February 17 / 14.15 Newbury

14.15

OLBG ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

  • 2m 0f 92y
  • Class 3
  • 3 runners
SKY
View Course
OLBG ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 3 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface:

Weather:

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25

Form: 3P-4P5 D

Last run: 60 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Three-time hurdle winner; 0-6 over fences but highly tried on occasions and unlucky not to win a Grade 2 at Ascot last season; disappointed in that same race two months ago but new headgear could help him turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

16th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 2

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Personal Ambition

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Won three-runner novice chase by 17l at Newbury (2m, soft; first-time blinkers) in February but that form is tricky to evaluate, and he was pulled up in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March; still needs to prove he can handle his current handicap mark and that he's fully effective on the forecast good ground.

4/1

15

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Personal Ambition

10st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

He's had jumping issues and should have won a Grade 2 novice chase at Ascot in December 2024 (2m3f, good to soft; bad mistake at final fence); beat just two rivals when getting off the mark in this sphere at Newbury (2m, soft) recently but that was still a very encouraging effort in first-time blinkers (retained); could make a bold bid if minimising the errors.

14/1

1st

3

17th Feb 2026

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

14:15 Newbury

Personal Ambition

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Three-time hurdle winner; 0-6 over fences but highly tried on occasions and unlucky not to win a Grade 2 at Ascot last season; disappointed in that same race two months ago but new headgear could help him turn things around.

100/30

Form: 21-242 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Tongue-tie has been retained since he won a 3m handicap hurdle at last season's big April meeting at Ayr; runner-up in two of his three chases and jumped well when nosed out by the likeable Jordans Cross at Cheltenham last month (2m4f, soft); surprising to see him back at 2m but at least the ground will be testing, and he'd be giving weight to all his rivals in a handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Quebecois

11st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

0-5 in this first chase campaign but pipped at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in January and a close third of 22 in the Ultima at the Festival there (3m1f, good to soft) on latest outing; raised 5lb for this first attempt at a marathon trip but he's relatively unexposed and kept on stoutly in that bold show last time.

11/1

3rd

16

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Quebecois

10st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Mixed form during this novice chase campaign but he went very close in handicap here (2m4f, soft) in January and 2m was against him back in novice company at Newbury latest; best performance over hurdles came when winning at 3m at Ayr (good to soft) last April; possible improver now back up in trip.

9/1

2nd

4

17th Feb 2026

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

14:15 Newbury

Quebecois

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Tongue-tie has been retained since he won a 3m handicap hurdle at last season's big April meeting at Ayr; runner-up in two of his three chases and jumped well when nosed out by the likeable Jordans Cross at Cheltenham last month (2m4f, soft); surprising to see him back at 2m but at least the ground will be testing, and he'd be giving weight to all his rivals in a handicap.

4/7

OUR TIP

Form: 36/49- D

Last run: 395 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Bumper and 2m4f maiden hurdle winner; very lightly raced 9yo who seems to enjoy the mud but has a long absence to overcome on his chasing debut and he's the lowest rated of these by some margin.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 3

15:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Leading Choice

11st 4lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Nicky Martin

Very lightly raced 9yo who has won a bumper and a 2m4f maiden hurdle; he was in last throughout in a three-runner novice chase last week at Newbury when returning from 13 months off; as was the case then, these terms aren't favourable.

16/1

3rd

2

17th Feb 2026

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

14:15 Newbury

Leading Choice

11st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Nicky Martin

Bumper and 2m4f maiden hurdle winner; very lightly raced 9yo who seems to enjoy the mud but has a long absence to overcome on his chasing debut and he's the lowest rated of these by some margin.

25/1

9th

6

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 5f 50y

Class 4

13:20 Haydock

Leading Choice

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Nicky Martin

Bumper and 2m4f maiden winner, whose best form in light career was registered on heavy; never dangerous when well beaten on seasonal/handicap debut (2m4f, heavy) early last month, whereas he won last season when returning from a much longer break.

14/1

Non-runners

Old Cowboy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.20
Straight Forecast £3.68
Trifecta £3.70

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Quebecois

SPOTLIGHT:

Personal Ambition

Telegraph:

Old Cowboy

TOPSPEED:

Quebecois

POSTDATA:

Quebecois

The Times:

Quebecois

The Guardian:

Quebecois

D Express:

Quebecois

Daily Mirror:

Quebecois

The Sun:

Quebecois

The Star:

Quebecois

Daily Record:

Quebecois

Daily Mail:

Personal Ambition