March 22 / 14.52 Bangor-on-Dee

14.52

Good

Excel Signs Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 1f 77y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Excel Signs Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.20
  • Place: £1.90

Form: -6P127 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Caused 22-1 surprise at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) in January and backed up that performance with keeping-on second at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) soon afterwards but her form dipped last month and she needs to rebound.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

14th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

17:40 Warwick

Orbys River

11st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Sam Allwood

chased clear leader, mistake 1st, soon dropped to midfield, not fluent 4 out, not fluent 3 out, some headway on turn before 2 out, weakened approaching last

9/4

5th

3

14th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

17:40 Warwick

Orbys River

11st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Sam Allwood

chased clear leader, mistake 1st, soon dropped to midfield, not fluent 4 out, not fluent 3 out, some headway on turn before 2 out, weakened approaching last

9/4

1st

7

22nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

14:52 Bangor-on-Dee

Orbys River

10st 6lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Sam Allwood

Caused 22-1 surprise at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) in January and backed up that performance with keeping-on second at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) soon afterwards but her form dipped last month and she needs to rebound.

7/1

Form: P3431P BF

Last run: 109 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Scored over hurdles at Southwell (2m, good) in November; jumped badly left and was a very disappointing favourite when back over fences there in December but remains on a workable chase mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

4th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 4

15:15 Warwick

Neigh Botha

10st 13lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won at Southwell (2m, good) in October but looked set to be second when left in the lead at Bangor; however, only 2lb higher now and he reportedly finished lame in November on his final run.

13/2

1st

3

27th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Neigh Botha

11st 13lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Watch the weather as all his best form is on good ground, including latest comfortable win at Southwell (2m); could deal with the 6lb rise under suitable conditions.

7/2

1st

3

27th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Neigh Botha

11st 13lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Watch the weather as all his best form is on good ground, including latest comfortable win at Southwell (2m); could deal with the 6lb rise under suitable conditions.

7/2

7/1

  • Place: £3.20

Form: 65-75

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Very unexposed 7yo; showed nothing more than minor promise in three maiden/novice hurdles this season (2m-2m1f) but was placed in two Irish points in 2022 and is open to improvement on this chase/handicap debut; tongue-tie fitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

8th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Uttoxeter

Sovereign Star

10st 13lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Has had some gaps in his career but he gave an improved display on second chase start when winning at Bangor (about 2m4f, good) in June, where a persistent rival left him ahead two out; up 3lb; can progress.

4/1

1st

4

6th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Sovereign Star

10st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Lightly raced since he was placed in two Irish points in 2022 but made quite promising chase/handicap debut when third here (2m1f, good; first-time tongue-tie) in March; absent for 11 weeks since but ought to be suited by today's step up in trip.

10/1

3rd

2

22nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

14:52 Bangor-on-Dee

Sovereign Star

11st 12lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Very unexposed 7yo; showed nothing more than minor promise in three maiden/novice hurdles this season (2m-2m1f) but was placed in two Irish points in 2022 and is open to improvement on this chase/handicap debut; tongue-tie fitted.

7/1

Form: 986233 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Three-time hurdle winner for Gordon Elliott; safely held when making the frame in last three chases for current stable but continues to slip down the weights and will be suited by the forecast good ground here; cheekpieces removed; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:22 Ffos Las

As Tears Go By

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: D J Jeffreys

Winless since May 2023; some sound beatings among his current sequence of frame finishes, but he did run the winner to about 7l at Fakenham latest (2m5f, good to soft) with a next-time winner just behind.

7/2

2nd

1

18th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 44y

Class 5

15:10 Fakenham

As Tears Go By

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: D J Jeffreys

Regressive 8yo who is 0-5 over fences and has been absent since his well-held fourth at Bangor (2m1f, good) last March; might have been refreshed by a layoff but could be considered only if lively in the betting.

5/1

Form: 1P812P D

Last run: 44 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in a heavy-ground hurdle last month but was in good form over fences and hurdles on good to soft in the autumn, most notably when winning 2m Ffos Las chase by 20l; player if he can get back in the groove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

5th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

17:22 Ffos Las

Boston Joe

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Goes well here, gaining fourth course success with a narrow verdict in March (2m3f, soft); beaten 8l behind L'Empire Vert off this 4lb higher mark on his return visit but he was held up in a race that favoured those ridden handier; good chance.

