October 31 / 15.05 Uttoxeter

15.05

Good

Kalahari King ‘Chasing Excellence’ Beginners’ Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 1m 7f 214y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
Kalahari King ‘Chasing Excellence’ Beginners’ Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 12420- D

Last run: 237 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Smart hurdler who won Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) on last season's reappearance and was subsequently second in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and William Hill Hurdle at Newbury; absent since below-par run in March but still commands respect on chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:05 Uttoxeter

Lump Sum

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Smart hurdler who won Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) on last season's reappearance and was subsequently second in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and William Hill Hurdle at Newbury; absent since below-par run in March but still commands respect on chasing debut.

13/8

1st

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:05 Uttoxeter

Lump Sum

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Smart hurdler who won Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) on last season's reappearance and was subsequently second in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and William Hill Hurdle at Newbury; absent since below-par run in March but still commands respect on chasing debut.

13/8

3/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 113P1-

Last run: 198 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who developed into a very useful novice hurdler last season, with latest of three wins gained at Cheltenham (2m4f, good; first-time tongue-tie) in April; not sure to be suited by today's drop back in trip but could take some catching if he gets into a good rhythm on chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Jax Junior

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Finished 18l behind Lulamba in the Arkle but may fare better in this rematch, with the return to further a likely plus; readily bagged Grade 2 honours at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) the time before, enhancing his good strike-rate when racing beyond 2m.

9/1

4th

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Jax Junior

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bled from nose when well held behind Steel Ally at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning a handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) and Grade 2 novice at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) on last two starts; needs a chunk of improvement to trouble the principals but he's straightforward, tactically versatile and a sound jumper.

20/1

1st

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 1

14:25 Kempton

Jax Junior

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bled from the nose at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) three weeks ago in clearcut style; just as effective at 2m4f and sets the standard for the others to aim at.

4/6

Form: 11P- D

Last run: 244 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who began hurdling career with wins at Huntingdon and Ludlow (both 2m, good to soft) at start of this year; did not fire when upped to Grade 2 level in March but could still have considerable potential and Ben Pauling is evidently very keen to switch him to fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Vanderpoel

11st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Won at Ascot (2m1f, soft) in December on third chase start and followed up at Sandown (1m7f, good) in January; those wins came in small fields and this is much more competitive, but this lightly raced 7yo did it convincingly both times and it remains to be seen where the ceiling of his ability lies.

15/2

3rd

5

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:05 Uttoxeter

Vanderpoel

11st 5lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Irish point winner who began hurdling career with wins at Huntingdon and Ludlow (both 2m, good to soft) at start of this year; did not fire when upped to Grade 2 level in March but could still have considerable potential and Ben Pauling is evidently very keen to switch him to fences.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 11P41- D

Last run: 189 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
3-5 as a novice hurdler last season, the latest win gained at Perth (2m, good to soft) in April; has a bit to find on the figures with a couple of today's rivals but looks a very good chasing prospect for the season ahead; had wind op in July and is fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

14:15 Stratford

Junker DAllier

11st 10lb

J: Tom Hutsby

T: Olly Murphy

A three-time hurdles winner (around 2m) last season; failed to go on in three starts over fences this term and he was pulled up back in this sphere at Warwick (2m5f) last month; player in this grade if first-time cheekpieces spark a revival.

5/2

5

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 5y

Class 3

16:10 Warwick

Junker DAllier

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

Won three novice hurdles last season and was highly tried in his defeats; it's been a mixed start over fences (after wind surgery), let down by his jumping on handicap debut latest; probably worthy of this mark and he's back over hurdles.

13/2

Form: 2-

Last run: 303 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fourth on Irish point debut in spring 2024 and made promising rules debut when second in Fairyhouse bumper (yielding to soft) for Stuart Crawford in January; bought for £85,000 later that month and is an interesting recruit for Dan Skelton but has been set a daunting assignment on stable/chase debut; hood/tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 3

14:52 Hereford

Largy Belter

11st 10lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Down in distance and off the mark at Leicester (2m, heavy) last month, left clear three out; a 7lb rise is hardly lenient on the face of it, but he could be unexposed at this trip.

7/4

1st

1

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 3

14:05 Leicester

Largy Belter

11st 7lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Joined Dan Skelton after promising Irish bumper debut at start of 2025; hasn't made an impact in four chase runs for current yard but he's had some tough assignments and he shaped better than the bare facts when runner-up on handicap debut at Ffos Las (2m3f, soft); has taken a strong hold in his last two runs and he's a possible improver on this drop back in trip.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.90
Straight Forecast £4.75
Trifecta £12.90

Selections

POSTDATA:

Lump Sum

The Guardian:

Junker d'Allier

SPOTLIGHT:

Jax Junior

WEST COUNTRY:

Vanderpoel

NEWMARKET:

Jax Junior

Daily Mail:

Junker d'Allier

Daily Record:

Junker d'Allier

The Times:

Lump Sum

Telegraph:

Lump Sum

D Express:

Lump Sum

Daily Mirror:

Lump Sum

The Sun:

Lump Sum

The Star:

Lump Sum