November 08 / 14.25 Exeter

14.25

Good

BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (Limited Handicap Chase) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £59440
  • 2m 1f 109y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
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BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (Limited Handicap Chase) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 1U317- C

Last run: 241 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Never turned up in the Arkle at Cheltenham but he had developed into one of Britain's better novices, impressing in all departments when digging deep to win a Grade 2 at Lingfield the time before (2m, soft); looks worthy of this high a mark and he does have one smart piece of form on good ground; stable targets this race; now tongue tied following wind surgery.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

14:55 Sandown

JPR One

11st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Form since upped to 2m4f comprises a handicap win at Musselburgh and fourth-place finishes in Grade 1 events at Cheltenham and Aintree; return to shorter may not be an issue but he ideally needs a drop back in class.

16/1

4th

4

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

JPR One

11st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Proved his stamina when readily defying top weight in handicap at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) in January, and he was disputing the lead entering the straight in the Ryanair at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) last month only to fade up the hill; beaten just over 16l by the winner Heart Wood but today's less demanding track should be a big plus; not ruled out each-way.

14/1

4th

7

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

JPR One

11st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made short work of conceding plenty of weight in his first 2m4f chase - a Musselburgh handicap (good to soft) in January - and with his best sibling staying 3m well, there's a fair chance he'll cope with this much stiffer test at the trip; however, his three previous Festival runs, including a 2m handicap last year, suggest he'll be pushed to play a part in this company.

33/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 1F238- C

Last run: 209 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Won his first three over fences before getting wiped out early in the Grade 2 at Lingfield won by JPR One, for which this 6yo was favourite; later held his own in a couple of Grade 1s (one on good ground) and never gave his true running at Aintree when last seen; capable of dealing with this mark in a handicap and, from limited evidence, his yard seems fairly forward; respected.
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: 70213- D BF

Last run: 202 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Smart in France; raced freely as hurdler on initial starts for this yard but has settled down over fences and ran his rivals ragged from the front in the always-strong Red Rum at Aintree in April (2m, soft); may have been feeling those exertions when an 8l third off 10lb higher at Ayr only nine days later; has impressed his trainer with his recent homework and no doubt has more to offer; all his good form is in the mud but Paul Nicholls, who has won this eight times, knew the score when declaring him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

18th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 1

13:10 Ayr

Sans Bruit

10st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Front-runner who was 11l third of 15 at Aintree (2m, good to soft) nine days ago when bidding to win that race for the third consecutive year (wins on soft/good); his last five wins have come in the month of April and there can be optimism that he will make another bold bid; third in this in 2024.

3/1

3rd

7

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Sans Bruit

11st 1lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

His exploits earlier in the season aren't of much concern given his last five wins have come in the month of April, including the last two runnings of this race (soft/good to soft; has also won on good); this prominent racer did it comfortably 12 months ago and is just 3lb higher today; could once more take all the beating.

11/4

4th

3

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 37y

Class 2

13:50 Windsor

Sans Bruit

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Hasn't found his form this term and that may well continue until winter is out, as he's essentially a spring horse; gained last five wins in the month of April.

10/1

Form: 2113-5

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Never looked back last season once the cheekpieces went on, winning three handicaps (2m3f/2m4f; soft to good); dropped away over 2m at Cheltenham two weeks ago (good) and, while going up in trip here will benefit, he probably needs even further at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

4th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

15:49 Newton Abbot

Scarface

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Four-time chase winner and his last success was in this race (off 2lb lower) last year; has been in and out this season but he bounced back with a fair third in Class 2 handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) two weeks ago; has possibilities if he can back that up and he's versatile ground-wise.

12/1

3rd

6

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Scarface

11st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Inconsistent this season but has finished a good second on two occasions (November/December) and filled the same position in this race 12 months ago prior to beating Heltenham at Newton Abbot; well capable of posing a threat, provided he's back to form.

8/1

5th

5

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:07 Kempton

Scarface

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Usually wears cheeekpieces; inconsistent (2P2P) this term but sole attempt in blinkers resulted in a good effort at Ascot (2m3f) on penultimate start; could go well in the reapplied blinds.

6/1

100/30

Form: /1117-

Last run: 209 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Kept a lower profile than some of these last season, completing a handicap hat-trick in his first three chases (at about 2m on soft) before coming down to earth in Aintree's Grade 1 in April (good to soft; in rear throughout); wouldn't knock him too harshly for that and retains plenty of potential; has never raced on good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Etalon

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Fitting of cheekpieces sparked a revival in December, when landing a fifth success over fences at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft); followed that up with a career-best RPR when third off this mark there (2m5f) the following month; respected but he'll need to leave behind a lesser effort last time.

7/2

Non-runners

Heltenham

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.40
Straight Forecast £8.50
Trifecta £27.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Djelo

The Times:

Etalon

WEST COUNTRY:

JPR One

TOPSPEED:

Heltenham

POSTDATA:

Scarface

SPOTLIGHT:

Sans Bruit

Telegraph:

Djelo

D Express:

Djelo

Daily Mirror:

Djelo

The Guardian:

Etalon

Daily Mail:

Etalon

The Sun:

Etalon

The Star:

JPR One

Daily Record:

JPR One