13/2

5th

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

16:20 Ffos Las

Boston Joe

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Prevailed from a solid rival in similar event over C&D (soft) last time, taking Ffos Las record to 4-15; should remain competitive despite going back up 4lb.

3/1

1st

2

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

Boston Joe

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Gained three of his five chase wins here; must bounce back from a poor performance (over hurdles) in January but was placed here on first two starts this season (2m4f hurdle/2m chase) and has been given a chance by the handicapper.

9/2

Form: 007

Last run: 41 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Second in 2m4f maiden point on debut last spring; well beaten at triple-digit odds in three 2m novice hurdles since the autumn but has a lowly mark for this chase/handicap debut; worth a glance in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 5

15:35 Fakenham

Chateau Du Lys

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Tom Gretton

0-6 over fences; seemed to respond well to first-time cheekpieces when second at Market Rasen (2m1f, good) last month but was only third best on merit there and was tailed off on his latest outing; 1lb wrong here.

5/1

5th

4

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

18:30 Huntingdon

Chateau Du Lys

10st 8lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tom Gretton

Low-mileage 7yo; pulled up on consective appearances towards end of 2025 and was only third best on merit when battling on for modest second of six at Market Rasen (2m1f, good; first-time cheekpiecs) last month but at least that recent run gives him something to build on.

11/2

2nd

6

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

15:55 Market Rasen

Chateau Du Lys

10st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Tom Gretton

Pulled up in two handicap chases this season (2m5f/2m) and now 0-8 under all codes; sports first-time cheekpieces here; 1lb out of the weights; leap of faith required to support him.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4-3208

Last run: 91 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
0-10 over fences; came second off 2lb higher over C&D (good to soft) last May and has obvious claims if judged on that performance but returned from break with poor run in December and has been off for another three months since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 13y

Class 4

14:30 Ascot

Limetree Boy

10st 4lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Winning hurdler who is 0-15 over fences; placed a few times, as at Windsor on New Year's Day (3m, good), but lesser performances have followed and softer ground was no excuse; cheekpieces return after trying blinkers last time.

10/1

8th

5

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Limetree Boy

11st 8lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Back from a break to finish second at Windsor but that was over 3m and he fared less well at Huntingdon where soft ground was no excuse; still, always a chance that blinkers will sharpen up him and the trip shouldn't be a problem.

14/1

6th

1

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

13:30 Huntingdon

Limetree Boy

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Recent Windsor second (3m, good; pair 13l clear) was his most likeable performance since last spring; effective on slow ground and over stayers' trips, but untried over both together, and cranked back up 6lb also.

11/2

Form: -74622

Last run: 50 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 6yo who was seemingly aided by a tongue-tie when second in soft-ground chases at Warwick (2m) and Catterick (1m7f) this winter; usually ridden patiently; has good chance here if he handles the quicker conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Stick With Me Sam

10st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Gretton

Won three times in a row this winter (1m7f/2m, heavy-good to soft); made mistakes when well beaten at Newcastle (2m, good to soft) last time and his yard is in good form, but he needs to prove he can cope with his current mark, and also today's step up in trip.

20/1

6th

5

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:10 Newcastle

Stick With Me Sam

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Tom Gretton

Has won three of his four races in this headgear combination and it was fairly comfortable at Catterick three weeks ago (1m7f, soft); shooting up the weights (raised another 8lb) but things have clicked in a big way.

3/1

1st

2

30th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 145y

Class 5

14:40 Catterick

Stick With Me Sam

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Tom Gretton

Comfortable win at Hexham (1m7f, heavy) last month on his second start of the season and he followed up at Warwick (2m, good to soft) on New Year's Eve; clearly thriving and may well complete the hat-trick.

8/13

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £53.60
Straight Forecast £47.12
Tricast £564.58
Trifecta £375.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Stick With Me Sam

The Guardian:

As Tears Go By

RP RATINGS:

Boston Joe

Telegraph:

Sovereign Star

TOPSPEED:

Stick With Me Sam

POSTDATA:

Stick With Me Sam

The Times:

Stick With Me Sam

Daily Mail:

Stick With Me Sam

The Star:

Stick With Me Sam

Daily Record:

Stick With Me Sam

Daily Mirror:

As Tears Go By

D Express:

Boston Joe