April 27 / 15.00 Sandown

15.00

Good

bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £96815
  • 1m 7f 99y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV
View Course
bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 1-1121 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 170

Form & Verdict
Won this last year (good to soft) and made it 3-3 here when landing Grade 1 Tingle Creek in December (heavy); bounced back from Clarence House defeat to win Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; won sole start on good ground; put in his place by El Fabiolo on their only previous clash over fences (last year's Arkle) but entitled to respect nevertheless.
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

8/11

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 11-11P D BF

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 175

Form & Verdict
Can make mistakes and was pulled up after bad early error in last month's Champion Chase; however, he was 6-6 over fences previously, including a convincing defeat of Jonbon in the 2023 Arkle (2m, soft); has won on good to yielding (unraced on good); the one to beat granted a clear round.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

El Fabiolo

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Probably acts on any going; high class over fences until jumping issues developed; has proved suited by the return to hurdles and an easy win at Leopardstown (2m2f) last time took his record in this sphere to 4-7; the best horse in this field if viewed on his peak chase form.

5/1

1st

2

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 2f 72y

15:25 Leopardstown

El Fabiolo

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell in a number of Grade 1 contests; reverted to hurdles with a smooth 8.5l success at Punchestown on New Year's Day on seasonal return (2m3f, yielding), second won Gr.3 next time; this is much easier than the Irish Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy) last time, in which he finished last of five; huge chance.

10/11

5th

3

1st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:20 Leopardstown

El Fabiolo

11st 12lb

J: J J Slevin

T: W P Mullins

An outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell last season in Grade 1 races here, at Aintree and at Punchestown; return to hurdling did the trick at Punchestown a month ago, beating subsequent Grade 3 hurdle winner Glen Kiln and Cotswold Chase winner Spillane's Tower.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: -2241F CD

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 164

Form & Verdict
Runner-up to Jonbon on first two starts this season and bolted up in Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury in February; running well in second when falling two out in Champion Chase last month; needs El Fabiolo and Jonbon to underperform but a good case can be made for him being best of the rest; won Grade 1 Tingle Creek over C&D (good to soft) in 2022; versatile ground-wise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

14:55 Sandown

Edwardstone

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Admirable veteran, albeit isn't quite the force of old and gained this season's win in substandard Grade 2 at Kempton (2m4f); also perhaps ideally suited by further than about 2m nowadays; beaten twice in this race.

33/1

3rd

1

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Edwardstone

12st 0lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

12yo whose career highlight came when winning the Tingle Creek in 2022; showed he retains considerable spark when winning Grade 2 at Kempton (2m4f, good) this January; he may prefer a longer trip than this nowadays but he's a leading player nevertheless now back in a handicap.

5/2

4th

3

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Edwardstone

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Acts on any ground; formerly a high-class chaser at about 2m, best form when winning the 2022 Tingle Creek; seems better suited by further nowadays and, despite his advancing years, managed to land a Grade 2 prize over 2m4f at Kempton most recently; recapturing Grade 1 honours at the age of 12 is not completely implausible, as he's technically still unexposed at this sort of trip and his two main rivals are also veterans.

10/1

Form: 3-11FF D

Last run: 77 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 158

Form & Verdict
Kicked off campaign with two handicap wins at Ascot (2m1f, soft/good); however, he fell the next twice, most recently two out at Newbury where he had 9l to make up on Edwardstone; looks up against it today.
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

16:40 Aintree

Boothill

11st 9lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

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

16:40 Cheltenham

Boothill

11st 4lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

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: P-3424 D

Last run: 91 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
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.
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

15:00 Sandown

Nube Negra

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

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

15:00 Sandown

Nube Negra

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

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

Form: 4-5415 D

Last run: 91 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 161

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who won the Grade 1 Clarence House at Cheltenham (2m, soft) last January and was back on the scoresheet in Grade 2 Desert Orchid at Kempton (2m, good to soft) in December; however, he's been inconsistent this year and faces a tough task even if at his best; cheekpieces go on.
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

14:40 Doncaster

Editeur Du Gite

10st 13lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

led, headed then prominent 5th, pressed leader before 4 out, weakened after 4 out

14/1

Form: 51131P C

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
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.
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

15:00 Sandown

Elixir De Nutz

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

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

15:00 Sandown

Elixir De Nutz

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

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

15:30 Cheltenham

Elixir De Nutz

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.70
Straight Forecast £3.48
Trifecta £8.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

El Fabiolo

POSTDATA:

Jonbon

WEST COUNTRY:

Boothill

The Star:

Editeur Du Gite

LAMBOURN:

Jonbon

Daily Mirror:

Jonbon

Daily Record:

Jonbon

RP RATINGS:

El Fabiolo

TOPSPEED:

El Fabiolo

The Times:

El Fabiolo

Telegraph:

El Fabiolo

The Guardian:

El Fabiolo

Daily Mail:

El Fabiolo

D Express:

El Fabiolo

The Sun:

El Fabiolo