March 08 / 14.05 Hereford

14.05

Good

DragonBet Backing Our Opinion At Cheltenham Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 2m 0f 8y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
ITV4
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DragonBet Backing Our Opinion At Cheltenham Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.20
  • Place: £1.80

Form: -41351 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Hit and miss since sent chasing but he powered clear last time at Wincanton (soft) for a 10l success; that's triggered a 10lb hike which asks a question on this drier ground; much respected nonetheless.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Western General

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Back to form after a second wind op, posting career-best RPRs when scoring at Chepstow in February and when runner-up at Hereford the following month (both at 2m); has his best form over shorter but shapes as though this trip should suit and he commands respect on that recent form.

2/1

2nd

1

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 3

14:52 Hereford

Western General

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Last year's winner on good ground; bounced back to form after wind surgery to beat four rivals at Chepstow (2m, soft) two weeks ago, making virtually all; back up 5lb but has leading claims again.

6/4

1st

4

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 2

15:40 Chepstow

Western General

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made excellent progress over fences last season, winning three times (1m7f-2m, good-heavy), but ended that campaign with a poor run and has not been at his best this term (three starts); needs last month's wind op to have made a difference.

2/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 711145 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
The ground was too soft when tailed off behind Western General at Wincanton and better expected here; his Ludlow win in November was off only 2lb lower.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

13:37 Worcester

Famoso

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Six-time chase winner whose form dipped in May/June and he fared little better over hurdles three weeks ago; should be sharper for that now back over fences but needs to find some spark.

25/1

1

6th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

18:55 Stratford

Famoso

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Six-time chase winner (once here); competes off lower mark on this rare hurdling start but was not firing on all cylinders when last seen in the spring and needs to have been refreshed by three-month break.

16/1

Form: 428733 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Maiden hurdle winner for Gavin Cromwell and has run well in two Sandown handicap chases for this yard, having jumped well under positive tactics; this sharp track could suit him well; appears to go on most ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Hypotenus

11st 6lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Neil Mulholland

Won a novice handicap chase at Taunton (2m, good) for Joe Tickle in January and fair third over same C&D next time; changed yards last month having had a wind op, and was a well-beaten third of three at Chepstow on stable debut (2m, good); hung right there so this track should suit better.

13/2

3rd

3

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

18:37 Chepstow

Hypotenus

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Able to dominate when cashing in a career-low mark at Taunton in January (2m, good), his sole win in 14 chasing starts; hasn't gone on since, but back to within 2lb of that figure now and one previous wind operation provoked a small spike in form; chance on first start for new yard.

11/4

3rd

2

19th Feb 2026

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:26 Huntingdon

Hypotenus

11st 6lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Joe Tickle

Off the mark at the 11th attempt over fences at Taunton (2m, good) in January, and he's run well on testing ground in the past; below par on his last two starts but drops back in grade today and could give a good account.

5/2

Form: 6-21P9 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Won a small-field handicap hurdle at Wetherby in November (2m, good); excuses since then, as suffered interference at Ascot and it was always going to be tough in Newbury's big handicap hurdle last month; makes chase debut here (placed in a point).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 2

14:12 Haydock

Williethebuilder

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Christian Williams

Won two in a row at Kempton (2m, good) in the winter before another good run when fourth at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft), where he would have been a bit closer but for late interference; soft ground may not have been ideal in the County Hurdle three weeks ago; might not be far away.

7/1

18th

13

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Williethebuilder

10st 10lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

A rare one in that he's improved since leaving Dan Skelton, winning a pair of 2m handicaps on good ground at Kempton this winter; creditable fourth of ten in the Scottish County at Musselburgh six weeks ago but it underlines that he needs to find a bit more from this career-high mark.

25/1

4th

2

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 2

13:43 Musselburgh

Williethebuilder

11st 7lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Christian Williams

7yo who has been with a new stable since October and has shown career-best form to win at Kempton (2m, good) on his last two starts; has shown promise on soft/good to soft; clearly thriving and could take latest 6lb rise in his stride if today's slower conditions aren't an issue.

100/30

OUR TIP

Form: UP-93P D

Last run: 44 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Unlucky not to win this last year but only run of note since was a 10l third at Doncaster in November; now gives cheekpieces a go but has become extremely difficult to predict.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

Mackenberg

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Multiple winner at up to 2m5f but none since 2022 and the last year or so hasn't gone well; this belated step up to 3m (having run over 2m last time) is perhaps more in hope than expectation.

20/1

1

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

Mackenberg

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Multiple winner at up to 2m5f but none since 2022 and the last year or so hasn't gone well; this belated step up to 3m (having run over 2m last time) is perhaps more in hope than expectation.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.90
Straight Forecast £21.49
Trifecta £39.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hypotenus

POSTDATA:

Western General

Daily Mail:

Famoso

The Sun:

Williethebuilder

RP RATINGS:

Mackenberg

D Express:

Western General

Daily Mirror:

Western General

Daily Record:

Western General

TOPSPEED:

Hypotenus

The Times:

Hypotenus

Telegraph:

Hypotenus

The Guardian:

Hypotenus

The Star:

Famoso