14.30
GoodLadbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (Limited Handicap Chase) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £56950
- 2m 0f 0y
- Class 1
- 11 runners
Runners: 11 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Rain
7/2 (Won)
- Win: £6.00
- Place: £2.20
Form: 144-54 CD
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 12lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 159
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
1st Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 78y Class 2 |
10st 13lb |
led, headed then prominent 5th, pressed leader before 4 out, weakened after 4 out |
14/1 |
5/1
- Place: £2.70
Form: 12P-34 CD
Last run: 18 days
W: 11st 8lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 155
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 7 |
27th Apr 2024 Good 1m 7f 99y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Three-time Grade 2 winner who has run pretty well in defeat in Grade 2 and Grade 1 races the last twice; however, he would be a surprise winner today; wears first-time cheekpieces. |
50/1 |
|
5th 7 |
27th Apr 2024 Good 1m 7f 99y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Three-time Grade 2 winner who has run pretty well in defeat in Grade 2 and Grade 1 races the last twice; however, he would be a surprise winner today; wears first-time cheekpieces. |
50/1 |
11/4
Form: 92-511 C
Last run: 25 days
W: 11st 9lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 156
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
27th Apr 2024 Good 1m 7f 99y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
10yo who has been better than ever this season; soft ground was against him in the Champion Chase and prior to that he beat Jonbon by a neck to win the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft); however, the runner-up was well below his best; others make greater appeal. |
50/1 |
|
5 |
27th Apr 2024 Good 1m 7f 99y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
10yo who has been better than ever this season; soft ground was against him in the Champion Chase and prior to that he beat Jonbon by a neck to win the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft); however, the runner-up was well below his best; others make greater appeal. |
50/1 |
|
5 |
13th Mar 2024 Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Often a front-runner; has won on soft but seems ideally suited by good/good to soft; rallied gamely to beat odds-on Jonbon in the rescheduled Clarence House here in January, making it three wins from his last four starts; however, looks far from sure to confirm placings with that otherwise superior rival who blew his chance with a dodgy round of jumping; in great form this term but needs better still to land a Champion Chase. |
25/1 |
25/1
Form: -22436 D
Last run: 25 days
W: 10st 9lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 142
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 14 |
25th May 2026 Good 2m 3f 136y |
10st 6lb |
Won a hurdle at Limerick (fair fourth in corresponding contest latest) before finishing fourth in this race last year; over three years since latest chase win and struggling in this discipline lately, despite declining mark. |
18/1 |
|
4th 3 |
16th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 5f 100y |
11st 5lb |
Last year's winner off 1lb lower but hasn't won since; below his best chasing this season, albeit set some stiff tasks; not discounted back hurdling but veteran will need to improve significantly. |
10/1 |
Form: 123-11 CD
Last run: 32 days
W: 11st 11lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 158
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 4 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 176y Class 1 |
11st 9lb |
Ascot specialist who runs at Aintree for the first time; following wind surgery he ran okay when 13l eighth of 20 in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham (2m, good) last month, and he's another 4lb lower today; however, this 11yo is without a win since 2023 and needs to find something extra now in cheekpieces. |
33/1 |
|
8th 6 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 4lb |
Ascot specialist who ran really well when second to Jonbon in C&D Grade 2 (good) in November 2024; well handicapped on that form but this 11yo has struggled to get competitive this season; wind op needs to prompt a revival. |
40/1 |
Form: /3F2-2 D
Last run: 53 days
W: 11st 11lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 158
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 |
21st Jan 2024 Good To Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
A longer trip may be preferable but he was a good second off this mark at Ascot (2m1f, soft) in November on his reappearance, and filled the same position at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) last time; also effective on good/good to soft; this highly admirable 12yo can give another good account. |
6/1 |
|
3 |
27th Dec 2023 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
11st 11lb
|
|
|
|
2nd 1 |
27th Dec 2023 Good To Soft 2m 3f 98y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
prominent, led 3rd, headed after 3 out, kept on final 110yds |
9/4 |
Form: 211-F3 D
Last run: 18 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 157
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 |
