15:45 Exeter

Friday 20 February 2026

All14:1414:4415:1415:4516:1516:4517:20

Nick Ansell, Devon National Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:49 | Winning time: 8m 31.03s

Largy Poet^b1²²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Keighley⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| BF| C

4/1

Useful hurdler who took well to fences with a 3m Exeter handicap success last February. Back to form when second (no match for improved winner) at Wincanton last month and looks well worth another go over a marathon test.

Form: 51-2P62

Art Decco^p³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 132| CD

11/2

Won this race last year and better than ever when successful here on second start this season. Undone in stronger Surrey National latest and would need a career-best to make it 3-3 over C&D.

Form: 251-61P

Jubilee Express^p⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Dylan Johnston| T: S Thomas| OR: 130| BF

11/2

Impressive winner of Welsh Grand National trial in December but disappointing in the main event later that month (runner-up in same race previous year). Useful staying chaser on his day and worth another chance following a break.

Form: 1/26-01P

Sizable Sam^p⁸⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 121| C

5/1

Course winner hasn't been the easiest to keep sound but shaped as if retaining all ability over inadequate trip here (19.2f) last time. Claims if he can build on that following further 89 days off.

Form: 1/P35-U5

Catch Catchfire^p³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 113

4/1

Low mileage 7-y-o who was strongly supported when unseating down in grade at Warwick and nearly made amends in Surrey National at Lingfield last month, rallying after not fluent last. Should be more come.

Form: 1F-35U2

Icaque de L'Isle³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 110

6/1

Back to his best when landing second success at Lingfield last month, his first over fences on these shores. Third and fourth have since franked that form and he's entitled to be in the mix upped in grade.

Form: 31-3551

Gold Clermont^p³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Chad Bament⁽⁷⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 108

10/1

Fourth in 2024 Eider for these connections but unable to reach those heights for Olly Murphy stable this season. Will need to improve for switch back to previous yard but has fallen below his last winning mark.

Form: P35-249

Ithaka^t³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽³⁾| T: R Potter| OR: 105

18/1

Matched his fair hurdle form when getting off the mark in Class 5 chase at Hereford (25.2f) in January, albeit not jumping with great fluency. Unexposed over marathon trips but this a stronger race than he need contest (3 lb out of handicap).

Form: 382-321

Forecasts

Largy Poet (4/1), Catch Catchfire (4/1), Sizable Sam (5/1), Art Decco (11/2), Jubilee Express (11/2), Icaque de L'Isle (6/1), Gold Clermont (10/1), Ithaka (18/1)

JUBILEE EXPRESS sets the standard on best form and is taken to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Welsh National. Catch Catchfire is the danger following his improved success in the Surrey National, while Icaque de L'Isle's Lingfield win has been franked and he should hold his own upped in grade.