October 21 / 14.10 Cheltenham

14.10

Good To Firm

squareintheair.com Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13007.5
  • 1m 7f 199y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
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squareintheair.com Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: P247-1 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Useful hurdler but promises to be a better chaser judged on his clearcut win in a warm novice handicap chase at Ffos Las (2m, good) 12 days ago, where he jumped particularly well; goes on all ground; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

26th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

13:50 Aintree

Straw Fan Jack

10st 7lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Capitalised on a reduced mark in three-runner handicap at Ludlow (3m, good) in April and could improve for this month's 25l second of five on reappearance at Ludlow (3m, good to firm), when making mistakes; also effective on soft ground; possible player if jumping better this time.

7/1

1

8th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

15:35 Ludlow

Straw Fan Jack

12st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

10yo who turned things around when narrowly beating an odds-on rival in a C&D handicap (good; 11-2) in April; been absent since then but he's only 1lb higher than for that win and has claims if he can pick up where he left off.

9/2

1st

5

2nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

15:45 Ludlow

Straw Fan Jack

10st 13lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Commendable third off 11lb higher at last year's Cheltenham Festival (2m4f, soft; good ground also suits) but badly out of form this season (four runs) and is the one in this line-up with by far the most to prove.

7/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 311142 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Progress as a chaser continued when fourth in the Galway Plate (2m6f) and mistakes were no help when chasing home the favourite in a Grade 3 at Tipperary (2m3f; good to yielding); dropping back to 2m should be no big deal around here and, despite the penalties, he has what it takes to threaten; kept mostly to good ground.
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

19:30 Wexford

Ash Tree Meadow

11st 5lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

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

19:30 Wexford

Ash Tree Meadow

11st 5lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

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

18:38 Killarney

Ash Tree Meadow

11st 8lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

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

OUR TIP

Form: -11263 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Peak RPR of 153 over hurdles and, although not the biggest for jumping fences, he's won twice and posted an RPR of 147 when third in a Grade 3 at Roscommon last time; that entitles him to leading form claims; kept mostly to good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

1

6th Aug 2023

Good

2m 2f 54y

15:30 Galway

Sole Pretender

11st 12lb

J: Robbie Geoghegan

T: Norman Lee

slowly away, in rear

13/2

1st

1

21st Jul 2023

Yielding

2m 1f 0y

15:40 Killarney

Sole Pretender

11st 12lb

J: Robbie Geoghegan

T: Norman Lee

Put up a career best when runner-up in a Listed chase at Ballinrobe in May but blotted his copybook when refusing to race in a Grade 3 last time; new headgear combination now tried and while he's potentially risky, he also looks feasibly treated.

4/1

10

6th Jul 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:15 Tipperary

Sole Pretender

11st 1lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Norman Lee

refused to race

6/1

Form: 311171 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
The winner of four handicap hurdles this year and proved 4l too good for Byzantine Empire when making a successful chase debut at Newton Abbot (2m, good to soft); no certainty to confirm those placings on 5lb worse terms and there are others to worry about.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

24th Aug 2023

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

14:40 Stratford

Noahthirtytwored

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Adam West

Responded to pressure to win at Newton Abbot (2m, good) in June and finished well for 1l third at Uttoxeter (2m, good) last time; this step up in trip is well worth a go and he's one to consider.

7/2

3rd

8

2nd Jul 2023

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 2

14:30 Uttoxeter

Noahthirtytwored

11st 2lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Adam West

Made a very promising start to chasing career last autumn and doubled his tally over fences with clearcut success at Newton Abbot (2m, good) last month; could still be well handicapped after 4lb rise and promising 5lb claimer Conor Rabbitt is enlisted; might be the answer.

3/1

1st

5

14th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 2

15:40 Newton Abbot

Noahthirtytwored

10st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Adam West

Good second at Worcester last month before an unfortunate fall at Southwell; fair effort on AW at Chelmsford recently and, while this represents a sharp rise in class, could well be involved; Sean Bowen on for the first time.

5/1

Form: 1202-2

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Won twice last season as a novice hurdler and chased home Constitution Hill in the Grade 1 Tolworth; jumped soundly on his chase debut at Uttoxeter and, although perhaps flattered to get within a length of Aucunrisque, a 5lb pull with that rival should make it interesting; not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

25th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 136y

19:05 Ballinrobe

Jetoile

11st 4lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: W J Burke

Smart performer in Britain back in the day; went point-to-pointing over the winter and held in hunter chases lately; unlikely.

