17.25
YieldingWilliam Hill Champion Chase (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £153913.04
- 2m 0f 98y
- 9 runners
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Runners: 9 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
4/1 (Won)
Form: 321-19 C
Last run: 47 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 161
| 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 |
11st 11lb |
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 |
11st 10lb |
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 |
11st 10lb |
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 |
11/4
Form: 2-1P31 CD
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 12lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 164
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Has a good record (213) in the Champion Chase but is by no means certain to sustain it; proved a somewhat fortuitous winner of a weak edition two years ago (on soft ground) when the race fell apart and only three runners completed; far from solid on his form this term, below par in Grade 3 most recently, and returns to Cheltenham as an 11yo who may be on the wane; wears first-time headgear. |
50/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 1lb |
Six-time chase winner, the highlight being the 2024 Champion Chase (2m, soft); not at his best last season but signed off with a solid runner-up finish behind Marine Nationale at Punchestown (2m, yielding); pulled up on seasonal return in the Fortria at Navan (2m, soft to heavy) and tailed off at Leopardstown last time (2m1f, yielding); should be a player here but he's a risky proposition given his form although trainer reported him to be 'really coming to himself' in a recent stable tour. |
13/8 |
|
2nd 1 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
raced in second, challenging 2 out, no chance with winner from last, kept on |
20/1 |
15/8
Form: 1-1122 CD BF
Last run: 46 days
W: 11st 5lb
7 yo Mare
OR: 158
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 2 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 55y |
11st 3lb |
High-class mare has won eleven of her 20 starts over fences, including this race last year; as good as ever this season and won the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham on latest (Only By Night runner-up, Spindleberry fourth); top-rated here and best treated by race conditions; the one to beat. |
8/11 |
|
1st 2 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Runner-up in this race in 2024 (soft) and went one better last year (good to soft); made mistakes when beaten on return to action at Navan in November and has since posted easy wins at Fairyhouse (Grade 3) and Naas (Listed) when heavily odds-on each time; she's the one to beat. |
2/1 |
|
1st 2 |
7th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 0f 0y |
11st 5lb |
High-class mare is 9-18 chasing, including this race last year and Grade 2 Liberthine Mares' Chase at Cheltenham; beaten favourite on seasonal return in Fortria at Navan in November but back on track in landing long odds with ease in 3-runner Grade 3 at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day, her first attempt at 2m6f; versatile mare, back in trip and remains very much the one to beat. |
1/4 |
25/1
Form: 1-4337 D
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 5lb
8 yo Mare
OR: 147
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 9 |
30th Apr 2024 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 5lb |
Gave 2lb and a 6 1/2l beating to Dinoblue in last season's Grand Annual; in the frame at Listed/Grade 2 level on her three Irish outings this season but her form has been unconvincing; faded from three out when bidding to repeat her Grand Annual win; Dinoblue now 11lb superior on official ratings; hard to fancy unless addition of tongue-tie does the trick. |
25/1 |
|
4th 9 |
30th Apr 2024 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 5lb |
Gave 2lb and a 6 1/2l beating to Dinoblue in last season's Grand Annual; in the frame at Listed/Grade 2 level on her three Irish outings this season but her form has been unconvincing; faded from three out when bidding to repeat her Grand Annual win; Dinoblue now 11lb superior on official ratings; hard to fancy unless addition of tongue-tie does the trick. |
25/1 |
|
7th 3 |
13th Mar 2024 Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Saw off Dinoblue to land this race off 8lb lower on soft 12 months ago; below par when in the frame at Listed/Grade 2 level in her three outings this season but last year's winning form has been consistently advertised by the runner-up and this mare would be a danger to all if recapturing that level. |
9/1 |
14/1
Form: 4F2-3F C
Last run: 125 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 152
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 4 |
30th Apr 2024 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
Free-going sort; smart novice hurdler and equally good novice chaser last season, though no match for stablemate El Fabiolo on a few occasions in Grade 1 races; odds-on for Navan return in February when well held in third behind the 9lb-conceding Captain Guinness; beaten when falling at the last in Leopardstown event won by Dinoblue at Christmas. |
14/1 |
|
5th 4 |
