January 29 / 14.02 Exeter

14.02

Heavy

General Gilbert Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8441.3
  • 3m 0f 54y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
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General Gilbert Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: 3P3-5P

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Held in fifth on chase debut at Chepstow and made mistakes and was pulled up at Cheltenham last time; something to prove in this sphere but he drops back down in grade today and was a promising novice hurdler last season for his top yard; no surprise if he bounces back with a big run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Isaac Des Obeaux

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Paul Nicholls

Made a bad mistake on penultimate outing but he won starts either side and latest was the 4m2f Midlands National at Uttoxeter (soft) in which he was always prominent and asserted by 8l on run-in, with Git Maker in third; up 7lb but his only attempt at a marathon trip brought a clear career best.

9/1

1st

5

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Isaac Des Obeaux

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Paul Nicholls

Beat none other than Haiti Couleurs over hurdles; their respective careers have headed in very different directions and this 8yo is only 1-7 over fences, the win coming in a small field at Exeter two runs back (3m, heavy); since then he lost his position after a bad mistake at Wincanton (3m2f); may yet have more to offer over an extreme distance such as this but he certainly needs it.

11/1

Form: 130-54 D BF

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
A tad underwhelming when fourth of five at Windsor (3m, good to soft) last month but prior to that he stayed on well for a promising fifth of 15 on his chase debut at Bangor (2m4f, soft); won four times over hurdles (including at 3m on heavy) and is capable of having a big say if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Tanganyika

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Up in class and up in trip (by some way) having never gone beyond an extended 3m; however, he's got low mileage as a chaser and won eased down last time at Carlisle (good to soft); handicapper saw fit to raise him 9lb for that but if his stamina reserves can stretch this far then he might not be far away.

8/1

1st

4

17th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:50 Carlisle

Tanganyika

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Four-time hurdle winner (heavy/good to soft; including here) who scored at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) a fortnight ago on his third chase start; led close home having been outpaced and today's stiffer test should be right up his street; firmly in calculations up 4lb.

3/1

1st

1

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:45 Market Rasen

Tanganyika

12st 1lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

prominent, outpaced before 3 out, ridden and rallied after 2 out, good jump last, led final 110yds, kept on well

7/2

Form: 5-514P CD

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles here on heavy ground and scored over C&D (good to soft) in October on his second chase start; has failed to build on that, however, and was pulled up over C&D last time; a major turnaround is needed in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Jupiter Allen

11st 3lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Chester Williams

Won twice as a novice last season and ended up in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham (tailed off after racing freely); this campaign is going well and he should stay okay as he wasn't stopping when runner-up over Exeter's super-stiff 3m6f in December (soft); the race he won at Wincanton last time (3m1f, heavy; cheekpieces returned) rather fell apart but he did hack up and the 6lb rise could been a whole lot worse; it's a nagging concern that all five wins have been on right-handed tracks but there's lots to like otherwise about this 7yo.

9/1

1st

4

29th Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

15:33 Wincanton

Jupiter Allen

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Chester Williams

Dual chase winner who goes well in the mud and he could have done with slower ground when a 6l third over C&D on Boxing Day (good to soft); entitled to step up on that effort here and enters the reckoning.

5/2

11th

18

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Jupiter Allen

10st 7lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Scored at Exeter (3m, good to soft) in October on second attempt over fences and brushed two lesser efforts aside with a game, front-running win in first-time cheekpieces at Taunton (2m7f, soft) five weeks ago; up 4lb but stays 3m well and could have more to offer.

50/1

Form: 16-3P3 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Heavy-ground winner who has posted a good third in handicap hurdles on two of his last three starts (3m, soft); has reportedly schooled well over fences and could be in the mix on today's chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 2f 13y

Class 4

15:41 Uttoxeter

Madaket

11st 7lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Dual hurdle winner; his third at Ffos Las in October reads quite well (3m1f, soft) but comfortably held in his three other handicap chases, the latest here; needs more.

8/1

3rd

5

28th Oct 2025

Soft

3m 1f 60y

Class 4

14:58 Ffos Las

Madaket

11st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Dual hurdle winner who was placed off 1lb higher here (3m, soft) in January; disappointed on chasing debut the following month (bled from the nose) and not seen since but may still have a future over fences.

10/1

3rd

5

28th Oct 2025

Soft

3m 1f 60y

Class 4

14:58 Ffos Las

Madaket

11st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Dual hurdle winner who was placed off 1lb higher here (3m, soft) in January; disappointed on chasing debut the following month (bled from the nose) and not seen since but may still have a future over fences.

10/1

Form: 4-389F C

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Course bumper (heavy) and handicap hurdle winner who is on a competitive mark on his best form; however, he was well beaten over hurdles on his final two runs last year and fell at the first fence here on his recent chase debut; others arrive with less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:45 Newton Abbot

Astronomic View

11st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sue Gardner

Didn't appear to stay 3m5f at Bangor two starts ago but fared little better when pulled up at Exeter last month back at a trip that should have suited; had been in good form prior to those runs and would hold at least place claims if able to rekindle that earlier spark.

10/1

6

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

14:55 Exeter

Astronomic View

11st 9lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

In good form over fences prior to heavy defeat at Bangor where he failed to stay 3m5f; could go well now back down in trip on first hurdle start since December 2024.

16/1

6th

8

25th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

16:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Astronomic View

11st 4lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

0-7 over fences but has been running well, not beaten at all far the last twice in races at about 3m; however, although a 3m2f winner over hurdles, 3m6f appeared too far at Exeter in December.

10/1

Form: /1-433 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Returned from break with encouraging third on chase debut at Ffos Las (2m5f, heavy) and another fair third there (2m, soft) since; won at up to 3m1f over hurdles and he could be a contender now back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

10th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 3

16:17 Chepstow

Art Of Diplomacy

11st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Has gone 5-5 over fences (2m5f-3m2f) since the cheekpieces returned in June, last time prevailing in a match; tackling stronger opposition here and he's penalised accordingly, but he's in the zone and fighting fit.

4/1

1

19th Sep 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

14:03 Newton Abbot

Art Of Diplomacy

11st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Kept on well for ready success in Class 2 handicap at Bangor (3m, good) a fortnight ago and is now 4-4 over fences since cheekpieces were refitted in June; 2m5f on slower ground will also suit him; ought to be very hard to beat in current mood.

Evs

Form: 45-34

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Promising third of five on hurdle/stable debut in Listed novice at Sandown (2m, soft) last month and again showed ability when 17l fourth in warm maiden hurdle at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) last time; trainer wastes no time in sending him over fences for his handicap debut and there's stamina in his pedigree; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 2f 13y

Class 4

15:41 Uttoxeter

Mount Gay Run

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

Didn't last long with Paul Nicholls nor Keiran Burke, though hinted at a future in both yards; ran well in a maiden hurdle on stable debut and again when beaten 6l on handicap debut at Ascot (2m7f, good to soft); same mark here for this return to fences (unseated midrace in previous chase start nearly a year ago).

4/1

8

4th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

14:25 Taunton

Mount Gay Run

10st 11lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Keiran Burke

midfield, mistake and unseated 7th

7/1

8

4th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

14:25 Taunton

Mount Gay Run

10st 11lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Keiran Burke

midfield, mistake and unseated 7th

7/1

Verdict

Better could have been expected from TANGANYIKA at Windsor last time but prior to that he was a promising fifth of 15 on his chase debut at Bangor, and is given another chance. Chasing newcomer Madaket ran well over hurdles at Ffos Las recently and is second choice ahead of class-dropper Isaac Des Obeaux.[Ben Hutton]