December 06 / 15.20 Exeter

15.20

Soft

JCB Hydrogen Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £9241.75
  • 3m 6f 153y
  • Class 3
  • 11 runners
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JCB Hydrogen Handicap Chase

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 1U31-8 C

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Progressive over fences last season when winning here and over 3m6f elsewhere; the glaring concern is his laboured reappearance a month ago over 3m2f at Chepstow, where he has form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

6th Dec 2024

Soft

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:20 Exeter

Leissieres Express

11st 3lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Progressive over fences last season when winning here and over 3m6f elsewhere; the glaring concern is his laboured reappearance a month ago over 3m2f at Chepstow, where he has form.

10/1

1st

7

6th Dec 2024

Soft

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:20 Exeter

Leissieres Express

11st 3lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Progressive over fences last season when winning here and over 3m6f elsewhere; the glaring concern is his laboured reappearance a month ago over 3m2f at Chepstow, where he has form.

10/1

4/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 37111-

Last run: 250 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Went 3-3 last season once the cheekpieces were fitted, culminating with a gritty display in the West Wales National at Ffos Las (3m4f, heavy); up another 5lb and has fitness to prove after his absence, but clearly a hard horse to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

20th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:45 Exeter

Art Decco

11st 12lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Won by 9l over C&D (soft) in December, matching his gutsy win in this race last year (heavy) as a career best; one problem is that both of those were off 6lb lower than today; another is that he showed little in the Surrey National last time, but he needs plenty of respect back here.

5/1

2

19th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

13:50 Lingfield

Art Decco

11st 13lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Showed career-best form when winning by 9l at Exeter (3m6f, soft) last month and is now 6-15 over fences; should be fine on this left-handed track but recent 7lb rise asks quite a lot of him.

7/1

6th

5

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 3

13:30 Fontwell

Art Decco

11st 4lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Won three in a row once the cheekpieces were added early last year and he was better than ever last season, winning the Devon National (3m6f) on latest start; only 1lb higher today but this is a big drop back in trip and he's raced on only soft or heavy going for the last two years.

100/30

5/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 4122-2

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
3m chase winner on heavy in March and bang there in his next three races at up to 3m1f; low-mileage 8yo who gives the impression that he'll stay this far.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

21st Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 3

15:40 Ffos Las

Rouge De LQuest

10st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Placed four consecutive times (2m7f-3m6f) after his C&D (heavy) win in first-time blinkers just under a year ago; still on a workable mark but was pulled up when tried in a visor last month and is untested on ground faster than good to soft.

9/2

6

7th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

14:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Rouge De LQuest

11st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Rebecca Curtis

Lightly raced 9yo who has been consistent in staying chases at up to 3m1f but stamina appeared stretched over 3m6f at Exeter (soft) last time; will need to see this out better and the change of headgear is a grey area.

15/2

6

7th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

14:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Rouge De LQuest

11st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Rebecca Curtis

Lightly raced 9yo who has been consistent in staying chases at up to 3m1f but stamina appeared stretched over 3m6f at Exeter (soft) last time; will need to see this out better and the change of headgear is a grey area.

15/2

Form: 545414 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Not the force of old and good days have become hard to call; won in a small field at Fontwell (3m2f) in October but never really threatened to follow up back there 19 days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Musical Slave

11st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Cashed in on historically tiny marks for this season's Fontwell (3m2f) and Taunton (3m4.5f) successes, and remains competitively treated; found the funereal pace against him last time; no ground concerns.

15/2

3

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Musical Slave

11st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Cashed in on historically tiny marks for this season's Fontwell (3m2f) and Taunton (3m4.5f) successes, and remains competitively treated; found the funereal pace against him last time; no ground concerns.

