14.30
SoftWilliam Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) (GBB)
- Prize money: £56270
- 3m 0f 210y
- Class 1
- 13 runners
Runners: 13 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
9/1 (Won)
- Win: £10.40
- Place: £2.80
Form: 512251
Last run: 28 days
W: 10st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 136
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 2 |
23rd May 2026 Good 3m 0f 30y Class 2 |
11st 8lb |
Took big step back in right direction when fifth at Aintree (3m1f, good to soft) last month, in race he won the previous two seasons; still on a workable mark and has a fighting chance here if first-time cheekpieces have any positive effect. |
9/4 |
|
5th 9 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 9lb |
Has failed to show his form in both outings this term but a revival looks highly likely back at Aintree on return from four-month break; 2-2 over fences at this venue, namely wins in this race for the last two years (good/good to soft); had a similar prep when winning by 5l off just 1lb lower 12 months ago; commands respect in the hat-trick attempt. |
11/2 |
14/1
- Place: £4.50
Form: P51451 CD
Last run: 20 days
W: 12st 0lb
12 yo Gelding
OR: 154
| 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 |
12st 0lb |
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 |
12st 0lb |
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 |
6/1
- Place: £2.50
Form: 2-6121 D
Last run: 49 days
W: 10st 11lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 137
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
25th Jan 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 214y Class 1 |
11st 9lb |
held up in rear |
11/2 |
|
5 |
25th Jan 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 214y Class 1 |
11st 9lb |
held up in rear |
11/2 |
|
3rd 5 |
14th Dec 2024 Good To Soft 2m 7f 214y Class 2 |
11st 2lb |
Won this 12 months ago (good to soft) and continued in fine form last season, adding a competitive handicap at Kempton (3m, soft) in February; there could still be mileage in his mark and he may have needed last month's reappearance run at Wincanton (well-beaten fourth); one to consider. |
5/1 |
16/1
Form: 33-13P CD
Last run: 168 days
W: 11st 4lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 144
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 3 |
14th Dec 2024 Good To Soft 2m 7f 214y Class 2 |
11st 5lb |
He won two in a row in the summer (3m2f/2m7f, good) but was pulled up at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) in October and soundly beaten in the Rehearsal at Newcastle (2m7f, good) last time; needs to bounce back. |
25/1 |
13/2
Form: -11202 D
Last run: 32 days
W: 11st 7lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 147
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 3 |
28th Jun 2026 Good 3m 0f 10y Class 2 |
11st 12lb |
Gamely landed the Becher Chase in December to cement a cracking start to last season; not in quite the same form since but his Uttoxeter record bodes well; record of 2-3 here features a win (albeit off 9lb lower as an 8yo) in this race in 2023. |
16/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
23rd May 2026 Good 3m 0f 30y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Second at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and he started last season with two wins, including a gritty success in the Becher at Aintree (3m2f); struggled in the Grand National last month but he's now only 2lb higher than for his last win and looks interesting on this drop back in trip and class; last success was on soft but most of his wins have been on good ground. |
5/2 |
|
15th 34 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
10st 4lb |
Second at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and started this season with two wins, notably by a short head from Mr Vango in the 3m2f Becher over these fences (wore cheekpieces second time); warmed up for this over hurdles after three months off; the Becher performance was doughty stuff but his only go at a marathon trip was last year's National in which he finished a remote tenth, always behind. |
40/1 |
12/1
Form: -33324
Last run: 32 days
W: 11st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 140
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
2nd May 2024 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
11st 2lb |
prominent, not fluent 6th, pulled up quickly after 8th, looked to go wrong |
20/1 |
|
11 |
2nd May 2024 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
11st 2lb |
prominent, not fluent 6th, pulled up quickly after 8th, looked to go wrong |
20/1 |
|
6th 6 |
13th Apr 2024 Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
Creditable efforts in defeat in Graded novice chases this winter (3m, good/good to soft) and ran well for long way in 3m6f NH Chase at Cheltenham last month (heavy; beaten 32l); could be in the mix now back down in trip and back in a handicap, provided the removal of cheekpieces isn't an issue. |
12/1 |
7/2
Form: 1-F412
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 3lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 143
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
20th Aug 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 98y Class 2 |
11st 7lb |
Exploited reduced hurdle mark when winning narrowly over about 2m6f (if additional yardage is included) at Market Rasen (good) in May and remains very well handicapped on older chase form but he's not as good as he was and others have more appealing profiles. |
11/2 |
|
4th 3 |
28th Jun 2026 Good 2m 7f 70y Class 2 |
11st 5lb |
Got up in final stride in second-time cheekpieces at Market Rasen (2m4f, good) most recently; remains well treated on peak form and this return to further is worth exploring; enters calculations in the retained headgear. |
7/2 |
|
1st 1 |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 139y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Very useful hurdler/chaser in his prime; well below best during a fairly light campaign last season (four hurdle runs; cheekpieces added last time) but will appreciate this ease in grade and has slipped to a dangerous mark. |
12/1 |
5/1
Form: 3-1334
Last run: 56 days
W: 10st 11lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 137
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 8 |
