January 01 / 13.30 Cheltenham

13.30

Soft

Paddy Power Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £26015
  • 3m 1f 56y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
ITV
View Course
Paddy Power Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 2P-48P

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Two impressive wins early last year before his neck second in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival (3m2f, soft); has had a troubled time since, however, including with his jumping, so needs to turn things around in the first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Stumptown

11st 10lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Dual C&D winner last season, latterly when beating Latenightpass by 7l in this race (good to soft; first-time cheekpieces); seen only once this term, landing prestigious Velka Pardubicka cross-country chase in Czech Republic (4m2f, good; back in cheekpieces) in October, and has a lofty handicap mark to overcome but still commands respect; blinkers back on today.

11/4

10

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Stumptown

11st 2lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Cross-country chasing could hardly have gone better, which augurs well, as does his markedly improved form over 3m5f in the Cheltenham version on last two outings; spending the last third of it off the bridle at the Festival last month (with first-time cheekpieces; last season's blinkers now return) is a niggling worry, and slogging it out was a taxing as well as serious achievement, but he finished well on top and can race off the same mark today; on the shortlist.

10/1

10

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Stumptown

11st 2lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Cross-country chasing could hardly have gone better, which augurs well, as does his markedly improved form over 3m5f in the Cheltenham version on last two outings; spending the last third of it off the bridle at the Festival last month (with first-time cheekpieces; last season's blinkers now return) is a niggling worry, and slogging it out was a taxing as well as serious achievement, but he finished well on top and can race off the same mark today; on the shortlist.

10/1

15/8

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 31-311

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Probably acts on soft, unraced on heavy; won an Irish point in 2021 and a Chepstow novice hurdle last February; switched to fences this season and travelled much the best on his way to handicap wins at Newbury (on good to soft over an extended 2m7f and 2m6f) on last two starts; hung left in the closing stages during all three of those wins; up another 7lb but very lightly raced and a strong candidate for further improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

17:16 Newbury

Inch House

11st 12lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Has essentially become disappointing since his novice season but he did run well first time back in a strong Cheltenham handicap (3m1f, good) and this is his hunter chase debut; disappointing if he's not involved.

4/1

14

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Cheltenham

Inch House

10st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Well handicapped if back to his peak and he does have Cheltenham form; ran no race on his debut for Paul Nicholls but the second run can be excused after he suffered interference; still only an 8yo and a revival is not out of the question by any means.

25/1

5

28th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

14:20 Newbury

Inch House

11st 6lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Won twice here late last year but started hanging badly left subsequently and ran poorly here in February on his final completion; left Jonjo O'Neill and reappeared with a disappointing show here four weeks ago in a race he won last term; may have needed that run but connections also now reach for cheekpieces; should stay and is well handicapped if back to his peak.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3PU-25 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 12lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Acts on heavy; lightly raced in recent seasons and has been hit and miss, but runner-up here (3m3f, soft) on reappearance and a respectable fifth in the big 3m2f handicap at Newbury two weeks later; the latter race in 2021 provided his last win; big shout if that recent form can be maintained.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

23rd Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

16:30 Carlisle

Cloudy Glen

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

led at steady pace, faced challenges from 13th, not fluent 14th, headed and lost second 3 out, soon lost third, lost touch from 2 out, tailed off

7/1

8th

3

1st Mar 2025

Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

13:20 Newbury

Cloudy Glen

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

disputed lead

10/1

5th

3

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 2

15:00 Exeter

Cloudy Glen

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Venetia Williams

Has an excellent reappearance record and won at Haydock (3m1f, soft) in December following a break; however, two lesser performances have followed from this 12yo and he needs to raise his game.

14/1

Form: /P2-27

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 10yo, who had a long absence before last season; runner-up in his second and third runs back, before beaten a long way when seventh in a top 2m4f handicap here in November on latest outing; acts on heavy but this is his first run beyond 2m5f under rules.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Angels Breath

12st 0lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

Smart back in the day for Nicky Henderson; an 11yo now and after winning his first hunter chase he was hammered by Shearer at Ffos Las (2m5f; heavy was no excuse); opposable.

50/1

2nd

2

6th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 5f 110y

Class 4

16:50 Ffos Las

Angels Breath

12st 2lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

prominent, disputing second before 2nd, lost ground when not fluent 4 out, no chance with winner before 2 out

6/4

2nd

2

6th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 5f 110y

Class 4

16:50 Ffos Las

Angels Breath

12st 2lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

prominent, disputing second before 2nd, lost ground when not fluent 4 out, no chance with winner before 2 out

6/4

14/1

Form: P21-35

Last run: 65 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Well beaten sole run on heavy; eight starts at Cheltenham have yielded two seconds, including on this day 2022; capitalised on some help from the handicapper for 10l Perth win (3m, soft; 5lb higher today) last April; fair fifth here in October latest, before his third wind operation; case can be made.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

16th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

18:55 Aintree

The Wolf

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

No longer the force of old and not always a fluent jumper but won two chases in November (2m7f/2m6f) and was runner-up in three small-field races towards end of last season; suited by good ground and will probably give another good account.

11/4

4th

3

16th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

18:55 Aintree

The Wolf

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

No longer the force of old and not always a fluent jumper but won two chases in November (2m7f/2m6f) and was runner-up in three small-field races towards end of last season; suited by good ground and will probably give another good account.

11/4

2nd

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 3

18:08 Huntingdon

The Wolf

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Olly Murphy

Veteran who has been running well, finishing second to an improver at Kempton (3m, good) before another sound effort at Stratford; solid claims.

7/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.00
Straight Forecast £14.25
Trifecta £48.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Inch House

RP RATINGS:

Cloudy Glen

TOPSPEED:

Inch House

WEST COUNTRY:

Inch House

Telegraph:

Inch House

The Guardian:

Inch House

D Express:

Inch House

Daily Mirror:

Inch House

The Sun:

Inch House

POSTDATA:

Cloudy Glen

The Times:

Cloudy Glen

Daily Mail:

Cloudy Glen

The Star:

Cloudy Glen

Daily Record:

Cloudy Glen