January 27 / 15.00 Hereford

15.00

Good To Soft

Star Sports Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6178.77
  • 2m 4f 194y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Star Sports Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: 6P-113 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Campaigned over 2m4f on good ground since switched to chasing; ran well at Kempton on Boxing Day when bidding for a hat-trick and remains open to further progress; respected off unchanged mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

17:10 Market Rasen

El Rio

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

3-6 over fences, the latest win gained at Kempton (2m4f, soft; made all) in February; needs to return from seven-month break in prime form to have any chance off current mark but the forecast good ground won't be a problem.

4/1

Form: 13/1/2

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 8yo; bumper/hurdle winner for previous yard; ran encouragingly in Kempton beginners' chase (2m2f) two months ago on return from lengthy absence; may build on that effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

Leave Of Absence

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Good third to Lookaway in the bumper on this card four years ago; spoiled his chance with a couple of mistakes in the Cheltenham Festival handicap won by Grand National contender Johnnywho; however, he split that rival and Deep Cave for useful effort at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in December and may resume his progress when jumping errors are avoided.

11/1

5th

6

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Leave Of Absence

11st 3lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Second-season chaser who is enjoying another progressive campaign, winning a novice here (3m1f, good) in October and beaten a head in a handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in December; not disgraced in Grade 2 at Newbury (2m7f, heavy) last time; not ruled out each-way now back in a handicap.

16/1

3rd

4

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 1

14:10 Newbury

Leave Of Absence

11st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Lightly raced for his age and best form when pipped in a Grade 3 handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) on latest start; however, reportedly unsuited by the soft ground (his first race on it) when pulled up in a Listed novice chase at Cheltenham the time before and he has plenty to find against two of today's rivals on the ratings.

14/1

Form: 212-22

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Bumper/hurdle winner who is proving consistent; solid effort at Warwick (2m5f, good to soft) most recently, taking form figures in handicaps to 222; likely player, provided he takes to chasing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:27 Kempton

Dont Tell Su

11st 11lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

On workable mark if judged on last season's hurdling form at around 2m4f for Paul Nicholls but his chasing debut last March was underwhelming and his finishing effort on seasonal/stable debut in December (favourite) was very disappointing; upped in trip here; has a point to prove.

4/1

Form: 50-613 BF

Last run: 41 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Scored by a wide margin, albeit in weak race, at Exeter (2m3f, good) on second attempt over fences; laboured effort at Wincanton (2m4f) since and now goes in blinkers, which may help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:45 Taunton

Gyenyame

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

On a losing run but he's proving a consistent sort and came in a good second of eight in 3m1f handicap chase at Wincanton 19 days ago; he's firmly in the picture again off an unchanged mark.

3/1

2nd

5

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:40 Wincanton

Gyenyame

11st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Sole win since taking a 2m4f maiden hurdle on this card in 2023 came in a weak three-runner beginners' chase; respected on the form of November's Exeter 0-130 second (3m, good), however, with a tough task at the weights and (latest) desperate ground viable excuses either side of that.

6/1

3rd

2

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

16:55 Newton Abbot

Gyenyame

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Seemingly aided by blinkers when runner-up in two Class 4 handicap chases at Taunton (2m5f/2m7f) in February/March but can't be recommended in this company.

20/1

Form: /52/02 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdles winner; solid effort at Newbury (2m7f, good to soft; behind a subsequent scorer) last month on second run back from long layoff; possibilities off same mark in this similar event.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

5th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 110y

14:58 Thurles

Moulins Clermont

11st 12lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: T Hogan

Two wins over hurdles in Britain; uneven form in three chase starts, best display when second in a small-field Newbury handicap; off for over a year; good claimer booked for his Irish debut.

16/1

5th

3

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:20 Kempton

Moulins Clermont

11st 8lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

in touch with leaders, not fluent 4th, bad mistake 4 out

3/1

5th

3

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:20 Kempton

Moulins Clermont

11st 8lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

in touch with leaders, not fluent 4th, bad mistake 4 out

3/1

Verdict

Most of the runners hold solid-looking claims. The percentage call goes to MOULINS CLERMONT, whose latest effort has received a boost and who remains on an attractive mark. Chase debutant Don’t Tell Su (second choice) has very consistent form, while El Rio and Leave Of Absence are still open to further improvement.[Steve Boow]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

El Rio

WEST COUNTRY:

Leave Of Absence

SPOTLIGHT:

Moulins Clermont

Daily Mirror:

Don't Tell Su

TOPSPEED:

El Rio

POSTDATA:

El Rio

Telegraph:

El Rio

D Express:

El Rio

Daily Record:

El Rio

The Times:

Leave Of Absence

The Guardian:

Leave Of Absence

Daily Mail:

Leave Of Absence

The Sun:

Leave Of Absence

The Star:

Moulins Clermont