February 13 / 14.40 Leicester

14.40

Soft

MHA Baker Tilly Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 1m 7f 201y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
RTV
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MHA Baker Tilly Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 511134 D BF

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Got off to a winning start over fences at Haydock (2m) in December and has posted a pair of solid efforts in handicaps since, fourth of six at Sandown (2m) 12 days ago; he can make his presence felt once more with cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Classic Maestro

10st 13lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Good second at Sandown (1m7f, soft) in January and ran well before fading into 14 third at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month; however, his best form has come on soft/heavy ground and such conditions seem unlikely today.

15/2

OUR TIP

Form: F92-12 BF

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Ex-French recruit who is much improved for his current yard since sent chasing this term, going in at Ascot (2m2f) before posting an excellent second of nine in 2m3f handicap at Doncaster last time; that form has been franked so he's a big player off an unchanged mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 42y

Class 3

15:35 Sandown

Bucksy Des Epeires

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Had fallen in the weights prior to winning at Ludlow (3m, soft) 17 days ago, perked up by first-time cheekpieces; nudged back up 3lb but remains on a workable mark; high on the list.

100/30

1st

1

18th Feb 2026

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:35 Ludlow

Bucksy Des Epeires

12st 0lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Below best on his four outings in 2025 and unseated at the first fence at Taunton recently; also needs to prove his stamina; however, this 7yo has plenty of time to get his career back on track and is on a handy mark on his 2024 exploits; perhaps the new cheekpieces will give him a boost.

4/1

4

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:45 Taunton

Bucksy Des Epeires

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Back on a good mark now but ended last season on a low note and has not really fired on either appearance this term (favourite both times); comes here with a bit to prove, including stamina.

3/1

Form: 68-31P D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Got off the mark in this sphere at Exeter (2m1f) in December but pulled up in 2m4f Windsor handicap chase 27 days ago; he needs to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

14:35 Uttoxeter

Party Vibes

10st 3lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Henry Daly

Won four-runner mares' chase at Hereford (2m5f, good) last month and is now 4-9 over fences; this race is much more competitive but she could have untapped potential over 3m.

7/1

1st

1

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 3

15:55 Hereford

Party Vibes

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Henry Daly

Hurdle winner on soft but two chase wins in 2025 were on good to soft, latterly at Cheltenham (about 2m4f) in December, and failures since have come on heavy and soft; needs to jump better than she did at Ludlow in February (over 17l behind Malaita) but she could revive back on good ground.

11/4

Form: 16-413 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 7yo who arrives on the up over fences, scoring at Market Rasen (2m1f) before backing that up with a very good third of six at Exeter (2m3f) last month; he's not taken lightly off the same mark with that form working out well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 4

15:30 Kempton

Denemethy

12st 1lb

J: Mr Harry O’Dwyer

T: Fergal O’Brien

Consistent since sole chase success and has solid handicap form this season; receives hardly any respite from the assessor but gets other help on this occasion, with Harry O'Dwyer taking off 7lb.

11/4

3rd

1

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Denemethy

12st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Consistent since sole chase success and has solid handicap form this season; latest effort, in Sandown Class 2, received a boost when the winner followed up in Grade 2 event on Saturday; respected at this level.

6/5

Form: 3-254P D

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Yet to score over fences and he has failed to progress since a promising second at Ffos Las (2m) in October; didn't stay 3m4f when pulled up in Windsor handicap chase 25 days ago but more is still needed on this drop back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:45 Ayr

Just Over Land

10st 11lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Two chase wins towards the end of last year (2m3f, good to soft) and did well to finish third of five at Sandown (2m4f, soft) last month having made mistakes; pulled up over 3m4f last January on sole previous run beyond 2m5f but he's worth a go at this trip; could go well if finding fluency.

9/1

3rd

3

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:10 Sandown

Just Over Land

11st 3lb

J: Mr Harvey Barfoot-Saunt

T: Sam Thomas

Returned to win handicap chases at Fontwell and Chepstow (both 2m3f, good to soft) in November/December; fared about as well as could be expected from 10lb out of the weights when fourth of 12 in a valuable Premier Handicap at Cheltenham (just short of 2m5f, good) on New Year's Day; respected with his sights lowered.

4/1

5

13th Feb 2025

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 3

14:40 Leicester

Just Over Land

10st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Sam Thomas

Yet to score over fences and he has failed to progress since a promising second at Ffos Las (2m) in October; didn't stay 3m4f when pulled up in Windsor handicap chase 25 days ago but more is still needed on this drop back in trip.

10/1

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Classic Maestro

SPOTLIGHT:

Bucksy Des Epeires

Telegraph:

Party Vibes

The Times:

Denemethy

The Guardian:

Just Over Land

D Express:

Party Vibes

TOPSPEED:

Classic Maestro

POSTDATA:

Classic Maestro

Daily Mail:

Classic Maestro

Daily Mirror:

Classic Maestro

The Star:

Bucksy Des Epeires

Daily Record:

Bucksy Des Epeires