15/2

4th

4

23rd Mar 2025

Good

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

16:13 Exeter

Musical Slave

11st 0lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

jumped left on occasions, didn't always jump with fluency, raced in fourth, outpaced 4 out, weakened 2 out

4/1

Form: 148-23 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Inherited a remote second at Plumpton before plugging on for third at Fontwell (3m3f; ahead of Musical Slave); this longer trip can only be a good thing and he has each-way claims for sure.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 4

16:50 Wincanton

Whydah Gally

12st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Something to prove regarding current form as he's failed to shine over fences this winter, but he's 1-14 in chases as opposed to 3-10 over hurdles, and perhaps the return to this discipline will trigger a revival.

12/1

6

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Whydah Gally

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Capable stayer but has struggled with consistency; finished a 10l fourth at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) on Boxing Day, a race in which Vision De Maine was pulled up, but that was a laboured effort; handles most ground and has the ability to get involved but comes with risk.

8/1

6

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Whydah Gally

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Capable stayer but has struggled with consistency; finished a 10l fourth at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) on Boxing Day, a race in which Vision De Maine was pulled up, but that was a laboured effort; handles most ground and has the ability to get involved but comes with risk.

8/1

Form: PP-1PP

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in five of his last six races and good days tend to come at Ffos Las; opposable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 3

16:55 Chepstow

Amateur

10st 10lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: John & Rhys Flint

Last four victories all gained over Ffos Las's 3m4f trip in April or May (good, good to soft); present attainment level is conjectural, having survived just two fences on his recent first outing since last May.

25/1

1

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 136y

Class 4

15:50 Chepstow

Amateur

12st 2lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: John & Rhys Flint

A regular in long-distance chases, with an excellent record at Ffos Las but pulled up on all four appearances over these fences (twice in Welsh National); he's now a 13yo with no win since May 2024 (his only race under Edward Vaughan) but some ability remained last spring when last seen and he's accelerating down the weights.

12/1

3rd

4

26th May 2025

Good

3m 5f 80y

Class 3

16:05 Cartmel

Amateur

11st 2lb

J: Connor Brace

T: John & Rhys Flint

A regular in long-distance chases and faces an easier task than on some occasions; two decent efforts when fifth of eight at Newbury (3m2f, soft) and 21l last of three at Haydock (3m4f, good) in March but was well beaten at Perth last time; others preferred.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 351-36

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Edged home over 2m7f at Chepstow in April off this mark (without a 7lb claimer); often runs well there (not last time) but was runner-up on only previous visit here; going this far could be an issue when unraced beyond 3m2f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:47 Chepstow

Bells Of Peterboro

12st 2lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

Not one to rely upon heavily and doesn't always look wildly enthusiastic but didn't run badly when fourth at Uttoxeter (3m heavy) last month and this track suits him well; on a good mark; can't be ruled out.

14/1

7th

6

28th Oct 2025

Soft

3m 1f 60y

Class 4

14:58 Ffos Las

Bells Of Peterboro

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Tim Vaughan

Best run during a fairly light campaign last season when second to progressive rival at Lingfield (2m7f, heavy) in February; contender if judged on that and Sean Bowen is booked today but this 10yo has not been seen since a lesser effort in March and he's too inconsistent to rely upon.

7/1

7th

6

28th Oct 2025

Soft

3m 1f 60y

Class 4

14:58 Ffos Las

Bells Of Peterboro

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Tim Vaughan

Best run during a fairly light campaign last season when second to progressive rival at Lingfield (2m7f, heavy) in February; contender if judged on that and Sean Bowen is booked today but this 10yo has not been seen since a lesser effort in March and he's too inconsistent to rely upon.

7/1

Form: 111127

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Had a good year on goodish ground, completing a four-timer from June to September (at up to 3m2f); the handicapper now looks in charge and conditions are a concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Hold Your Fort

10st 9lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Debra Hamer

Made all in three-runner contest at Ascot (3m, good) in March and arguably bettered that form when close/clear second at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) last month; might be a shade vulnerable off new mark but at least we know he's in excellent nick.

