December 06 / 13.00 Exeter

13.00

Soft

Southwest Rail Solutions Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £9241.75
  • 2m 3f 48y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
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Southwest Rail Solutions Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 112-42 D BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Won his first four hurdles last season (1m7f-2m3f; slow ground); shaped nicely in a competitive handicap on his return and then sent over fences at Bangor (2m4f, soft), where he was well backed and beat all bar a progressive winner; that was a very positive start in this discipline.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

15:32 Newbury

Lowrys Bar

11st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Largely progressive prior to bleeding from the nose on his final start last season (February) and he did not show much when pulled up again here in November, albeit in a top 3m2f handicap chase (22-1); this is his first hurdle race since October 2024 and there are plenty of reasons to believe he's well handicapped if all is well with him.

7/1

1

22nd Feb 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Kempton

Lowrys Bar

12st 0lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

in touch with leaders

11/2

25/1

  • Place: £6.70

Form: 131-F0 CD

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
As good as ever last season, winning twice over C&D on soft; however, he's the most exposed of these by some way and he needed to run better on his return from a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

17:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Stormy Flight

11st 13lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, reminder after 7th, struggling from 4 out, pulled up after 3 out

4/1

3

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

17:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Stormy Flight

11st 13lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, reminder after 7th, struggling from 4 out

4/1

6th

1

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 4

16:02 Newbury

Stormy Flight

12st 2lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

His second to Lowry's Bar at Exeter in December (2m3f; stays 3m+) reads really well and it wasn't a bad effort last time at Taunton (2m7f); an 11yo now but goes on any ground and he can't be discounted.

8/1

Form: 21U1-3 D BF

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
2-4 as a novice hurdler last season; sent straight over fences this term and ran a good race behind more experienced opposition at Market Rasen (2m5f, good; winner since runner-up in a Grade 2); must have every chance with that run under his belt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

The Doyen Chief

11st 3lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Better chaser than hurdler, third win coming in 3m Kempton handicap in January (good); better again when second in better-class contest over same C&D following month, disappointingly never counted in Ultima at Cheltenham latest; possibly best going right-handed so could go well here, especially if ground continues to dry out.

12/1

9th

15

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

The Doyen Chief

10st 13lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Won at Kempton (3m, good) in January and good second in competitive handicap there (3m, good to soft) last month; could give another good account but he didn't quite stay when fifth here (extended 3m2f, good to soft) in December and it's possible he'll again prove vulnerable up the hill.

33/1

2nd

5

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Kempton

The Doyen Chief

11st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Closely matched with Deep Cave on their Bangor clash in November (soft) and, back at 3m from 3m2f, he dug deep for a course win last month (good); only went up 1lb for that and the runner-up ran well in defeat last weekend at Ascot.

8/1

Form: P211-F D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Impressed in winning two Wincanton novices (2m4f soft; 2m5f heavy) last season and trainer wasn't fazed by him making his chase debut at Cheltenham (2m4f handicap, good), where he had jumped well until falling two out whilst holding every chance; highly likely that he's very well handicapped.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:43 Ayr

Lord Of Thunder

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Off the mark over fences at the fourth attempt in Newbury handicap in February (2m7f, soft; Pic Roc second); also effective on good going; merely mid-division in the Jack Richards at Cheltenham since but he's back in a less competitive race here and he could tap back into his previous promise.

14/1

4th

5

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:43 Ayr

Lord Of Thunder

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

in touch with leaders, not fluent 2nd

14/1

Form: 12- D BF

Last run: 250 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
The horse he beat in a Chepstow maiden (2m3f, heavy) has progressed well and his Ffos Las conqueror is useful; second in an Irish point and interesting that connections are willing to get him over fences so soon; kicks off in a very warm race and lacking a run won't help matters; he's promising, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:42 Ffos Las

Tommys Charm

12st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Lightly raced for his age and now 12lb lower than when going close at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) at start of last year, but he's been out of form this season and needs first-time tongue-tie to aid a revival.

20/1

5th

6

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Tommys Charm

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Hurdles winner over a similar trip here early in 2024, but lightly raced since; finally managed to complete at Ludlow (3m, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) last month, but was still well beaten; lots to prove.

16/1

6th

7

26th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

14:07 Ludlow

Tommys Charm

10st 12lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kerry Lee

Low-mileage 8yo; beaten when falling on seasonal debut in October and pulled up on both subsequent appearances; needs a huge boost from the new cheekpieces.

16/1

Form: F141/3 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Won three of his first six chases and was returning from a long absence when third at Bangor (2m4f, soft), finishing 3.5l behind Lowry's Bar; that form brings him right into the equation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

15th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 4

14:25 Newbury

Garincha

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Neil Mulholland

held up in rear, awkward jump 1st, headway after 14th, disputing third 2 out, stayed on final 110yds, went second towards finish

14/1

2nd

4

15th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 4

14:25 Newbury

Garincha

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Neil Mulholland

Sent chasing two seasons back and won three from six; absent 568 days before third of 15 at Bangor (extended 2m4f, soft) in November but tailed off at Exeter (2m3f) over three weeks later; not proven beyond 2m5f; latest win was under a 7lb claimer and another claimer gets the leg up today.

14/1

6th

6

6th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

13:00 Exeter

Garincha

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

prominent, lost position but in touch with leaders 6th, dropped to last before 7th

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 8114P- D

Last run: 238 days

W: 12st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Rejuvenated by the blinkers when winning two small-field handicaps last December before losing his form afterwards, latterly in the Topham at Aintree; not badly handicapped if getting back in the zone following further wind surgery but he's going in against some up-and-comers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

Quel Destin

11st 12lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful hurdler/chaser in his pomp who is a three-time chase winner, with back-to-back wins coming in December 2023; below that level in limited appearances since, including after a third wind operation; nevertheless, he could still make his presence felt at this lower level.

9/2

4th

6

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Warwick

Quel Destin

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, not fluent 11th, prominent when jumped right 12th, not fluent 3 out, weakening when mistake last, lost third towards finish

14/1

4th

6

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Warwick

Quel Destin

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, not fluent 11th, prominent when jumped right 12th, not fluent 3 out, weakening when mistake last, lost third towards finish

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £29.00
Straight Forecast £26.98
Trifecta £94.30

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Lowry's Bar

RP RATINGS:

The Doyen Chief

SPOTLIGHT:

Lord Of Thunder

Daily Record:

Quel Destin

The Times:

Lowry's Bar

Telegraph:

Lowry's Bar

D Express:

Lowry's Bar

The Star:

Lowry's Bar

POSTDATA:

Lord Of Thunder

WEST COUNTRY:

Lord Of Thunder

Daily Mail:

The Doyen Chief

Daily Mirror:

The Doyen Chief

The Sun:

The Doyen Chief