January 25 / 14.25 Cheltenham

14.25

Good

Betfair Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £70337.5
  • 3m 1f 56y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
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Betfair Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.80
  • Place: £1.20

Form: /124-3 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 163

Form & Verdict
Has come up a bit short at the very top level, for instance about 15l fourth in the Gold Cup here last March and 12l third in the King George at Kempton one month ago; it might be argued that he now has a question to answer when going beyond 3m, but he goes well on soft ground and has an excellent chance at these weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

LHomme Presse

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Won the Grade 1 Brown Advisory here in March 2022 and also the Cotswold Chase here last January; pushed Spillane's Tower close in that same 3m1f Grade 2 this season, when conceding 6lb to the winner, but no match for Haiti Couleurs since and this 11yo is up against it in today's company.

50/1

2nd

1

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 1

14:10 Newbury

LHomme Presse

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Unraced here but a stalwart of the 3m+ chase division elsewhere; runner-up in contrasting styles in two Cheltenham races this season, rallying after losing his place at halfway in a Grade 3 handicap on reappearance, and leading until after the final fence in a four-runner Grade 2 two weeks ago; unraced on heavy but goes well on soft; should ensure that Haiti Couleurs does not have it all his own way.

5/4

2nd

2

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

LHomme Presse

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Landed the odds in this race last year (soft ground) and showed a similar level of form when second under big weight in handicap here on reappearance, rallying after losing his place at halfway; should give his running again but has a bit to find on the figures with Grey Dawning.

9/2

9/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 1P5-47 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
Saw off all challengers in grand fashion in three chases over about 2m4f on soft at this track in 2023; gives 4lb to four of today's rivals, however, despite having underperformed on last four outings; has his first go beyond 2m5f in this revival bid and although he kept drawing clear again for those wins in 2023, this will be nearly 3m2f so he has a fair bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Stage Star

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Best known for his 2m4f exploits that include Grade 1 novice wins over hurdles/fences; however, put up a good fight against odds-on L'Homme Presse when upped to 3m1f in Grade 2 at Cheltenham (soft) most recently, emerging as the best horse at the weights; one of a few runners who remain unexposed at this sort of trip.

13/2

3rd

7

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Stage Star

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Best known for his 2m4f exploits that include Grade 1 novice wins over hurdles/fences; however, put up a good fight against odds-on L'Homme Presse when upped to 3m1f in Grade 2 at Cheltenham (soft) most recently, emerging as the best horse at the weights; one of a few runners who remain unexposed at this sort of trip.

13/2

2nd

2

25th Jan 2025

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Stage Star

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, led after 1st, faced challenge before 2 out, soon disputing lead, hung left run-in, no extra towards finish

9/1

Form: 1P5-43

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Pulled up at 25-1 in last year's Gold Cup on sole run at Cheltenham; returned from eight months off better than ever when third in Leopardstown Grade 1 (first run in cheekpieces for two years) four weeks ago but his Grade 2 Wetherby win (soft) from November 2023 means that he has to give weight all round in today's field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Gentlemansgame

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: M F Morris

Has some good efforts at about 3m1f in his record but he was pulled up in last year's Gold Cup (25-1) and, after finishing a respectable third to Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown after Christmas, he wasn't at his best in a Grade 2 here last time out; his form needs an upgrade and others look better equipped for the stamina test; has been tongue tied or worn cheekpieces in recent starts, no aids today.

66/1

3rd

1

25th Jan 2025

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Gentlemansgame

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: M F Morris

raced in third, not fluent 3rd, not fluent 15th, not fluent 5 out, weakened 2 out

3/1

3rd

1

25th Jan 2025

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Gentlemansgame

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: M F Morris

raced in third, not fluent 3rd, not fluent 15th, not fluent 5 out, weakened 2 out

3/1

Form: 662-50 C

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 4lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
A standing dish in the Grand National and Cheltenham cross-country races but he did not look himself in his two runs this term, latterly when back here over the cross-country; needs a return to form and the chances are that it will take place later in the season; has worn cheekpieces or blinkers since April 2023 but sports neither today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

25th Jan 2025

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Delta Work

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

held up in rear, mistake 6th, outpaced when not fluent 5 out, some headway 2 out, went modest fourth run-in

20/1

4th

4

25th Jan 2025

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Delta Work

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

held up in rear, mistake 6th, outpaced when not fluent 5 out, some headway 2 out, went modest fourth run-in

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 09-551 CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Won this race in 2022 before three non-completions; thereabouts at a lower level over hurdles on occasions since but it was only on the return to chasing over this C&D (soft) on New Year's Day that he looked much more like his old self, asserting late on in a five-runner handicap; while back into calculations, he needs to build on that performance if L'Homme Presse shows anything like his true form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

14

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Chantry House

10st 13lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Very smart in his heyday; returned to chasing at Cheltenham (extended 3m1f, soft) on New Year's Day and looked much more like his old self, asserting late on in a five-runner handicap; however, he singularly failed to back that up in a Grade 2 over that same C&D over three weeks later.

80/1

16th

14

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Chantry House

10st 13lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Very smart in his heyday; returned to chasing at Cheltenham (extended 3m1f, soft) on New Year's Day and looked much more like his old self, asserting late on in a five-runner handicap; however, he singularly failed to back that up in a Grade 2 over that same C&D over three weeks later.

80/1

5th

3

25th Jan 2025

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Chantry House

11st 4lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

towards rear, in touch with leaders 7th, weakened before 2 out, lost fourth run-in

7/1

Form: 123OP5 D

Last run: 6 days

W: 11st 4lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Admirable handicapper over 3m+ but he looks well out of his depth in this race and tailed off when facing a not dissimilar task six days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

25th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 80y

Class 3

15:58 Cartmel

Tommie Beau

12st 0lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Seamus Mullins

No longer the force of old and inconsistent nowadays but he capitalised upon some significant help from the handicapper when winning Norfolk National at Fakenham (3m5f, good) three weeks ago and he is also very well suited by this track.

15/8

1st

3

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Tommie Beau

11st 11lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Seamus Mullins

Gained three of his 14 wins here, including 2022 edition of this race, but has regressed and become inconsistent; didn't run badly in last month's Sussex National at Plumpton (3m4f, good; first-time cheekpieces) but younger rivals have much more appealing profiles.

14/1

6th

4

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 104y

Class 2

16:25 Plumpton

Tommie Beau

11st 2lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Seamus Mullins

He's won here three times and was second in this race in 2024 on his last Plumpton visit; on a reduced mark but this 11yo has struggled to get competitive on his last few starts and needs to turn things around in first-time cheekpieces.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.60
Straight Forecast £6.32
Trifecta £16.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

L'Homme Presse

Daily Mirror:

Gentlemansgame

LAMBOURN:

Chantry House

RP RATINGS:

L'Homme Presse

TOPSPEED:

L'Homme Presse

POSTDATA:

L'Homme Presse

The Times:

L'Homme Presse

Telegraph:

L'Homme Presse

The Guardian:

L'Homme Presse

Daily Mail:

L'Homme Presse

D Express:

L'Homme Presse

The Sun:

L'Homme Presse

The Star:

L'Homme Presse

Daily Record:

L'Homme Presse