5/2

2nd

8

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Hold Your Fort

10st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Debra Hamer

Did well in the autumn and won again last month at Ascot (3m, good) where he dominated his two rivals from the front; there's a suspicion that his two rivals underperformed and he's 5lb higher here, but still considered.

7/2

1st

4

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 2

16:50 Ascot

Hold Your Fort

10st 12lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Debra Hamer

Won at Ludlow (3m) in October and creditable fourth off this mark at Chepstow (3m2f, again good to firm) four days later, both under Callum Pritchard; recent Taunton run ended in an unseat before push came to shove but he's a big player judged on that autumn form.

4/1

Form: /PP1P-

Last run: 250 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
All or nothing last season for Charlie Longsdon but a capable stayer on his day and makes stable debut after a wind operation; headgear left off; he's of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Well Dick

12st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Emma Lavelle

Stamina to spare at this trip as a winner at up to 3m5f, but hard to place maximum faith in one with three wins and five pulled ups from their last eight starts, and genuinely good ground would ask a new question.

12/1

1

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Well Dick

12st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Emma Lavelle

Stamina to spare at this trip as a winner at up to 3m5f, but hard to place maximum faith in one with three wins and five pulled ups from their last eight starts, and genuinely good ground would ask a new question.

12/1

5

7th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

14:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Well Dick

11st 12lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Emma Lavelle

His profile is all or nothing and when winning at Exeter last month (3m, soft) only two others completed; however, he's a relentless galloper and this is his sort of race.

13/2

Form: 31UP-9

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won the North Wales National in first-time cheekpieces at Bangor (3m5f, heavy) in February so there are no stamina concerns; however, ended last season with two non-completions and, with the cheekpieces missing (as here), he offered little on his return at Ffos Las (3m).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 136y

Class 4

15:50 Chepstow

Stellar Stream

10st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Kayley Woollacott

Last won in the North Wales National at Bangor (extended 3m5f, heavy) in February 2024 with first-time cheekpieces; best effort this term was back in November (four races since) but he's down the weights, back chasing and some headgear returns after two hurdles races without; yard going well too.

11/2

5th

7

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:52 Ffos Las

Stellar Stream

10st 2lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Kayley Woollacott

Won the North Wales National in 2024 but nothing over either obstacle since; best efforts this term both recorded on slow ground here, albeit his C&D third last time owed most to the rider's perseverance.

9/1

3rd

6

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

14:50 Ffos Las

Stellar Stream

11st 8lb

J: Mr Joshua Newman

T: Kayley Woollacott

Thorough stayer who is 1-16 over fences since his last hurdle race in March 2023; the win came over 3m5f in first-time cheekpieces in February 2024 but headgear is removed today; has easily the lowest mark of his career but he's inconsistent and hard to rely on; yard also runs Sparkling Duke.

10/1

Form: 8723-9

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
0-6 in Irish points; not had a lot of racing under rules but his recent chase debut was forgettable (2m7f, good to soft; 40-1).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

3rd Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:30 Newton Abbot

Daring Plan

10st 6lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Sue Gardner

Placed twice over shorter this year, runner-up at Fontwell (2m5f) last time; one of the main players on recent form but is no certainty to go one better, being 0-23 overall and not a certain stayer back up in trip.

5/2

2nd

5

27th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

15:30 Fontwell

Daring Plan

10st 11lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

7lb higher when going close over 2m3f here last May (good) but remains a maiden and has become inconsistent.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £75.80
Straight Forecast £57.61
Tricast £237.47
Trifecta £413.50

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Rouge De L'Quest

SPOTLIGHT:

Well Dick

The Star:

Leissieres Express

WEST COUNTRY:

Whydah Gally

TOPSPEED:

Hold Your Fort

POSTDATA:

Musical Slave

Daily Mail:

Amateur

The Times:

Rouge De L'Quest

Telegraph:

Rouge De L'Quest

D Express:

Rouge De L'Quest

Daily Mirror:

Rouge De L'Quest

The Sun:

Rouge De L'Quest

Daily Record:

Rouge De L'Quest