12th Oct 2024 Good To Soft 2m 3f 98y Class 2 |
10st 6lb |
C&D winner at a different meeting last October on his reappearance and later ran well in a 3m Grade 2 at Ascot until a costly late mistake; disappointed the final time in a strong handicap at Aintree but went off favourite that day off a 1lb higher mark and evidently failed to give his running; remains an interesting handicapper. |
4/1 |
|
8th 9 |
13th Apr 2024 Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
10st 11lb |
Lightly raced 3m point winner whose best hurdle run came over 3m, and he tackled that trip for the first time over fences in a Grade 2 novice at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in February, travelling well into contention but making a race-losing mistake at final fence (finished 3l fourth of five); there will be a slight doubt about him if he's back on soft/heavy but he's unexposed over staying trips and could be better than his current mark. |
5/1 |
|
8th 9 |
13th Apr 2024 Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
10st 11lb |
Lightly raced 3m point winner whose best hurdle run came over 3m, and he tackled that trip for the first time over fences in a Grade 2 novice at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in February, travelling well into contention but making a race-losing mistake at final fence (finished 3l fourth of five); there will be a slight doubt about him if he's back on soft/heavy but he's unexposed over staying trips and could be better than his current mark. |
5/1 |
25/1
Form: 3P-574
Last run: 27 days
W: 10st 6lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 132
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 3m 0f 160y |
12st 0lb |
Veteran has been competing quite effectively in points; however, could manage only a moderate fourth in an incident-packed Fairyhouse race won by Five Star Getaway. |
50/1 |
|
4th 7 |
5th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 180y |
12st 0lb |
Veteran has been competing quite effectively in points, this looks too demanding. |
20/1 |
|
16 |
26th May 2025 Good 2m 7f 72y |
10st 13lb |
Veteran is 3-19 over fences; won off 121 at Down Royal (3m, gd-yld) in January; pulled up next two starts then beaten 16.5l off this mark on latest at Punchestown; likes going right-handed but others hold more pressing claims. |
16/1 |
16/1
Form: U43411
Last run: 34 days
W: 10st 13lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 139
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 7 |
30th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 80y |
11st 4lb |
Six-time winner (four chases, two hurdles) holds a 14lb lower hurdles mark and ran a very encouraging race returning from an absence at Killarney when third; entitled to improve on that; interesting. |
7/1 |
|
3rd 11 |
11th May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 50y |
10st 11lb |
Potentially well handicapped given his chasing exploits off higher marks but he is a 12yo returning from a long absence. |
20/1 |
16/1
Form: 5-413P
Last run: 30 days
W: 12st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 154
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 6 |
15th Apr 2026 Good 2m 3f 203y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
No win since late 2023 and he hasn't got a lot going this season; he had run well but looked on the retreat when unseating in Outlaw Peter's race here 11 days ago (visor replaced usual cheekpieces). |
12/1 |
|
5 |
4th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 203y Class 2 |
11st 5lb |
Winless since December 2023 and hasn't posed a serious threat this season; however, he was best of the rest behind easy winner Guard Your Dreams at Warwick (2m4f, heavy) last time and continues to drop down the weights; handles various ground; not ruled out in first-time visor (replacing cheekpieces). |
8/1 |
|
2nd 3 |
7th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 2 |
11st 5lb |
Quirky customer who is without a win since December 2023 and has become frustrating; that said, he ran well for a long way in a valuable Ascot handicap (2m5f, soft) three weeks ago and is another 4lb lower here. |
15/2 |
20/1
Form: 8-0P15 D
Last run: 77 days
W: 10st 11lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 137
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
15th May 2026 Good 3m 0f 210y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
Still runs well now and again but this 11yo is not as good as he was and become inconsistent. |
16/1 |
|
4th 2 |
20th Apr 2026 Good 2m 7f 96y Class 3 |
11st 8lb |
Ran well for a long way when fourth at Doncaster (3m, good to soft; first-time tongue-tie) in February and remains well handicapped but this steadily regressive 11yo has become inconsistent, and others appeal more. |
4/1 |
|
4th 1 |
27th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 214y Class 3 |
12st 1lb |
Winless since December 2023 and pulled up over C&D in December on sole run this term; however, he may have needed that outing and is on a handy mark on last season's best efforts; has won here three times, including in these reapplied cheekpieces, and is not ruled out; the tongue-tie is a first. |
10/1 |
16/1
Form: 32/139
Last run: 30 days
W: 10st 4lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 20 |
13th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
10st 2lb |
Wide-margin winning yard debut at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) last February before staying trips were beyond him at the Festival and Aintree subsequently; recent runs suggest this is a tall order from out of the weights. |
50/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
21st Feb 2025 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 3 |
12st 2lb |
prominent, led 12th |
5/2 |
|
3rd 10 |
30th Nov 2024 Good To Soft 2m 6f 93y Class 2 |
10st 10lb |
Won easily on British debut at Ludlow in February (2m4f, soft; 5lb lower); struggled after but latterly in strong handicaps at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals (3m2f/3m1f); no surprise at all should Venetia Williams have him back to his best here and this intermediate trip might be to his liking. |
5/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £221.30 |
| Straight Forecast | £173.59 |
| Tricast | £1262.99 |
| Trifecta | £2113.70 |
Selections
The Star:
Forward PlanThe Guardian:
Kilbeg King