THIRD RACE 1.45

THE VIRGIN BET DOLOS HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE)

for five yrs old and upwards x Total prize fund £50000

Owners Prize Money. 1st £19875, 2nd £9935, 3rd £4970, 4th £2485, 5th £1240, 6th £620

(Penalty Value £26015)

Leading course trainer (17-22): P Nicholls (30 wins from 153 runners, 20%) runs DOLOS

Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): D Skelton (11 wins from 49 runners, 22%) runs ECLAIR D’AINAY and THIRD TIME LUCKI colours no horse age st-lb

Fancy That: P Nicholls won this race in 2019, 2020 and 2022. The stable runs DOLOS today.

Longest Traveller: FAST BUCK trained by Mrs J Williams, South Molton, 174 miles.

1 DOLOS (FR) (39) 010-223 C

10 12-0

Br B g Kapgarde (FR) - Redowa (FR) (Trempolino (USA)) Harry Cobden J

O Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls, Ditcheat T

B P. De Maleissye Melun Morson Group S

TIMEFORM VIEW In reasonable form this term, shaping a bit better than the result in Desert Orchid at Kempton last time Has an excellent track record and worth chancing to follow up his win in last year’s renewal. TFRHHHHH BHA146

2 ECLAIR D’AINAY (FR) (39) 4P122-3 D 9 11-12

Br B or Br g Network (GER) - Etoile d’Ainay (FR) (Dom Alco (FR)) Bridget Andrews J

O Mr J. Hales Dan Skelton, Alcester T

B Mr Stephane Milaveau Ladbrokes, The Air Ambulance Service (Warwickshire & Northamptonshire) S

TIMEFORM VIEWGainedathirdcareersuccessunderapositiverideatWetherbyinDecember2021andgaveitagoodgofromthefrontonhisfirststart for10months(hadundergonebreathingoperation)inthatcorrespondingeventlastmonth.Othersmakemoreappealtoday.

3 THIRD TIME LUCKI (IRE) (21) 123-463

TFRHHIII BHA144

8 11-11

Br Br g Arcadio (GER) - Definite Valley (IRE) (Definite Article) Kielan Woods J

O Mike and Eileen Newbould

Dan Skelton, Alcester T

B Mr G. Delaney The Air Ambulance Service (Warwickshire & Northamptonshire) S

TIMEFORM VIEW Scored three times last year but hasn’t really been firing this season. Did travel with a bit more purpose at Warwick last time, and he’s becoming well treated.

4 KILTEALY BRIGGS (IRE) (28) 1PP-145

TFRHHHII BHA143

9 11-8

Br B g Fame And Glory - Baby Briggs (IRE) (Presenting) A. P. Heskin J

O McNeill Family Jamie Snowden, Lambourn T

B John Mounsey Ultima Business Solutions S

TIMEFORM VIEW Back on track with 21.5f Market Rasen handicap success on his reappearance in October Not at best at Wincanton last time and others make more appeal in this competitive event.

TFRHHIII BHA140

5 FRERO BANBOU (FR) (28) 230-243 C BF 8 11-6

Br B g Apsis - Lady Banbou (FR) (Useful (FR)) Charlie Deutsch J

O Mr P. Davies Venetia Williams, Hereford T

B Madame Evelyne Banchereau Faucets Limited S

TIMEFORMVIEWLargelyacquittedhimselfwelllasttermandgoodstarttopresentcampaignwhensecondinavaluablehandicapatAscot (16.78). However he’s failed to reach that level on both subsequent starts so percentage call is to look elsewhere.

TFRHHIII BHA138

6 RED ROOKIE (GB) (39) 4/2F1F-5 C 8 11-6

Br Ch g Black Sam Bellamy (IRE) - Auction Belle (Auction House (USA)) Tom Bellamy J

O The Hawk Inn Syndicate 3

Emma Lavelle, Marlborough T

B Mr R. P. Phillips Hatherden Horse Transport S

TIMEFORM VIEWOffthemarkoverfencesina2mHerefordlastseasonandwassettorunverycreditablywhenfallingatthelastinArkleatCheltenham onfinalstartlastseason.ShapedasifneedingtherunonreturnatChepstowandthisdropbackto2mshouldaidhiscause

TFRHHHHI BHA138

7 THE WIDDOW MAKER (GB) (46) 123-423 D 9 11-2

Br Ch g Arvico (FR) - Countess Point (Karinga Bay) Adam Wedge J

O Mr Sax Purdie Joe Tizzard, Sherborne T

B Mrs J. E. Purdie Coral Racing Limited S

TIMEFORM VIEWUsefulhurdlerwholandedanExeternovice(19.2f)onchasedebutinFebruaryandsimilarformindefeatthereafter,15lengthsthird inGrade1atAintreefinalouting.BacktoformatLudlowlasttimeandhasundergoneanotherbreathingoperationsince.

