November 15 / 13.45 Cheltenham

13.45

Good

Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Novices’ Chase (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £22780
  • 3m 0f 110y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
ITV4
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Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Novices’ Chase (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00

Form: 02-141 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Useful jumper who is 2-2 on the Old course here, the wins gained over 3m in handicap hurdle in October 2023 and novice chase (by 15l on good ground) three weeks ago; the latter represents a career-best performance and it took his record over fences to 2-3; strong contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

13

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Hyland

11st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Won Listed novice chase here (3m, good) in November 2024; 0-5 in handicaps in 2025 but having edged down the weights he was a close fourth at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in December last time; 3-5 here and, with the drying ground in his favour, he could be in the mix in first-time cheekpieces.

11/1

3

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Cheltenham

Hyland

11st 11lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Doesn't want the ground worse than good to soft; took care of Transmission here last October and followed up in a Listed novice at the track, beating subsequent improver Resplendent Grey; nothing wrong with his following seconds (3m; Grade 1/hot handicap) and can be forgiven his no-show in the Grand National; goes well fresh and very feasible that there's further improvement to come.

11/2

30

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Hyland

10st 6lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Best away from soft ground; saw the 3m out well on last two starts when second at Kempton in a Grade 1 novice and a major handicap; reverting to a left-handed track here may help his jumping; however, he switched from hurdling only last June and, notwithstanding his three small-field wins, six runs over fences is a slight record for a would-be Grand National winner.

18/1

Form: 342-11

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Raced only soft/good to soft; two from two this term, both wins over 2m4f at Uttoxeter, latest in ready fashion switched to fences (novice handicap); gives the impression he's ready for a crack at this new trip; interesting contender, with further improvement plausible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Resplendent Grey

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won this race (good ground) last year in first-time cheekpieces off a 10lb lower mark; first and second in two small fields this season, alongside two heavy defeats in top handicaps; tried blinkers when fading right out of it at the Cheltenham Festival last time and now reverts to cheekpieces; also back on firmer ground but a new career best is needed.

12/1

15th

3

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Resplendent Grey

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (extended 3m4f, good) last April in first-time cheekpieces and returned to form when second at Windsor (2m6f, soft) in January; his jumping can sometimes lack fluency but, with first-time blinkers replacing the cheekpieces, he has an each-way chance if minimising the mistakes; fourth of 18 in the NH Chase here (3m6f, good to soft) last March.

16/1

2nd

3

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Resplendent Grey

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (3m4f, good) last April and reappeared with Listed Intermediate win at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft); also effective on soft ground; however, soundly beaten in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) last time and has something to find today.

10/1

Form: 142U-1 C

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Useful hurdler at up to 3m and scored at this meeting 12 months ago; took well to fences in Listed event at Chepstow (2m3f, good; just pushed out) last month and the third boosted that form when winning the Rising Stars at Wincanton last Saturday; greatly respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Springwell Bay

11st 12lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

midfield

13/2

1st

4

1st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:05 Cheltenham

Springwell Bay

11st 3lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

took keen hold, towards rear, mistake 11th, headway going easily from 3 out, led after 2 out, good jump last, went clear run-in, comfortably

3/1

1st

4

1st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:05 Cheltenham

Springwell Bay

11st 3lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

took keen hold, towards rear, mistake 11th, headway going easily from 3 out, led after 2 out, good jump last, went clear run-in, comfortably

3/1

Form: 42-413 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
The best hurdler in this field and has a solid Cheltenham record that includes a 3m win at this meeting last year; hasn't shown the same form in two chase runs, winning at Galway (straightforward task) then last of three in Wexford Listed event; mixed messages for this assignment.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

40

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Buddy One

10st 2lb

T: Paul John Gilligan

Reserve; far better known as a smart hurdler, runner-up at this meeting in 2023 and 2024, with latter race the 3m Grade 1; below form over jumps over the last year, however, and he looks poorly handicapped (particularly from 4lb wrong) judged on his results over fences.

100/1

11th

5

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Buddy One

11st 8lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Third in the 2m4f Martin Pipe at this meeting in 2023; creditable fifth in last year's Grade 1 Stayers' here but he's not really sparked since, including over fences; 6lb lower now than his peak British mark; equipped with cheekpieces on latest outing (stiff task) and today.

40/1

6th

1

26th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 6f 111y

14:35 Galway

Buddy One

12st 2lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Interfered with early when tailed off on the Flat last time; didn't run too badly in the Galway Plate the time before when mistakes didn't help, but this smart hurdler has yet to reach the same heights over fences; respected but others appeal more.

9/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.20
Straight Forecast £10.16
Trifecta £14.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Springwell Bay

RP RATINGS:

Hyland

The Guardian:

Resplendent Grey

Daily Mail:

Buddy One

LAMBOURN:

Hyland

The Sun:

Hyland

The Star:

Hyland

Daily Record:

Hyland

TOPSPEED:

Springwell Bay

POSTDATA:

Springwell Bay

WEST COUNTRY:

Springwell Bay

The Times:

Springwell Bay

Telegraph:

Springwell Bay

D Express:

Springwell Bay

Daily Mirror:

Springwell Bay