18.05
YieldingWilliam Hill Champion Chase (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £153652.17
- 2m 0f 98y
- 5 runners
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Runners: 5 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
7/4 (Won)
- Win: £1.73
- Place: £1.10
Form: 1-11F1 CD
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 173
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
Ground versatile; not the biggest in stature but a hugely talented performer who has won eight of his 11 chase starts, including six Grade 1s; bolted up in the Champion Chase on latest, immediately bouncing back from a rare blip at Sandown; won a Grade 1 novice over C&D at this meeting last year and he's preferred by Townend; leading chance. |
7/4 |
|
1st 4 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; small in stature but big in talent and his record of 7-10 over fences features five Grade 1 wins, the most recent impressively in this season's Tingle Creek at Sandown; not bombproof in this scenario as he's 0-3 at the Cheltenham Festival (finishing positions 553) and was let down by his jumping in the 2024 Arkle, admittedly posting a good placed effort in the circumstances; possible denting of confidence is another concern as he was winded and took a while to get up from a late fall in the Clarence House most recently (under pressure and not responding when the tumble occurred); removal of usual hood adds to the uncertainty; otherwise a huge player provided he's in top form. |
4/1 |
|
2 |
17th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 172y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Hugely likeable chaser who made it 7-9 over fences when slamming Jonbon by 9l in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft; fine on softer) six weeks ago; that represented another personal best and he's the clear pick on the ratings; has excellent credentials. |
8/15 |
2/1
- Place: £1.20
Form: 211-22 CD BF
Last run: 86 days
W: 11st 12lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 169
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 5 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
The 2025 Champion Chaser arrives here a fresher horse than most after missing Cheltenham with a sore neck; returned to action at Leopardstown in December with a pleasing effort behind Solness after making an early mistake; no match for Majborough at the DRF on testing ground but he's a much better horse on a sounder surface; won this in fine style last year and could repeat the dose. |
2/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Top-class novice hurdler had an interrupted novice chase season but came good last term, finishing runner-up to Solness in this race before winning the Champion Chase at Cheltenham; he then followed up at Punchestown in style; did well to recover from an error on comeback over C&D last time, just losing out to Solness again; this testing ground is a question, but is the one to beat if handling it. |
15/8 |
|
1st 4 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
towards rear but in touch with leaders, smooth headway 3 out, soon niggled along, challenging after 2 out, led going best approaching last, shaken up and went clear run-in, comfortably |
5/4 |
16/1
Form: P3-341 CD
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 12lb
12 yo Gelding
OR: 158
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
Rolled back the years with a dominant win at Fairyhouse on latest, his first start at 2m4f for almost six years; won this in 2022 and 2023 but he's a 12yo now and Paul Townend prefers the chances of Il Etait Temps; probably vulnerable to younger legs dropped back in trip. |
16/1 |
|
1st 1 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 10lb |
High class operator in his pomp; has won eleven chases, including six at the top table; however, it seems like time is catching up with the 12yo and he was well held by Found A Fifty at Cork in December; tailed off at Leopardstown on latest in first-time cheekpieces (discarded); last ran at this trip in 2020; others preferred. |
9/2 |
|
4th 1 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Top-class chaser won the Champion Chase in 2022-23 while he previously won a Grade 1 novice over C&D; returned after a long absence last season and wasn't at his best, but still capable of smart form; was third to Found A Fifty in a Cork Grade 2 on return but will have to improve a fair bit on that; does handle testing ground well; cheekpieces added. |
8/1 |
9/4
Form: 1-2317 CD BF
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 173
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
4-8 over fences; has a massive engine and has won three Grade 1s over fences, including when giving Marine Nationale a 19l beating in first-time cheekpieces at the DRF; however, his jumping is often erratic and the cheekpieces weren't as effective when he again jumped poorly when soundly beaten in the Champion Chase; obvious chance if he jumps well but hard to know what to expect; a risky proposition. |
9/4 |
|
7th 8 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Talented youngster who triumphed in the Triumph at this meeting in 2024 and shaped like the best horse when close third in last year's Arkle, which he would likely have won but for late mistakes that included a howler two out; again lacked fluency when beaten twice in December but took very well to first-time cheekpieces and jumped better on his way to a highly impressive performance in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown (2m1f, soft) since, beating 2025 Champion Chase winner Marine Nationale by 19l; good chance of following up in the retained headgear, provided the form is confirmed and a reversion to errors is avoided. |
5/6 |
|
1st 3 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
The 2024 Triumph Hurdle winner turned into a top-class novice chaser last season, winning Grade 1s over C&D and at Punchestown; however, he had jumping frailties too and they resurfaced on return at Cork behind Found A Fifty; a decent effort back over C&D last time but has ground to make up on Solness and Marine National on that form; cheekpieces added. |
15/8 |
25/1
Form: 123P12 D
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 152
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
1st Jun 2026 Yielding 2m 3f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Versatile ground-wise; won this last year and has since added a fourth chase win in a Grade 3 at Naas; ran second to Energumene in a Grade 2 in April before his no-show in a Grade 1 last time; has clear claims back at this level, even having to concede weight all round. |
Evs |
|
5th 1 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
One of four for Willie Mullins; gained a fourth chase win in a Naas Grade 3 in February; creditable effort when a 6l runner up behind Energumene in a Fairyhouse Grade 2 on latest; 3lb worse off with that rival here and looks set to play a supporting role again. |
25/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 7lb |
Four-time chase winner, including two Grade 3s; pulled up in a Grade 3 here on penultimate start but bounced back straight away with a Grade 3 win at Naas (2m, heavy); came up short in this last year when a 7.25l third and needs to find more to feature at the finish. |
11/2 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | €3.00 |
| Straight Forecast | €3.37 |
| Trifecta | €9.90 |
Selections
RP RATINGS (IRE):
MajboroughSPOTLIGHT:
Marine NationalePOSTDATA:
Il Etait TempsTOPSPEED:
MajboroughThe Irish Sun:
Marine Nationale