November 01 / 13.30 Ascot

13.30

Good

Ascot Underwriting Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 2f 181y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
ITV4
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Ascot Underwriting Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: P/21-2

Last run: 183 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Suited by a sound surface; won a juvenile hurdle for this yard in 2020 before embarking on a point/hunter chase career that by and large went very well, and last time ran to a high level when second to the classy Its On The Line in a 3m hunter chase at Punchestown; a long time since he ran over this short a trip but he's a front-runner who doesn't hang about; Olive Nicholls knows him well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

13th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

19:30 Newton Abbot

Viroflay

12st 0lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Has had no trouble in transferring his useful hunter chase form to handicaps, last season winning at Kempton (3m, good) and runner-up there (2m4f, good to soft) in February; his Topham run can be forgiven and, while he might be better going right-handed, he could be tough to catch around here.

13/8

17th

14

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Viroflay

10st 9lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful hunter chaser last season and he's transferred that form to handicaps, winning at Kempton (3m, good) in December and runner-up there (2m4f, good to soft) in February; he may be better going right-handed but otherwise this front-runner could prove well suited by today's test.

20/1

2nd

3

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

16:05 Kempton

Viroflay

11st 9lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Won a C&D hunter chase last season from the front, as is his way; last two races have also been here over 3m, jumping better than his rivals the last time when 4lb lower; looks sure to go well for a long way back at 2m4f.

9/1

Form: 31210-

Last run: 232 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
28-1 when tailed off in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham in March on final sighting; headed there with a progressive profile, with his second in a Listed race flanked by novice wins; held in high regard at home and brings a nice profile into his chasing career.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

12:45 Aintree

No Questions Asked

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Useful over hurdles and even better over fences; found a bit more improvement when coming from behind to beat Be Aware 1l in three-runner Grade 2 novice at Windsor (2m, soft; handles good) in January; well beaten next time in 2m4f handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, lack of stamina probably a factor; this drop back in trip looks a plus and he wears cheekpieces for the first time (has won when hooded); not ruled out.

12/1

17th

3

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

No Questions Asked

11st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Three hurdle wins at up to 2m1f last season but he was the last to finish in the Martin Pipe here (about 2m4f) last March; has proved his worth in small-field chases since, winning two from four starts, over 2m3f (good) and 2m (soft); he can raise his game further but a strongly run race on a track with a steep uphill finish raises a question.

14/1

1st

4

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 37y

Class 1

13:50 Windsor

No Questions Asked

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Won a handicap at Ascot (2m3f, good) in November on chase debut and has continued in good form in Grade 2 chases on next two starts (2m4f/2m3f, good to soft/soft), shaping as though this drop back in trip is well worth a go; could have a big part to play.

11/4

Form: 366-12

Last run: 126 days

W: 10st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
The stable has won this with a 4yo (Nassalam) before and he won one of his two chase starts in France earlier this year (2m6f, soft); goodish ground will be a first but that might be no hindrance judged on comments made in this week's Racing Post Stable Tour; dangerously unexposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

Lylian

11st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

French chase winner at this trip on soft ground; he hasn't really got a lot going over fences in Britain, with two 14l defeats as good as it's got; he has at least dropped 13lb for his troubles and he'll probably come good sooner or later.

14/1

3rd

3

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 31y

Class 4

14:20 Doncaster

Lylian

11st 6lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

French chase winner (2m6f, soft) who hasn't threatened across his three British starts, and this expected return to better ground may be against him; however, there was some promise in his 14l third of five at Sandown (2m4f, soft) last time and that race is working out very well.

11/4

3rd

6

31st Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

13:25 Sandown

Lylian

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Needs improvement on his good-ground efforts for new yard but may show the benefit of the return to forecast slower conditions, having gained his French success (chase) on soft.

12/1

Form: 366-12

Last run: 126 days

W: 10st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
The stable has won this with a 4yo (Nassalam) before and he won one of his two chase starts in France earlier this year (2m6f, soft); goodish ground will be a first but that might be no hindrance judged on comments made in this week's Racing Post Stable Tour; dangerously unexposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

Lylian

11st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

French chase winner at this trip on soft ground; he hasn't really got a lot going over fences in Britain, with two 14l defeats as good as it's got; he has at least dropped 13lb for his troubles and he'll probably come good sooner or later.

14/1

3rd

3

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 31y

Class 4

14:20 Doncaster

Lylian

11st 6lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

French chase winner (2m6f, soft) who hasn't threatened across his three British starts, and this expected return to better ground may be against him; however, there was some promise in his 14l third of five at Sandown (2m4f, soft) last time and that race is working out very well.

11/4

3rd

6

31st Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

13:25 Sandown

Lylian

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Needs improvement on his good-ground efforts for new yard but may show the benefit of the return to forecast slower conditions, having gained his French success (chase) on soft.

12/1

Non-runners

Old Gregorian, Dont Tell Su

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.00
Straight Forecast £4.48
Trifecta £3.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Viroflay

SPOTLIGHT:

Lylian

WEST COUNTRY:

No Questions Asked

LAMBOURN:

Don't Tell Su

Telegraph:

Lylian

Daily Mail:

Lylian

Daily Mirror:

Lylian

The Guardian:

No Questions Asked

D Express:

No Questions Asked

TOPSPEED:

Viroflay

POSTDATA:

Viroflay

The Times:

Viroflay

The Sun:

Viroflay

The Star:

Viroflay

Daily Record:

Viroflay