15.35

2nd

6

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Jonbon

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Has maintained an incredibly high standard in Grade 1s over 2m but, although he has won here, his rare reverses have come on this track; no longer quite the speedster he used to be at 2m and the extra stamina test was a help when winning at Ascot (about 2m5f, good to soft) last month, where he could have settled for second had his enduring will to win not come to his aid; now defends a strike-rate of 3-3 at about this trip but it remains to be seen whether he can rise to this very big occasion.

13/2

1st

5

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Jonbon

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Acts on any ground; yet to finish out of the first two; formerly dominant at shorter but has lost a bit of his speed and was aided by the stiff test over the 2m1f trip at Ascot (soft) most recently, recording a second success in the Clarence House and 11th Grade 1 win; seems to be crying out for this step back up in distance and, still high class at the age of ten, may well add to his impressive tally; 2-2 over 2m4f, both in the Melling at Aintree; cheekpieces worn in last two starts are retained.

8/15

3rd

3

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Pic DOrhy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

11yo who looked as good as ever when runner-up in a captivating battle with Jonbon in the Ascot Chase (2m5f, good to soft) in February, when bidding to win that Grade 1 for the third consecutive year; won the Grade 1 Melling Chase here (2m4f, soft) in 2023; seemed fine at 3m when 1l second in this season's Charlie Hall (good) and his trainer has won this race six times; no surprise to see a bold bid from this front-runner, who is not ruled out.

14/1

2nd

6

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Pic DOrhy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Smart front-runner whose record of 5-9 over fences at Ascot features emphatic wins in this race for the last two years (good/good to soft; has scored on soft); had excuses (soon taken on for lead, race possibly came too soon after reappearance) over C&D in November when last seen, failing to land the 1965 Chase for a third time; perhaps best caught fresh nowadays and, assuming he's able to dominate, commands respect in another hat-trick attempt.

7/4

2

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

Pic DOrhy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Multiple Grade 2 chase winner who has also won three Grade 1s (good-soft), the latest being the 2m5f Ascot Chase in February; this 10yo is unproven beyond that trip and unraced over 3m, but there's every chance he'll stay and he goes well fresh; key player under 6lb penalty if seeing it out.

9/2

1st

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

14:55 Sandown

Edwardstone

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Admirable veteran, albeit isn't quite the force of old and gained this season's win in substandard Grade 2 at Kempton (2m4f); also perhaps ideally suited by further than about 2m nowadays; beaten twice in this race.

33/1

3rd

1

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Edwardstone

12st 0lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

12yo whose career highlight came when winning the Tingle Creek in 2022; showed he retains considerable spark when winning Grade 2 at Kempton (2m4f, good) this January; he may prefer a longer trip than this nowadays but he's a leading player nevertheless now back in a handicap.

5/2

4th

3

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Edwardstone

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Acts on any ground; formerly a high-class chaser at about 2m, best form when winning the 2022 Tingle Creek; seems better suited by further nowadays and, despite his advancing years, managed to land a Grade 2 prize over 2m4f at Kempton most recently; recapturing Grade 1 honours at the age of 12 is not completely implausible, as he's technically still unexposed at this sort of trip and his two main rivals are also veterans.

10/1

1st

2

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Heltenham

11st 13lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

All chase wins around 2m4f, including win at this meeting last year; Newbury specialist who landed fourth win at that track when bagging valuable handicap for second time on penultimate start; never won off a mark this high and drop back down to 2m also asks a question but he's impossible to rule out.

3/1

4th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Heltenham

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Back to something like his best last time, registering a second success in the Greatwood Gold Cup and taking C&D record to 4-6; won this contest in 2023 and 2024; back up the weights but commands respect kept to a scenario that suits him ideally.

9/4

1st

5

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Heltenham

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

Record of 3-5 at Newbury features a success in this contest two years ago; proved no match for Twinjets in most recent course start and was a faller in last two handicap attempts (out of depth in Grade 1 since); however, holds a major chance off current mark provided he's in top form.

10/1

1st

4

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Classic Maestro

10st 13lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Good second at Sandown (1m7f, soft) in January and ran well before fading into 14 third at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month; however, his best form has come on soft/heavy ground and such conditions seem unlikely today.

15/2

3rd

2

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:55 Ayr

Classic Maestro

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Predictably struggled in Grade 1 Ascot Chase three weeks ago but looked as good as ever when second in good Sandown handicap (1m7f, soft) two starts ago and will be fine over today's trip; good chance.

9/4