16/1

5th

10

11th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 7f 0y

19:37 Killarney

Jetoile

11st 7lb

J: Mr L P Shanahan

T: W J Burke

Very useful hurdler/chaser in Britain in his prime; couldn't contain Lifetime Ambition in a point back in November; fair third to Journey With Me at Cork last month but he went from the front and was readily left behind.

10/1

3rd

6

6th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

16:10 Cork

Jetoile

12st 0lb

J: Mr E Mahon

T: W J Burke

Very useful hurdler/chaser in Britain in his prime; no appeal on his points form, which has been poor since a 12l second behind good yardstick Lifetime Ambition at Turtulla in November.

14/1

Form: 3-1122 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Won four-runner handicaps at Southwell and Perth (2m, good) but has since come up short in handicap and novice company (beaten by Noahthirtywored the last time); should give his running but has an air of vulnerability about him at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

29th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:31 Newton Abbot

Byzantine Empire

10st 12lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Alison Thorpe

Badly out of form over fences and on the Flat for the Flint stable this year, and was well beaten in 2m4f Warwick chase for new trainer on Tuesday; needs combination of return to hurdling and refitted cheekpieces to rekindle his enthusiasm.

16/1

9th

1

23rd Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:28 Warwick

Byzantine Empire

12st 0lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Alison Thorpe

Two-time chase winner but last success in this sphere was in 2022 and he's deteriorated considerably since; has switched yards since his last run and is well treated if new trainer can get a tune out of him.

20/1

8

31st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:10 Worcester

Byzantine Empire

11st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: John & Rhys Flint

Two-time chase winner who won off this mark over hurdles here last July; however, he's been well beaten over fences and on the Flat on his four outings this year and needs a major turnaround.

33/1

Form: 1141-1 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Progressive form over hurdles last season included a Grade 2 success and he got the job done when odds-on for his chase debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft), albeit narrowly at the expense of Jetoile; given his hurdling ability, he should be capable of finding plenty on that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

21st Sep 2025

Good To Firm

1m 7f 195y

Class 3

15:50 Plumpton

Aucunrisque

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Not as good as he was but that's reflected in his mark and he knows his way around this place; returning from a break when third in this 12 months ago off a 4lb higher mark; could easily have a role to play.

7/2

3

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 2

15:50 Cartmel

Aucunrisque

11st 2lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Not quite as good as he was but still a useful performer; placed on final two starts last season (2m hurdle/2m1f chase) and drops back in trip after looking stretched by 2m4f last month; probably best on good/good to soft but has won on soft; enters calculations.

13/2

2

16th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

18:20 Aintree

Aucunrisque

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Not quite as good as he was but still a useful performer; second off today's mark on latest hurdling start at Newbury (2m, good to soft) in March and also ran well when third in Sussex Champion Chase at Plumpton (2m1f, good) last month; well worth another crack at 2m4f; probably won't be far away.

4/1

Form: F3-411 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won two of his nine starts over hurdles for Joseph O'Brien and was a comfortable winner of his chase debut at Downpatrick in August (2m3f, good), since when he has changed hands for £32,000; he's talented and interesting to see what Dan Skelton can do with him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

10th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 110y

19:48 Roscommon

Uhtred

11st 3lb

J: Jake Coen

T: Gordon Elliott

Mostly disappointing for Dan Skelton but he was previously a five-time winner for Joseph O'Brien; second on his debut for this yard at Killarney last July; pulled up at Bellewstown the following month; back to form when springing a 28-1 surprise at Killarney last month, 6lb higher now.

8/1

1st

7

13th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 50y

18:10 Killarney

Uhtred

11st 4lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

midfield, headway and prominent when not fluent 3 out, ridden and challenging after 2 out, jumped slightly right last, ran on towards finish, led final strides

8/1

1st

7

13th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 50y

18:10 Killarney

Uhtred

11st 4lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

midfield, headway and prominent when not fluent 3 out, ridden and challenging after 2 out, jumped slightly right last, ran on towards finish, led final strides

8/1

Non-runners

Aucunrisque

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.90
Straight Forecast £7.73
Trifecta £32.70

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Ash Tree Meadow

RP Ratings:

Sole Pretender

The Guardian:

Aucunrisque

SPOTLIGHT:

Straw Fan Jack

WEST COUNTRY:

Jetoile

POSTDATA:

Uhtred

Daily Mail:

Ash Tree Meadow

D Express:

Ash Tree Meadow

Daily Mirror:

Ash Tree Meadow

The Sun:

Ash Tree Meadow

Daily Record:

Aucunrisque

The Star:

Straw Fan Jack

The Times:

Sole Pretender

Telegraph:

Sole Pretender