ground quickly before 9th, pulled up before 2 out (usual 3 out)

10/1

3

11th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:02 Lingfield

Eximia

11st 3lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

took keen hold, led, joined 7th

10/1

3

15th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 4

14:25 Newbury

Eximia

11st 12lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

prominent, weakened after 14th, pulled up 3 out

33/1

Form: 4186P- CD

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Strike-rate of 5-12 over fences but has to get back on track after losing his form of late, and never travelled last time at Plumpton on drying ground that looked a positive beforehand; Paul Nicholls, who has a good record in this race, now sees the need for cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

24th Sep 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

13:20 Fontwell

Huelgoat

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

A five-time chase winner, he has adapted well since returning to hurdles in cheekpieces, making all at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in June and Stratford (2m6f, good to firm) last month (fell when holding a clear advantage in between); has a big penalty but will be difficult to keep tabs on.

9/4

1st

1

27th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

15:55 Stratford

Huelgoat

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

made all, kept on well, unchallenged

6/4

1

25th Jun 2024

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

15:00 Newton Abbot

Huelgoat

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Five-time chase winner who faced a simple task when opening his account in this discipline over C&D (good; first-time cheekpieces) this month; has more on his plate under a penalty in this deeper race but he's respected nonetheless.

5/4

Form: 3412U- D

Last run: 45 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Followed his Fakenham romp (2m5f, soft) with a near miss from the front at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft) when just 2lb lower; didn't get far at Ascot last time but he's essentially progressive and hard to dismiss here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 42y

Class 3

15:35 Sandown

Invincible Nao

11st 3lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Versatile sort who won over 2m4f here on reappearance and has performed respectably over marathon trips since; stiff task from 4lb out of handicap last time; not ruled out back off proper mark.

8/1

Form: 6642U-

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Unseated early last time; he's only 1-18 over fences (five times runner-up) and it's hard to believe that his winning tally will be doubled from 30lb out of the weights.
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

Verdict

Celebre D’Allen is reunited with Elizabeth Gale who was aboard for his last win and he arrives here after a sterling effort in the Topham. He is greatly feared along with Invincible Nao, but PEPE LE MOKO was unfortunate not to be closer last time at Kempton and he went into that race on a sharp upward curve.[Alistair Jones]