15.45
HeavyNick Ansell, Devon National Handicap Chase (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £13202.5
- 3m 6f 153y
- Class 3
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
5/1 (Won)
- Win: £6.70
- Place: £3.20
Form: 51-61P CD
Last run: 32 days
W: 11st 12lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 132
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 2 |
20th Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 6f 153y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Won by 9l over C&D (soft) in December, matching his gutsy win in this race last year (heavy) as a career best; one problem is that both of those were off 6lb lower than today; another is that he showed little in the Surrey National last time, but he needs plenty of respect back here. |
5/1 |
|
2 |
19th Jan 2026 Soft 3m 4f 178y Class 3 |
11st 13lb |
Showed career-best form when winning by 9l at Exeter (3m6f, soft) last month and is now 6-15 over fences; should be fine on this left-handed track but recent 7lb rise asks quite a lot of him. |
7/1 |
|
6th 5 |
26th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 3m 1f 210y Class 3 |
11st 4lb |
Won three in a row once the cheekpieces were added early last year and he was better than ever last season, winning the Devon National (3m6f) on latest start; only 1lb higher today but this is a big drop back in trip and he's raced on only soft or heavy going for the last two years. |
100/30 |
11/4
- Place: £2.90
Form: 26-01P BF
Last run: 55 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 3 |
20th Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 6f 153y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
Below form on sole jumps start on heavy; finished strongest when second in the Welsh National at Chepstow (extended 3m6f, soft) in December 2024; won the Trial there in December this season, which is far and away the best of his last four starts but the ground was surely not soft enough for him when he flopped as favourite in the Welsh National last time; major player if this is one of his better days. |
11/4 |
|
7th 10 |
15th Feb 2025 Good To Soft 3m 4f 97y Class 1 |
10st 2lb |
disputed lead early, in touch with leaders 3rd |
13/2 |
|
2nd 12 |
27th Dec 2024 Soft 3m 6f 130y Class 1 |
10st 4lb |
7yo who is narrowly the most lightly raced horse in this field; raised his game upped to 3m5f and an extended 3m4f on soft on last two starts last term, snatching a win at Haydock last time; up another 4lb but gives the very strong impression he will keep on galloping at this trip as well. |
6/1 |
9/2
Form: 1-2P62 C BF
Last run: 22 days
W: 12st 0lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 134
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
6th Apr 2026 Good 3m 4f 104y Class 2 |
11st 9lb |
Inconsistent and pulled up in first-time blinkers at Exeter (3m6f, heavy) in February; however, he's back in cheekpieces today in which he kept on for second of six at Wincanton (3m1f, heavy) in January; versatile ground-wise and this sort of trip may yet suit; not discounted. |
12/1 |
|
1 |
20th Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 6f 153y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
Won the novice handicap (3m, heavy) on this card last year on chase debut; October reappearance was better than his three subsequent efforts but there was some renewed encouragement under Freddie Keighley at Wincanton (3m1f, heavy; 11l second of six) last time, including for this second crack at a marathon trip; blinkers replace usual cheekpieces. |
9/2 |
|
2nd 1 |
29th Jan 2026 Heavy 3m 1f 30y Class 3 |
12st 1lb |
First (3m, heavy) and second in his first two chases before pulling up in a competitive race at Ascot; worrying that he didn't show too much spark back over hurdles here on Boxing Day; still, as an assured stayer who will handle conditions he's hard to dismiss. |
6/1 |
14/1
Form: P35-U5 C
Last run: 89 days
W: 11st 1lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 121
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 136y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Veteran who is hard to predict but he may have had stamina issues when pulled up in the Devon National (3m7f) and he ran well over an inadequate 2m3f (good to soft) on his penultimate run; this trip is a much better fit and he's well handicapped on old form; not ruled out in new headgear. |
7/1 |
|
4 |
20th Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 6f 153y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
11yo who has had some layoffs; unseated at the first fence on November reappearance; fifth of ten here eight days later, when 2m3f was probably far too short, was a step back in the right direction and his sole chase win (from ten attempts) was at this track, but he's yet to prove himself beyond 3m1f (tailed off once over 3m2f); acts on soft but not the percentage call. |
