December 26 / 14.50 Aintree

14.50

Good To Soft

William Hill Cheltenham NRMB January 1st Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13007.5
  • 1m 7f 176y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
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William Hill Cheltenham NRMB January 1st Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 1U2-P0 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Ran a cracker when second of 19 in conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at the Grand National meeting here (2m, soft) in the spring; things haven't gone to plan since and he was tailed off at Newbury last month on his first run after wind surgery; should make a chaser and may come on plenty for his last run but he carries obvious risks.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

2

30th Nov 2024

Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 1

14:25 Newbury

Ballee

11st 7lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Record as a novice last term featured two wins at Taunton and creditable second at Aintree; however, absent since pulling up in the Swinton in May (had wind surgery soon after); market instructive.

14/1

Form: 1222-2 D

Last run: 222 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on all four starts since returning to Britain, three of those over fences, and posted a personal best when beaten by a thriving rival at Bangor (2m1f, good) when last seen in May; should be thereabouts again if ready to roll after seven months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 1

14:55 Wetherby

Inedit Star

10st 11lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Nick Kent

Yet to win in seven chase attempts and most of his form is on slow ground, yet it was good to soft when third in the Red Rum at Aintree in April (2m) and good when beaten only 2l at Sandown later that month (2m4f); every chance off this mark if he's on the ball after his break.

10/1

2nd

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 1

14:55 Wetherby

Inedit Star

10st 11lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Nick Kent

Yet to win in seven chase attempts and most of his form is on slow ground, yet it was good to soft when third in the Red Rum at Aintree in April (2m) and good when beaten only 2l at Sandown later that month (2m4f); every chance off this mark if he's on the ball after his break.

10/1

3rd

7

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 10y

Class 2

13:50 Sandown

Inedit Star

10st 13lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Nick Kent

Has raced only on softer than good; 2m3f hurdle winner in France in May 2023; minor honours in six of seven British starts, the exception when he bled here on penultimate outing; rallying third of 14 under Tom Broughton at Aintree (2m) latest and may now be worth this second attempt at about 2m4f.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 14P-13 D BF

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Completed hat-trick over hurdles in Listed race at Sandown last winter; back to form with a bang when winning novice handicap chase at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) in October; favourite at Warwick the following month but weakened quickly from two out and has since had wind surgery; if that operation has had a positive effect he'll be a leading candidate here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

18

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Booster Bob

10st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Held by Madara and Will The Wise but running well when falling at final fence in the Plate at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) last month; two wins during a progressive 2025 (2m4f/2m6f, soft/good to soft); each-way shout.

16/1

10

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Booster Bob

11st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Has a useful jumps strike-rate and a Newbury chase win (about 2m6f, good to soft) in November showed he was still improving; a 9lb rise appeared beyond him on the New course since but he travelled strongly for a long way and may yet show he hasn't exhausted the handicapping options.

14/1

5th

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:15 Cheltenham

Booster Bob

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Tends to finish strongly from off the pace and posted another personal best when winning at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) at the end of November; a 9lb rise means he'll need another leap forward but he keeps progressing and it's certainly possible.

7/2

Form: 148-31 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced for his age; notched his first win over fences when making all at Ayr (2m, good) in November and the runner-up went one better next time; a 3lb rise looks fair and he's a strong contender once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

13:10 Kelso

Doyen Du Bar

12st 1lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Three wins last season (2m, various ground) and ran well to be placed towards the end of last year on first two starts for this yard; faded when upped to 2m5f last month and firmly in calculations now back down in trip.

7/2

3rd

6

16th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 2

14:05 Market Rasen

Doyen Du Bar

11st 1lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Nicky Richards

Won three small-field chases for Pauline Robson last season and was placed on first two starts for Nicky Richards this term, more recently when second at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) just after Christmas; untested beyond an extended 2m1f but is a major player if this new trip suits.

5/2

1st

1

24th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

15:25 Ayr

Doyen Du Bar

11st 10lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Pauline Robson

made all, went clear going easily after 3 out, nudged out run-in, comfortably

4/5

Betting Forcast

7/2 Ballee, 7/2 Inedit Star, 2/1 Booster Bob, 15/8 Doyen Du Bar

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Doyen Du Bar

RP RATINGS:

Booster Bob

TOPSPEED:

Inedit Star

WEST COUNTRY:

Ballee

The Times:

Ballee

POSTDATA:

Booster Bob

Daily Mail:

Booster Bob

The Sun:

Booster Bob

The Guardian:

Inedit Star

Daily Mirror:

Inedit Star

Telegraph:

Doyen Du Bar

D Express:

Doyen Du Bar

The Star:

Doyen Du Bar

Daily Record:

Doyen Du Bar