February 11 / 14.25 Newbury

14.25

Good

Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £39865
  • 2m 7f 86y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV4
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Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

16/1 (Won)

  • Win: £17.00
  • Place: £5.40

Form: P-6217 CD

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Has reserved most of his best efforts for Newbury and won a 2m6f handicap here (good) in November, but he was tailed off in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby over Christmas and faces a stiff task in this higher grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

6

2nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 1

14:50 Newbury

Zanza

10st 13lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Tailed off over hurdles here on final run last season and same story on last month's return; something to prove regarding current form but chasing is his game nowadays and he has an excellent record here, including a convincing win in the Grade 2 Denman Chase in February (2m7f, good); on a handy mark on that form and could go well at his favourite track now back over fences.

16/1

10th

3

9th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Zanza

11st 9lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

His last five wins have been here, in two handicap hurdles and three chases (the latest a Grade 2); soft ground was an excuse when disappointing on his return to hurdling (now rated 16lb higher over fences) here in March and he's a feasible contender.

12/1

7th

1

24th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 3

15:10 Newbury

Zanza

12st 0lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

His last five wins have been here, in two handicap hurdles and three chases (the latest a Grade 2 over nearly 3m in February; beat Ryanair third Hitman off level weights); struggled off his new/harsh mark back here over 2m4f but perhaps this is more his trip these days and he returns to hurdling off 16lb lower.

11/2

2/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 32-21P C

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
In his third season over fences but still only a 7yo; confirmed reappearance promise when easily landing the odds at Haydock (extended 2m5f, soft) in November; bled from the nose when pulled up in the King George at Kempton the following month; gives the impression he'll stay this far and he'll be a leading contender if bouncing back to form in a race in which his stable has enjoyed plenty of success over the years.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Hitman

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

10yo who has become inconsistent and hasn't shone on his last two starts; however, he has a good record over regulation fences here and has the same mark as when winning the Old Roan (2m4f, good to soft) last October; prominent for a fair way in last season's Grand National; not written off.

33/1

1

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Hitman

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Runner-up in this race last year and he ended a long losing sequence in the Old Roan at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) on reappearance; however, he's less consistent than he once was and he was well held in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last time; needs to bounce back from that.

8/1

3

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Hitman

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

9yo who has won just one of his last 21 starts and struggled on his final two outings last season (albeit in Grand National on first occasion); however, he often runs very well, as when runner-up in this race last year (good) and in 2022 (good to soft), and there's every chance he'll be bang there.

6/1

Form: 210-F1 D

Last run: 90 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 158

Form & Verdict
Triple novice chase winner last season, including in Grade 2 at Ascot (3m, soft); looked at least as good as ever when winning 11-runner handicap at Cheltenham (extended 3m3f, good) in November, strong at the finish; may not be fully exposed yet but he faces a higher calibre of rival and today's drop back in distance isn't sure to be in his favour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 2

16:25 Cheltenham

Does He Know

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Very useful staying chaser when on song and has pretty good record at Cheltenham; pulled up at Exeter two starts ago and didn't find much at the business end when third of four at Carlisle (3m, good) last month but it won't be a surprise if he runs a big race here.

11/2

3rd

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 2

16:25 Cheltenham

Does He Know

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Very useful staying chaser when on song and has pretty good record at Cheltenham; pulled up at Exeter two starts ago and didn't find much at the business end when third of four at Carlisle (3m, good) last month but it won't be a surprise if he runs a big race here.

11/2

3rd

1

23rd Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

16:30 Carlisle

Does He Know

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

taken down early, raced in second, pressed leader 13th, led narrowly 3 out, headed when hit last, weakened and lost second run-in

9/4

Form: 234-73 C

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 158

Form & Verdict
Classy chaser who has run several of his best races at Newbury; shaped encouragingly when seventh of 15 in the Coral Gold Cup over 3m2f here in November, and he was back to near his best when third in a competitive Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby (3m, good to soft) on Boxing Day; should be at concert pitch now and makes plenty of appeal in first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

14th Mar 2023

Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:50 Cheltenham

Fanion DEstruval

12st 0lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Yet to win beyond 2m4f but he looks a stayer now and after working hard from a long way out he took a late third behind Into Overdrive at Wetherby in December (3m, good to soft; suited by soft); first-time cheekpieces no help next time (left off now) and he is up against it off top weight.