31st Jan 2026 Soft 1m 7f 99y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Formerly a progressive sort and has Grade 1 form over C&D; however, two runs since returning from long layoff suggest he's not the force of old and unlikely to defy top weight in this warm handicap. |
14/1 |
|
4 |
27th Dec 2023 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
11st 10lb
|
|
|
|
3rd 3 |
9th Dec 2023 Soft 1m 7f 99y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Progressive novice chaser last season, winning twice (good/heavy); still held a fighting chance when final-fence faller in Cheltenham handicap on reappearance and could well rate higher still; faces a stiffer assignment upped in class but brings an attractive profile. |
14/1 |
12/1
Form: 401-67 D
Last run: 32 days
W: 10st 13lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 146
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
17th Sep 2025 Good 2m 1f 14y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
An 11yo now who isn't as good as he was and has predictably lost some of his old speed; hasn't been running badly in handicaps at about this trip but looks vulnerable. |
8/1 |
|
2 |
20th Jul 2025 Good 2m 0f 213y Class 2 |
11st 8lb |
On a good mark but an 11yo now and has lost some of his old zip; ran okay at Uttoxeter last time but got outpaced when it mattered and was never threatening; what will help here is the likelihood of a good pace and some rain; respected. |
10/1 |
|
4th 3 |
29th Jun 2025 Good 1m 7f 214y Class 2 |
11st 10lb |
An 11yo now and, in first-time cheekpieces, finished well behind at Ayr in a race he had done well in previously; this wouldn't be so demanding and his penultimate effort was quite encouraging; by no means ruled out. |
14/1 |
Form: 2P5-3P D
Last run: 18 days
W: 10st 9lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 142
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
20th Oct 2025 Good 2m 3f 166y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Very useful chaser in his prime but last month's hurdling win at Fontwell (2m5f, good) came off a hugely reduced handicap mark and it's not easy to predict whether his revival will gather momentum. |
4/1 |
|
1st 2 |
22nd Sep 2025 Good To Soft 2m 5f 164y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Has been through a quiet spell but he ran respectably when fourth at Worcester (2m4f, good; tongue-tie refitted) last time; likely to need more. |
13/2 |
|
6 |
5th Sep 2025 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
Very useful chaser in his prime but this year's efforts, in three hurdles and a chase, make him tough to recommend. |
14/1 |
Form: 88-122 D BF
Last run: 25 days
W: 10st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 140
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 8 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Finished a creditable close second of three finishers in a Grade 2 at Kempton (about 2m4f, good) in January but he's an infrequent winner and it's two years since he ran well in a Grade 1 (not far away when falling two out in the Arkle here, then touched off at Aintree); well adrift in this race last year and there's no reason to expect much better today. |
100/1 |
|
5th 1 |
7th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 0f 92y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Landed this prize last year but incurs a bigger penalty this time, making him worse off with runner-up Libberty Hunter, and concedes weight to some other notable rivals that include a very promising 5yo; outgunned by 12yo Edwardstone at Kempton most recently; chance of doing the Game Spirit double partly depends on how well he responds to first-time headgear. |
11/1 |
|
2 |
26th Oct 2025 Good 2m 3f 200y Class 1 |
11st 6lb |
Unproven at this trip but kept on well to win Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury (2m, soft) in February and his two subsequent defeats came in Grade 1s; likes it here, with course form figures of 122, and he's fine on good ground; from in-form yard and can play leading role if seeing out the trip. |
4/1 |
Form: 127-52 C
Last run: 32 days
W: 10st 1lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 134
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
26th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 219y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
Has been well out of form since returning in September from a break and has offered little switched to hunter chases this year; now back in handicap company for his leading stable and down to a potentially workable mark, but recent efforts temper enthusiasm. |
2/1 |
|
4th 1 |
19th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 11y Class 4 |
12st 6lb |
Odds-on third in this race last year before comfortably making all in Stratford hunter chase (2m1f, good) in May; hasn't got near the latter form in eight starts since September however and latest pulled up, despite attracting some support, was a third non completion in a row; others look safer. |
7/2 |
|
1 |
13th Feb 2026 Soft 3m 0f 38y Class 5 |
12st 6lb |
He was in better form when runner-up in this last year having won his previous race; very disappointing when pulled up back here just before Christmas and then unseated at Ludlow when 33-1; hard to trust right now. |
11/2 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £31.50 |
| Straight Forecast | £33.64 |
| Trifecta | £97.90 |
Selections
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Elixir De NutzDaily Mail:
Elixir De Nutz