April 25 / 16.40 Sandown

16.40

Good

bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £20812
  • 2m 4f 15y
  • Class 2
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00

Form: 642522

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
0-13 since winning over hurdles on debut in France in 2024; runner-up in three chases since fitted with a tongue-tie this year, most recently at Kelso (2m7f, good) three weeks ago, but he is 3lb higher in a stronger race here and needs to find something extra.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 2

16:40 Sandown

Kahavari

10st 4lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

0-13 since winning over hurdles on debut in France in 2024; runner-up in three chases since fitted with a tongue-tie this year, most recently at Kelso (2m7f, good) three weeks ago, but he is 3lb higher in a stronger race here and needs to find something extra.

5/1

2nd

1

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

16:46 Kelso

Kahavari

12st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

6yo who is 0-12 since winning on his debut in France in 2024; however, he's finished second over fences on two of his last three starts and the way he kept on at stiff Carlisle (2m5f, good to soft) last month suggests this step up in distance is worth a go; in the mix if seeing out the trip.

7/2

Form: P0421P D

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Signed off for Gavin Cromwell in Ireland with hard-fought win at Galway (2m6f, yielding) in the autumn but was pulled up when reappearing for new stable at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) ten days ago and needs to turn things around quickly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 2

16:40 Sandown

Millforce

11st 7lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

Signed off for Gavin Cromwell in Ireland with hard-fought win at Galway (2m6f, yielding) in the autumn but was pulled up when reappearing for new stable at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) ten days ago and needs to turn things around quickly.

16/1

6

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Millforce

10st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Henry Oliver

Absent since October when he signed off for Gavin Cromwell with a 2m6f win at Galway (yielding); stays 3m and should get this far, but would need to see some confidence behind him.

10/1

1st

2

26th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 6f 111y

14:35 Galway

Millforce

11st 1lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Gavin Cromwell

Won two of his six starts over hurdles; latest second at Fairyhouse his most encouraging run yet over fences but only four ran and his jumping was a bit scruffy; will need to be sharper all round in his first handicap but the ability is there.

6/1

Form: 964516 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Returned to form and rewarded heavy market support at Bangor (2m4f, good; tongue-tie refitted) last month, his fifth start for Dan Skelton; just a respectable sixth under penalty in the Red Rum at Aintree (2m, good to soft) nine days later and his mark is another 5lb higher here, but he remains very much of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 2

16:40 Sandown

Palamon

10st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Returned to form and rewarded heavy market support at Bangor (2m4f, good; tongue-tie refitted) last month, his fifth start for Dan Skelton; just a respectable sixth under penalty in the Red Rum at Aintree (2m, good to soft) nine days later and his mark is another 5lb higher here, but he remains very much of interest.

11/4

6th

15

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Palamon

10st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Well-backed, even-money favourite at Bangor (2m4f) last Tuesday, when reverting to good ground in a reapplied tongue-tie and returning to form with a convincing win; 9lb higher in a much hotter race today but not ruled out for his top yard on the back of that stylish success.

9/1

1st

8

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Palamon

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Maiden chaser and with an overall strike-rate of 2-32; he hasn't got anything going over fences for current yard but he's dropped sharply in the weights and getting back on good ground can only help; would be interesting if the market offered encouragement.

5/2

Form: -12314 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Didn't jump well enough when well beaten in Kempton Grade 2 novice in February last time but had doubled his chasing tally with ready success at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks earlier, and will be dangerous if back in similar form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 2

16:40 Sandown

Go West

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Didn't jump well enough when well beaten in Kempton Grade 2 novice in February last time but had doubled his chasing tally with ready success at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks earlier, and will be dangerous if back in similar form.

7/2

4th

1

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 1

14:25 Kempton

Go West

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

5-9 over jumps; posted a personal best when winning novice handicap at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago, seeing off several challengers from four out; goes well with positive tactics; should be involved again.

11/4

1st

2

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 3

13:25 Musselburgh

Go West

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Form dipped last time (unable to lead) but otherwise a largely progressive sort; penultimate effort has been boosted by the winner since; may well rebound, especially if he returns to dominating (all wins from the front); shortlisted.

4/1

Non-runners

Calimystic

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.20
Straight Forecast £22.53
Trifecta £37.70

Selections

POSTDATA:

Calimystic

SPOTLIGHT:

Palamon

TOPSPEED:

Go West

LAMBOURN:

Calimystic

The Times:

Calimystic

Telegraph:

Calimystic

The Guardian:

Calimystic

Daily Mail:

Calimystic

D Express:

Calimystic

Daily Mirror:

Calimystic

The Sun:

Calimystic

The Star:

Calimystic

Daily Record:

Calimystic

RP RATINGS:

Palamon