Racing Blogger, 'Christmas Cup' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Exeter

14:00

Date 2025-12-18

Distance 3m54y

Class Class 3

Going Heavy

Type Chase

Surface Turf

Age Band 4yo+

Prize £8,978

Winning Time 6m 58.95s (slow by 1m 7.95s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	Isaac Des Obeaux (FR) Harry Cobden · Paul Nicholls	11/4	Won
2nd	Operation Manna (GB) Stan Sheppard · Tom Lacey	7/1	5
3rd	Sheldon (IRE) Sean Houlihan · Seamus Mullins	12/1	13
4th	Gyenyame (GB) Brendan Powell · Joe Tizzard	9/4F	7.5

Non-Runners / Other

Status	Horse	SP
P.U.	Coolvalla (IRE) Freddie Gordon · Chris Gordon	11/1
P.U.	Vision De Maine (FR) Jack Tudor · David Pipe	5/2

Runners (7)

EW Terms: 2 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
7	Vision De Maine Bay J:Jack Tudor T:David Pipe	J:Jack Tudor T:David Pipe	149	—	2P34-3	108	135	126	27d	—	—	-2	26	0.56/1	9/4 31%
Reappeared with solid third at Ascot and this 6yo could build on that run; one to consider
5	Gyenyame Bay J:Brendan Powell T:Joe Tizzard	J:Brendan Powell T:Joe Tizzard	158	b	322-32	117	135	93	41d	—	—	0	24.2	0.69/1	11/4 27%
Expensive to follow but often runs well and could be bang there once more
1	Isaac Des Obeaux Bay J:Harry Cobden T:Paul Nicholls	J:Harry Cobden T:Paul Nicholls	168	p	5P33-3	127	133	106	34d	—	—	+8	28.4	0.83/1	10/3 23%
0-5 over fences but firmly in calculations now back down in grade in a handicap
3	Operation Manna Bay J:Stan Sheppard T:Tom Lacey	J:Stan Sheppard T:Tom Lacey	166	—	104/P-	125	-	-	376d	—	—	+11	21.8	2.00/1	8/1 11%
9yo who was 5-12 over hurdles; pulled up last December when last seen; now goes chasing
6	Sheldon Chestnut J:Sean Houlihan T:Seamus Mullins	J:Sean Houlihan T:Seamus Mullins	158	—	73F5-4	117	134	100	27d	—	—	+13	18.4	4.00/1	16/1 6%
His jumping can be an issue but he's on a dangerous mark and is not ruled out
2	Coolvalla Bay J:Freddie Gordon T:Chris Gordon	J:Freddie Gordon T:Chris Gordon	168	p	11P15/	127	-	-	964d	—	—	+26	32.4	4.00/1	16/1 6%
Whopping absence to defy but given a chance by the handicapper; watch the betting
NR	Rosscahill Brown J:TBC T:Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies	J: T:Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies	160	—	/114-P	119	-	-	51d	—	—	—	17.3	—	—

Horse	bet365	Coral	Virgin Bet
Vision De Maine	15/8	9/4	9/4
Gyenyame	9/4	5/2	11/4
Isaac Des Obeaux	10/3	11/4	11/4
Operation Manna	15/2	8/1	13/2
Sheldon	16/1	14/1	14/1
Coolvalla	16/1	10/1	11/1
Rosscahill	-	-	-

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Coolvalla

32.4

OR: 19.3 Form: 11.3 Odds: 1.9

16/1

2nd

Isaac Des Obeaux

28.4

OR: 19.3 Form: 3 Odds: 6.2

10/3

3rd

Vision De Maine

OR: 14.5 Form: 3 Odds: 8.5

9/4

Gyenyame

24.2

OR: 16.8 Form: 0 Odds: 7.4

11/4

Operation Manna

21.8

OR: 18.8 Form: 0 Odds: 3.1

8/1

Sheldon

18.4

OR: 16.8 Form: 0 Odds: 1.6

16/1

Rosscahill

17.3

OR: 17.3 Form: 0 Odds: 0

—

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Isaac Des Obeaux	127	133	106
Coolvalla	127	—	—
Operation Manna	125	—	—
Rosscahill	119	—	—
Gyenyame	117	135	93
Sheldon	117	134	100
Vision De Maine	108	135	126

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Vision De Maine	27d ago	Fit
Sheldon	27d ago	Fit
Isaac Des Obeaux	34d ago	Fit
Gyenyame	41d ago	Fit
Rosscahill	51d ago	Fresh
Operation Manna	376d ago	Long break
Coolvalla	964d ago	Long break