14/1 |
|
5th 9 |
16th Jan 2025 Good To Soft 3m 2f 162y Class 3 |
10st 12lb |
in touch with leaders, outpaced when mistake 4 out |
10/1 |
7/2
Form: F-35U2
Last run: 32 days
W: 10st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 113
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17 |
14th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 8y Class 1 |
10st 3lb |
Record of 2-8 over fences; his narrow defeat by Aworkinprogress at Lingfield (3m5f, soft) puts him in the mix and there were excuses last time at Exeter where he was kicked at the start, made the odd mistake and lost a shoe; can put a line through that; hard to rule out. |
16/1 |
|
5 |
20th Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 6f 153y Class 3 |
10st 7lb |
Fifth in the Borders National at Kelso (4m, soft; unraced on heavy) in December was up with his best at the time; suffered an early mishap next time but raised his game when rallying strongly for a close second in the Surrey National at Lingfield (3m5f, soft; jumped to his right) on latest start, which puts him firmly in the mix despite this 5lb higher mark and going this way round could help; he should have a big shout. |
7/2 |
|
2nd 14 |
19th Jan 2026 Soft 3m 4f 178y Class 3 |
10st 2lb |
Very close third over hurdles on seasonal debut in November and not beaten far from out of the weights in Borders National at Kelso (4m, soft) when back over fences last month; suffered early mishap last time and is 1lb wrong today but, after only six chase runs, he's not fully exposed. |
12/1 |
7/1
Form: 1-3551
Last run: 32 days
W: 10st 4lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 110
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 1 |
24th Mar 2026 Good 3m 1f 185y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Overall chase record of 2-16; dug deep to win over a trip just shy of 3m at Lingfield (soft; 5lb lower) and 3m6f on heavy found him out at Exeter a month ago; may prefer softer ground in an ideal world but hard to rule out. |
3/1 |
|
6 |
20th Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 6f 153y Class 3 |
10st 4lb |
2-2 on heavy going (one in Britain); first chase win was in France in 2022 and it was his 12th attempt in a British chase when he finally won one at Lingfield (extended 2m7f, soft) last month; back up 5lb for this first appearance beyond 3m1f, so others appear more solid. |
7/1 |
11/1
Form: 35-249
Last run: 33 days
W: 10st 2lb
10 yo Mare
OR: 108
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
9th May 2026 Good 3m 0f 41y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Ex-Olly Murphy; off the mark for present yard when winning five-runner handicap chase by a short head at Fontwell last time (3m2f, good); up 3lb; interesting. |
9/2 |
|
1st 2 |
24th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 1f 210y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
All four wins have came over fences Andy Irvine; her last success was in January 2024 but that was at this track (3m3f) and she returned to form with a creditable third over hurdles here (3m2f, soft) last month; that was only her second start since rejoining her former stable and she's in the mix back over fences. |
7/1 |
|
3rd 4 |
14th Mar 2026 Soft 3m 1f 166y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
All four wins have came over fences for Andy Irvine; had no joy in three starts for Olly Murphy and rejoined former stable before pulling up at Exeter (3m6f, heavy) last month; bids to exploit 10lb lower mark over hurdles; needs to show more. |
5/1 |
9/1
Form: 82-321
Last run: 39 days
W: 10st 2lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
27th Mar 2026 Good 3m 0f 45y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Pulled up in both starts since opening his chase account in Hereford contest; still seeking first success above Class 5; cheekpieces added. |
14/1 |
|
4 |
15th Mar 2026 Soft 2m 7f 136y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Perhaps found out by the 3m6f trip at Exeter and heavy ground wasn't ideal when best efforts have been on good to soft or good; again reservations on that score here, but he was running well prior to last time. |
10/1 |
|
8 |
20th Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 6f 153y Class 3 |
10st 2lb |
4l winner under Freddie Mitchell at Hereford (extended 3m1f) in January on latest outing but 8lb higher today, including 3lb out of the handicap; also not proven on worse than good to soft (had two attempts on soft) and this sort of trip is something new to him. |
9/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £36.60 |
| Straight Forecast | £36.38 |
| Trifecta | £40.50 |
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