TFRHHHII BHA134

8 FAST BUCK (FR) (45) 33-5401 9 10-9

Br Br g Kendargent (FR) - Juvenil Delinquent (USA) (Dynaformer (USA)) Jamie Moore J

O KnightRiders III Mrs Jane Williams, South Molton T

B Mr Hubert Honore & Mr Tomas Schweizer Culverhill Farm Racing S

TIMEFORM VIEWBelow par last season for Dan Skelton and having dropped a long way in the weights, returned to form from out of the blue to getoffthemarkoverfencesinstyleoveratLingfieldinDecember 8lbriseforthatsuccessandneedstobackituptoday. TFRHHHHI BHA127

DECLARED RUNNERS 8 2022: DOLOS (FR) 9 11 8 Harry Cobden 10-1 (Paul Nicholls) 8 ran

Tongue Strap worn by No 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No 4. Running for the first time since Wind Surgery No 7.

Probable S.P’s: 10-3 Fast Buck (FR), 7-2 Dolos (FR), 15-2 Red Rookie (GB), 8-1 Third Time Lucki (IRE), 9-1 The Widdow Maker (GB), 10-1 Frero Banbou (FR), 12-1 Eclair D’ainay (FR), 16-1 Kiltealy Briggs (IRE)

PLAY SMARTER

DOLOS performed respectably in Graded company last term and the return to this track is firmly in his favour, so he’s marginally preferred to Fast Buck, who won easily at Lingfield last time Red Rookie should be suited by the drop back in trip, so he’s also feared.

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PACE YOURSELF ALLOW ONE SOFT DRINK BETWEEN EVERY ALCOHOLIC DRINK

VIRGIN BET SCILLY ISLES NOVICES’ CHASE

FIRST RUN IN 1964

GRADE 1

RUN OVER TWO MILES, ABOUT FOUR FURLONGS 4,033 METRES

17 FENCES TO BE JUMPED

TOTAL PRIZE FUND OF £80,000

£ 45,560 TO THE WINNER

Roll Of Honour

YEAR HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY

2022 L’HOMME PRESSE Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch

2021 SPORTING JOHN Philip Hobbs Richard Johnson

2020 ITCHY FEET Olly Murphy Gavin Sheehan

2019 DEFI DU SEUIL Philip Hobbs Bary Geraghty

2018 TERREFORT Nicky Henderson Daryl Jacob

2017 TOP NOTCH Nicky Henderson Daryl Jacob

2016 BRISTOL DE MAI Nigel Twiston-Davies Daryl Jacob

2015 GITANE DU BERLAIS Willie Mullins Daryl Jacob

2014 OSCARWHISKY Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty

2013 CAPTAINCONAN Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty

5⁄10 WINNING FAVOURITES

LAST YEAR’S WINNER

L’HOMME PRESSE

TRAINER: VENETIA WILLIAMS

JOCKEY: CHARLIE DEUTSCH

OWNER: DFA RACING (PINK & EDWARDS)

The race was the perfect target for Venetia Williams’ gelding who had gone from strength to strength in all of his previous runs.

He faced five rivals, which included Howden Noel Novices’ Chase winner Pic D’Orhy for Paul Nicholls.

Charlie Deutsch vied for the lead with Pic D’Orhy for much of the first circuit but coming to the railway fences L’Homme Presse began to turn the screw and jumped his way to the front. He began to go further clear coming into the home straight and soon there was no questioning who would return victor Pic D’Orhy weakened late on and was eventually collared by Mister Coffey under Nico De Boinville. It was an assertive performance from a very talented horse

IN THE LAST 10 RUNNINGS

8⁄10 AGED SIX OR YOUNGER

4⁄10 TRAINED BY NICKY HENDERSON