30th Apr 2024 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
Free-going sort; smart novice hurdler and equally good novice chaser last season, though no match for stablemate El Fabiolo on a few occasions in Grade 1 races; odds-on for Navan return in February when well held in third behind the 9lb-conceding Captain Guinness; beaten when falling at the last in Leopardstown event won by Dinoblue at Christmas. |
14/1 |
|
0 2 |
27th Dec 2023 Yielding 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
soon raced in fourth behind clear leader, went third after 4 out, brief headway 2 out, soon pushed along and weakened, fell last |
10/1 |
12/1
Form: -11F1P C BF
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 163
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 10lb |
Six-time chase winner but no success since a Grade 2 win at Clonmel in November 2024; ran a cracker in this last year to finish a 0.75l second behind Found A Fifty; below par in both runs this season and needs to leave those tame efforts behind. |
7/2 |
|
3rd 3 |
28th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 90y |
11st 8lb |
Free-going front runner; 6-16 over fences; ran right up to his best at Fairyhouse last April (2m4f, soft to heavy), losing out by only 3/4l to Found A Fifty despite a costly error two out; made several mistakes when pulled up in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on seasonal debut; flopped in the Boyne Hurdle in 2023 on his only Navan appearance. |
9/4 |
|
2nd 4 |
21st Apr 2025 Soft To Heavy 2m 3f 170y |
11st 10lb |
Front runner; 6-14 over fences; has alternated between hurdling and chasing since being pulled up in this race last season, winning over timber at Cork and Auteuil and adding a Clonmel Grade 2 Chase (2m5f, good) in November; has often raced too keenly, including when beaten at odds-on by a stablemate at Gowran in February. |
11/2 |
25/1
Form: -21141 D
Last run: 59 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 159
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 3 |
28th May 2025 Good To Firm 3m 0f 0y |
11st 5lb |
Dual Grade 2 chase scorer and 2023 Galway Plate winner; has only a maiden win to his name from seven starts over hurdles and was beaten at odds-on at Punchestown last June on his only start in this discipline last season; ran in good company over fences at Killarney 16 days ago; well suited by the race conditions and will be hard to beat if jumping adequately. |
11/10 |
|
4th 3 |
28th May 2025 Good To Firm 3m 0f 0y |
11st 5lb |
Dual Grade 2 chase scorer and 2023 Galway Plate winner; has only a maiden win to his name from seven starts over hurdles and was beaten at odds-on at Punchestown last June on his only start in this discipline last season; ran in good company over fences at Killarney 16 days ago; well suited by the race conditions and will be hard to beat if jumping adequately. |
11/10 |
|
4th 2 |
12th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 100y |
11st 8lb |
Dual Grade 2 winner in addition to a score in the 2023 Galway Plate plus he won this race last year; hasn't had much racing since but has been mostly below form; didn't jump that well at Aintree over the 'big' fences last time; needs best. |
8/1 |
20/1
Form: 6-2273 D
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 150
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 (7) |
2nd Sep 2025 Good 1m 6f 0y |
9st 9lb |
Smart jumper with four wins over hurdles and two over fences including in Grade 2 company; was runner-up on sole Flat start in France in 2021 over this trip; might find this trip a bit sharp now but should run a big race. |
11/2 |
|
2nd 3 |
20th Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 100y |
11st 0lb |
raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in |
100/30 |
|
2nd 3 |
20th Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 100y |
11st 0lb |
raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in |
100/30 |
9/2
Form: 14-242 D
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 162
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
11th May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 100y |
11st 0lb |
Tends to come good when faced with drier ground and was an excellent fourth in the Topham at Aintree, a race he won the previous year; joint top-rated here and clearly a strong candidate. |
7/4 |
|
4th 3 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 1 |
11st 12lb |
10yo who hasn't been at his best this season but it was the same story last term prior to him winning this race (good to soft); he's just 3lb higher than 12 months ago and is capable of playing another leading role. |
15/2 |
|
3rd 3 |
18th Jan 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 66y |
11st 3lb |
A dual Grade 1 winner over 2m earlier in his career; put up a fine weight-carrying performance to win the Topham Trophy (2m5f) at Aintree last April, and not far off Appreciate It when fourth in the Oaksey Chase; beaten a long way at Clonmel on return and fared no better at Tramore; may show a revival. |
7/2 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Straight Forecast | €38.79 |
| Tricast | €66.91 |
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
DinoblueTOPSPEED:
Captain GuinnessPOSTDATA:
Gentleman De MeeRP RATINGS (IRE):
DinoblueThe Irish Sun:
Captain Guinness