April 15 / 13.45 Aintree

13.45

Good To Soft

EFT Systems Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £67524
  • 1m 7f 176y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
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EFT Systems Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

1/3 (Won)

  • Win: £1.19

Form: 1-1112 C

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
His only defeat over hurdles came at the hands of superstar stablemate Constitution Hill in last season's Supreme at Cheltenham (after which he won at this meeting) and beaten only once over fences when second to the exciting El Fabiolo in last month's Arkle; didn't jump with his usual zest in the latter out of ground described as "tacky" by his rider and, with nothing of his conqueror's calibre to worry about here, he should be extremely hard to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

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

Form: 16F139

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
His only win over fences (1-4) came on a right-handed track but he tends to jump left and got away with it in that novice chase; could upgrade his ninth place in the 2m4f handicap at Cheltenham but, even so, this company demands a good jolt of improvement on that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

23rd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 2

15:20 Ascot

Marvel De Cerisy

11st 10lb

J: James Reveley

T: Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm

Successful in Ireland and France; 2-2 since joining the George/Zetterholm stable, both wins in handicaps at Auteuil (2m3f/2m2f, heavy; hurdle/chase) in emphatic style; interesting contender in current form.

7/1

6th

4

23rd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 2

15:20 Ascot

Marvel De Cerisy

11st 10lb

J: James Reveley

T: Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm

Successful in Ireland and France; 2-2 since joining the George/Zetterholm stable, both wins in handicaps at Auteuil (2m3f/2m2f, heavy; hurdle/chase) in emphatic style; interesting contender in current form.

7/1

2nd

5

15th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Marvel De Cerisy

11st 7lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

His only win over fences (1-4) came on a right-handed track but he tends to jump left and got away with it in that novice chase; could upgrade his ninth place in the 2m4f handicap at Cheltenham but, even so, this company demands a good jolt of improvement on that form.

10/1

Form: 652411 D

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
From the stable of this season's top staying novice The Real Whacker; something has clicked over fences as he was beaten in his first seven runs but has won his last two (following wind surgery), both tiny-field handicaps in the north of England; this is a different test altogether and he has masses to find on the figures; he does jump particularly well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

5th Mar 2025

Good

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:25 Catterick

Fusain

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

prominent on inner, weakened gradually after 2 out

13/2

7

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

15:10 Ayr

Fusain

11st 4lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Patrick Neville

in touch with leaders, niggled along briefly after 4th, lost ground after 5th, dropped to last after 7th, detached and pulled up after 8th

12/1

7

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

15:10 Ayr

Fusain

11st 4lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Patrick Neville

in touch with leaders, niggled along briefly after 4th, lost ground after 5th, dropped to last after 7th, detached and pulled up after 8th

12/1

Form: -11321 C

Last run: 2 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Won his first two over fences, looking decidedly smart on the second occasion at Cheltenham (2m, good); later held his own in Irish Grade 1s (2m4f/2m1f) on softer ground but confirmed his preference for drier conditions when cosily winning the 2m4f Manifesto here on Thursday; that looks his optimum trip and to win two Grade 1s in the space of three days is asking a lot.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Banbridge

11st 11lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

So nearly won his second King George at Kempton over Christmas but, although he's a class act, excelling over 3m on good ground at that speed track doesn't mean that this test will suit him; his moderate late headway in the extended 2m4f Grade 1 Ryanair at Cheltenham last month isn't that persuasive either.

50/1

3rd

1

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Banbridge

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Won the Martin Pipe over hurdles at this meeting in 2022 as well as a novice chase here that year, but Kempton is where his heart lies, having won the Grade 1 King George (3m, good) in 2024 and gone desperately close in the same race (first-time visor, retained here) on Boxing Day; however, he's been beaten a long way out at the last two Festivals, in this race and the Gold Cup, and a flat track may now be ideal; has something to prove.

6/1

4th

1

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

17:30 Punchestown

Banbridge

11st 10lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

jumped left on occasions, raced in third, went second 6th, struggling and lost second 3 out, weakening when lost third before 2 out, tailed off

4/1

Form: 224121 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Useful hurdler but has raised his game this season over fences and, in receipt of 5lb, he gave Jonbon something to think about when they met in a match at Warwick in February; however, probably flattered that day having built up a head of steam down the back straight and he was all out to win a Doncaster handicap next time (2m, good; effective on softer); should run well but ultimately come up short.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

2

16th Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 50y

12:50 Navan

Calico

11st 12lb

J: Finn Brickley

T: Gordon Elliott

Five-time winner including over hurdles in America 12 months ago, not long after opening her chase account at Galway; has been chasing lately; trainer appears to have stronger candidates.

12/1

15th

2

16th Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 50y

12:50 Navan

Calico

11st 12lb

J: Finn Brickley

T: Gordon Elliott

Five-time winner including over hurdles in America 12 months ago, not long after opening her chase account at Galway; has been chasing lately; trainer appears to have stronger candidates.

12/1

6th

1

1st Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 100y

14:40 Down Royal

Calico

12st 0lb

J: Carl Millar

T: Gordon Elliott

Five-time winner including over hurdles in America 12 months ago, not long after opening her chase account at Galway; out of her depth in a Grade 2 chase at Punchestown festival; had a run over hurdles before 12l second to The Banger Doyle on handicap debut at Cork.

7/2

Form: 1-1112 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Has not looked back since joining this progressive yard, winning three Class 3 handicaps (1m7f-2m4f; from soft to good) before excelling himself when second at 40-1 in the 2m4f Grade 1 at Cheltenham (soft); there was no obvious reason to believe that improved effort flattered him and his jumping should be an asset over this sharper test; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

5

13th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 1

14:07 Kempton

Notlongtillmay

11st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: L J Morgan

Very solid record (form figures 111242) since joining Laura Morgan and switched to fences; good second in major 2m4f handicap at Cheltenham most recently and filled same position in Grade 1 novice there last March; versatile ground-wise; has progressive RPRs and should go well again.

5/1

5

18th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

14:20 Cheltenham

Notlongtillmay

11st 4lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

Very progressive last season, winning three novice handicaps then good second to Stage Star in 2m4f Festival Grade 1; posted another sound Cheltenham effort (2m, good) on reappearance, which tees him up nicely for this prize; clear possibilities with the return to 2m4f a likely plus.

7/1

4th

1

28th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 2

13:15 Cheltenham

Notlongtillmay

12st 0lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

Has not looked back since joining this progressive yard, winning three Class 3 handicaps (1m7f-2m4f; from soft to good) before excelling himself when second at 40-1 in the 2m4f Grade 1 here in March (soft); raised 10lb but there was no obvious reason to believe that improved effort flattered him; his jumping should be an asset over this sharper test; respected.

9/1

Non-runners

Banbridge, Notlongtillmay

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.70
Straight Forecast £2.15
Trifecta £5.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jonbon

RP Ratings:

Jonbon

TOPSPEED:

Jonbon

POSTDATA:

Jonbon

LAMBOURN:

Jonbon

The Times:

Jonbon

Telegraph:

Jonbon

The Guardian:

Jonbon

Daily Mail:

Jonbon

D Express:

Jonbon

Daily Mirror:

Jonbon

The Sun:

Jonbon

The Star:

Jonbon

Daily Record:

Jonbon