25/1

4th

4

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 86y

Class 1

14:25 Newbury

Fanion DEstruval

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Classy chaser who has run several of his best races at Newbury; shaped encouragingly when seventh of 15 in the Coral Gold Cup over 3m2f here in November, and he was back to near his best when third in a competitive Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby (3m, good to soft) on Boxing Day; should be at concert pitch now and makes plenty of appeal in first-time headgear.

7/2

3rd

1

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

13:35 Wetherby

Fanion DEstruval

12st 0lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Unproven at 3m and soundly beaten in midfield when upped to 3m2f in last month's Coral Gold Cup; however, he may have needed that reappearance run and his staying-on third in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase (2m5f, soft) in February provides hope regarding today's trip and him defying his lofty mark.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 37-224 CD

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 162

Form & Verdict
High-class chaser who made much of the running when winning this race (on good to soft) 12 months ago; creditable second to Bravemansgame and Protektorat on his first two starts this season, but let down by his jumping when a laboured fourth behind the former in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day; concedes weight all round but he'll still be a major player if returning to his best in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Eldorado Allen

10st 12lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

12yo who staged a renaissance when winning a veterans' chase at Cheltenham in November and has continued in pretty good heart; however, it's likely he'll be vulnerable today; soundly beaten in this race 12 months ago.

66/1

4th

4

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Eldorado Allen

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Form over shorter this term features a reappearance success in veterans' race at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft; beat Mister Coffey); record at Newbury includes a success in 2m7f Grade 2 in 2022 and respectable effort in major 3m2f handicap in 2023; solid claims.

9/2

4th

4

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Eldorado Allen

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Three-time Grade 2 chase winner who snapped long losing sequence to land veterans' handicap at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in November; ran okay when third next time; however, this 12yo looks vulnerable in today's company.

50/1

Form: 7234/6 C

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Talented and popular in his prime, fourth behind Allaho in the 2021 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham; having his first outing since when soundly beaten in handicap at Wetherby on Boxing Day, finishing well behind Fanion D'Estruval; may come on for that run but he certainly needs to; blinkers on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 86y

Class 1

14:25 Newbury

Kalashnikov

11st 2lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Amy Murphy

Talented and popular in his prime, fourth behind Allaho in the 2021 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham; having his first outing since when soundly beaten in handicap at Wetherby on Boxing Day, finishing well behind Fanion D'Estruval; may come on for that run but he certainly needs to; blinkers on.

25/1

6th

5

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

13:35 Wetherby

Kalashnikov

11st 10lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Amy Murphy

Has run well at up to extended 2m7f and a creditable fourth in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase (2m4f, good to soft) at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2021, which makes this look a competitive mark; however, he's been absent since and will need to be at the top of his game in this hot handicap.

20/1

Form: 2P1-35 C

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
Veteran campaigner who was better than ever in 2022, winning 3m1f handicap at Aintree (good to soft) in the spring and not beaten far when third to Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby (3m) in the autumn; not ruled out on that form, but he was disappointing in the Many Clouds back at Aintree ten weeks ago and may need another career best to return to winning ways.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Sam Brown

12st 0lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Anthony Honeyball

The oldest of these veterans, being a 14yo, and bare form this term leaves a question mark over whether he retains the useful ability that has been present for a long time; however, won this race off 2lb higher last year (soft) and has a good chance if back on song.

9/1

10th

1

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Sam Brown

12st 0lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Anthony Honeyball

Useful for a long time but has gained last three wins in veterans' events and, having turned 14 since November reappearance, can be opposed off current mark in this field.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £57.70
Straight Forecast £51.43
Trifecta £311.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Fanion D'Estruval

D Express:

Does He Know

Telegraph:

Eldorado Allen

RP Ratings:

Hitman

WEST COUNTRY:

Hitman

TOPSPEED:

Fanion D'Estruval

POSTDATA:

Fanion D'Estruval

The Times:

Fanion D'Estruval

The Guardian:

Fanion D'Estruval

Daily Mirror:

Fanion D'Estruval

The Star:

Does He Know

Daily Record:

Does He Know

Daily Mail:

Eldorado Allen

The Sun:

Eldorado Allen