14.05
SoftUnibet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £42712.5
- 2m 0f 54y
- Class 1
- 4 runners
Runners: 4 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
1/4 (Won)
- Win: £1.20
Form: 25-111 D
Last run: 63 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 152
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 200y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Third of five in Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase here (2m, good) 12 months ago and reappeared with a win in the Grade 2 Shloer at Cheltenham (2m, soft) in November; ran well when 12l third in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) last month but doesn't appear to be crying out for this step up in trip, and Harry Skelton rides Grey Dawning. |
11/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Progressive in the main; smart novice chaser last term and ties in closely with Majborough on Arkle bare form (good to soft; finished a close fourth); below par in the 2025 Tingle Creek when last seen but this looks the day to catch him; successful the last three times he has returned from a break of two months or bigger, most recently in this season's Shloer over C&D (soft) when easily beating his rivals and registering a fourth Graded win, as well as cementing his Champion Chase claims; favourably fresh and rightly respected. |
4/1 |
|
2 |
1st Nov 2025 Good 2m 0f 172y Class 1 |
11st 12lb |
One of Britain's best 2m novice chasers last season and held his own in the Grade 1s at Cheltenham and Aintree; didn't jump as well as he can on the latter occasion when tried in cheekpieces and those aids are now left off; high in the weights for a reason but he may prefer softer ground and will have new handling, having only been ridden by Harry Skelton in Britain. |
3/1
Form: 56-11F D
Last run: 43 days
W: 11st 2lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 149
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 3 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 2m 5f 110y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Form dipped in Cheltenham Festival handicap returned to fences last time; multiple Grade 2 winner but has raced mostly at about 2m and isn't crying out for this step back up in trip; first go beyond a sharp 2m4f. |
14/1 |
|
3 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Listed/Grade 2 wins over hurdles this term; goes back over fences for the first time since last May and he's 1-5 in this sphere, the win coming in a Grade 2 novice last February; sixth of 15 off this mark in the Scottish Champion Hurdle in April 2024 when he last tackled a handicap; may be vulnerable. |
16/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
14th Feb 2026 Heavy 1m 7f 50y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Front-runner who is 2-3 since returned to hurdles from fences, winning races at Kempton (Listed) and Wincanton (Elite Hurdle) that he also took in 2023 and 2024; held in a 9l third at Kempton on Boxing Day but that was behind Sir Gino in a Grade 1 and he's strongly respected on this drop back in class; most of his wins have been on good ground but he's effective on soft. |
7/4 |
33/1
Form: 122235 D
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 128
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 3 |
16th May 2025 Good 2m 3f 200y Class 3 |
11st 4lb |
Launched chasing career with two wins in the autumn (2m/2m3f. good to soft/good) and generally remained in good form until end of last season; looked a non-stayer over 2m7f on latest outing and now drops back in trip with usual cheekpieces refitted; recent 3lb drop gives him a decent chance. |
6/1 |
|
5th 3 |
16th May 2025 Good 2m 3f 200y Class 3 |
11st 4lb |
Launched chasing career with two wins in the autumn (2m/2m3f. good to soft/good) and generally remained in good form until end of last season; looked a non-stayer over 2m7f on latest outing and now drops back in trip with usual cheekpieces refitted; recent 3lb drop gives him a decent chance. |
6/1 |
|
5th 2 |
21st Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 86y Class 3 |
11st 9lb |
Has done well since switched to this discipline (winning twice) and his blowouts have come in strong races, latterly in the 2m4f Greatwood Gold Cup here three weeks ago; more exposed than some in here and he's unraced past 2m5f, but can be competitive off this mark. |
6/1 |
50/1
Form: 513354
Last run: 78 days
W: 11st 2lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 131
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
28th Jun 2026 Good 3m 0f 10y Class 2 |
11st 12lb |
Successful on this card two years ago; campaigned mostly over 2m4f/2m5f but saw out 3m well at Perth (good) most recently, adding to his Grade 2 handicap success in April and taking chase record to 9-30; better than ever and commands respect. |
9/2 |
|
1st 2 |
7th Jun 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 180y Class 2 |
11st 4lb |
Good ground is key to him, though good to soft is acceptable; after signs of a revival at the Cheltenham Festival he duly delivered in a competitive 2m4f handicap at Haydock, winning cosily despite narrow margin of victory; the 4lb rise seemed generous and when beaten at Uttoxeter he bumped into the talented Glengouly on a good day; all his best form is at shorter, so stamina would be the principal concern. |
100/30 |
|
2nd 2 |
24th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 2 |
11st 9lb |
Good ground is the key to him; his form had nosedived but he was running much better when hampered late on at the Cheltenham Festival and then came good at Haydock (2m4f, good), prevailing only narrowly but under a confident ride in a strong race (he also won it the season before when staged at Cheltenham); a 4lb rise seems very generous. |
11/8 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £1.30 |
| Straight Forecast | £1.80 |
| Trifecta | £2.10 |
Selections
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