February 22 / 13.50 Kempton

13.50

Good

Ladbrokes Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £42712.5
  • 2m 4f 110y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
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Ladbrokes Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 6-11F2 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Three hurdle wins here (2m, good; Grade 2/Listed) and, after a very tough task here on chase debut (well beaten when falling), he was a highly creditable second in a Grade 2 at Warwick (2m, soft) a fortnight ago; untested at today's trip but he stayed well on the Flat in France, and kept on strongly last time; top trainer has won this 13 times; leading claims if seeing it out.
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

16:02 Sandown

Rubaud

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

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

16:40 Cheltenham

Rubaud

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

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

13:35 Wincanton

Rubaud

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Paul Nicholls

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

8/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 320315 C

Last run: 85 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Made it 2-6 over fences with Grade 2 novice win at Wincanton (2m4f, good) in November; well beaten in Newbury Grade 2 since but he's better than that and the Wincanton form reads well; 1-1 here over hurdles; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Boombawn

11st 0lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

First run over the National fences; inconsistent this season and no match for stablemate Madara (who remains Harry Skelton's mount) when ninth of 23 in the Plate at Cheltenham last month; however, Aintree brought out the best in him last year and he's well handicapped on that form; one to consider.

12/1

9th

5

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Boombawn

11st 7lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Has hurdle form at Cheltenham over a similar trip to today's but he races mostly on sharp tracks, albeit with soft ground against him in January when well back in his sole chase start here; never showed with a chance when upped to 3m at Kempton recently and he's no strong option to improve a 2-15 strike-rate over fences; yard runs two others with better claims.

40/1

12th

1

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Kempton

Boombawn

12st 0lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Only 2-14 as a chaser but has been highly tried on occasions, as when not far away in a 2m4f Grade 1 at Aintree last April; another good run in a Grade 2 here last month (RPR right up there with his best) and soft ground was no good to him back in a handicap at Cheltenham; patient tactics are likely now sent further and could be interesting with Harry Atkins claiming 7lb, provided conditions don't soften.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0P-213 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Highly talented hurdler (course winner) who won a Grade 2 novice on his chase debut at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) in December, capitalising on the leader's final-fence blunder; made mistakes and faded when soundly beaten in heavy-ground 2m4f Grade 1 at Sandown three weeks ago; drops back down in grade today but needs to build on the Ascot form if he's to come out on top.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 10y

Class 2

13:50 Sandown

Mark Of Gold

12st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Last season over hurdles ended on a low note at this meeting; solid for most of this term, switched to fences for last five starts and winning twice in small fields; put firmly in his place in Grade 1 novice events over 2m4f here in February and particularly at Aintree last time, but this return to a handicap will also demand a career best.

14/1

1st

1

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 10y

Class 2

13:50 Sandown

Mark Of Gold

12st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Last season over hurdles ended on a low note at this meeting; solid for most of this term, switched to fences for last five starts and winning twice in small fields; put firmly in his place in Grade 1 novice events over 2m4f here in February and particularly at Aintree last time, but this return to a handicap will also demand a career best.

14/1

6th

7

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Mark Of Gold

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Experienced hurdler who won Grade 2 novice on chase debut at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) in December and made it 2-4 over fences in warm little handicap at Exeter (2m1f, good) last time; ran well behind two of these in Grade 2 at Kempton in February but likely to be vulnerable in this company.

40/1

Form: -11713 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
He's won three good handicaps at Aintree (2m-2m4f, good/good to soft) during this novice campaign and again ran really well when third in Cheltenham handicap (2m4f, soft) four weeks ago; big chance on today's terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

36

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Imperial Saint

10st 2lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Novice campaign last season went well, notably over the conventional fences here where he registered three handicap wins (2m/2m4f) and was second at this meeting (3m1f); resumed progress with a win at Haydock (3m1f) this January but badly hampered at the Cheltenham Festival; this trip is a big step into the unknown but he needs a second look.

50/1

8th

11

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Imperial Saint

11st 1lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Progressive novice last season, winning three handicaps at Aintree (2m/2m4f, good/good to soft) and posting a good third here (2m4f, soft); won at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) in January when back up in trip and he's unexposed over staying distances; up 3lb for that neck victory; could go well.

20/1

1st

6

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:00 Haydock

Imperial Saint

10st 10lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Three wins at Aintree (2m/2m4f, good/good to soft) last season and second there (3m1f, good) in April; current mark shouldn't be beyond him if he's at his best but that hasn't been the case on his two outings this term.

12/1

Form: 26-211 D

Last run: 205 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
10yo who returns from a break and possibly isn't the force of old (3m Grade 1 hurdle runner-up in December 2022) but he's won when back over fences for his last two starts, most recently a Grade 3 novice at Galway (2m2f, good) last August; not ruled out in view of his back-class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

30th Jul 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

18:40 Galway

Ashdale Bob

11st 4lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Mrs John Harrington

Former Grade 2-winning hurdler and came good in second stint chasing last summer with wins at Kilbeggan (beating Thecompanysergeant) and a Grade 3 novice event at this venue; warmed up with fourth behind Gaelic Arc at Kilbeggan; other younger rivals are preferred.

20/1

1

16th Jun 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 51y

19:48 Kilbeggan

Ashdale Bob

11st 12lb

J: Conor Smithers

T: Mrs John Harrington

10yo a former Grade 2-winning hurdler and came good in second stint chasing last summer with wins in C&D beginners' and in Grade 3 Galway novice; stiffer task on return in February, none too fluent and soon beaten in Grade 2 Kempton novice; cheekpieces worn the last twice now discarded for handicap debut and may just need this.

10/1

5th

1

22nd Feb 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 1

13:50 Kempton

Ashdale Bob

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mrs John Harrington

10yo who returns from a break and possibly isn't the force of old (3m Grade 1 hurdle runner-up in December 2022) but he's won when back over fences for his last two starts, most recently a Grade 3 novice at Galway (2m2f, good) last August; not ruled out in view of his back-class.

5/1

Form: 1-21PP C

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 7yo who won a four-runner handicap on his chase debut at Ascot (2m3f, good) in November; pulled up over hurdles then fences the next twice (both 3m) and, while he could benefit from this drop back in trip; today's race is a tough one in which to try to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

19th Jun 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

15:55 Market Rasen

Bhaloo

11st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Dual winning chaser who geared up for a summer campaign when runner-up at Uttoxeter (3m, good) last month; third in the Summer Plate over C&D last summer and connections will be hopeful of a good run here before his main target.

9/2

2nd

7

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

14:35 Uttoxeter

Bhaloo

10st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Seemingly boosted by first-time cheekpieces when placed in Summer Plate at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) last year but looked out of sorts when pulled up twice in November and it's hard to predict whether this will be a going day.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.60
Straight Forecast £11.44
Trifecta £46.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Rubaud

RP RATINGS:

Imperial Saint

The Star:

Bhaloo

TOPSPEED:

Imperial Saint

POSTDATA:

Imperial Saint

WEST COUNTRY:

Rubaud

The Times:

Rubaud

Telegraph:

Rubaud

The Guardian:

Rubaud

Daily Mail:

Rubaud

D Express:

Rubaud

Daily Mirror:

Rubaud

The Sun:

Rubaud

Daily Record:

Rubaud