November 25 / 13.55 Newbury

13.55

Good

Coral Racing Club Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (Registered As The Berkshire) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £28475
  • 2m 3f 187y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
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Coral Racing Club Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (Registered As The Berkshire) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £23.00

Form: -3412P D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
3-10 over fences, carries a 5lb penalty and probably lacks the potential of some of these; pulled up in Grade 2 novice chase at Wincanton three weeks ago but the ground was reported to be slippery; his three chase wins have all come this year (2m/2m3f, good/good to firm) and his experience is a plus; no surprise if he bounces back to form with a bold show.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

2nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 2

13:40 Newbury

Sebastopol

12st 0lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

raced wide, in touch with leaders, not fluent 5 out, weakened then not fluent 3 out, tailed off

16/1

3rd

1

20th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

17:50 Kelso

Sebastopol

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

in touch with leaders on inner

11/8

1st

1

2nd Sep 2023

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

16:17 Newton Abbot

Sebastopol

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

prominent, went second after 7th, led before 2 out, drifted left after 2 out, clear when not fluent last, comfortably

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 11PP-1 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Made it 3-3 over hurdles (2m3f/2m4f, good-soft) when landing the Grade 1 Challow here last December and he returned to form when making all in fine style on his chase and seasonal debut at Warwick (2m4f, good to soft) this month; that performance gives him leading claims here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Stage Star

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Best known for his 2m4f exploits that include Grade 1 novice wins over hurdles/fences; however, put up a good fight against odds-on L'Homme Presse when upped to 3m1f in Grade 2 at Cheltenham (soft) most recently, emerging as the best horse at the weights; one of a few runners who remain unexposed at this sort of trip.

13/2

3rd

7

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Stage Star

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Best known for his 2m4f exploits that include Grade 1 novice wins over hurdles/fences; however, put up a good fight against odds-on L'Homme Presse when upped to 3m1f in Grade 2 at Cheltenham (soft) most recently, emerging as the best horse at the weights; one of a few runners who remain unexposed at this sort of trip.

13/2

2nd

2

25th Jan 2025

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Stage Star

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, led after 1st, faced challenge before 2 out, soon disputing lead, hung left run-in, no extra towards finish

9/1

Form: 7/21F- D BF

Last run: 288 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Won a maiden hurdle at Doncaster (2m5f, good to soft) in January and was bang there when falling at the final flight in a Listed novice at Huntingdon (2m3f, soft) in February; unexposed and brings potential to this chase debut but others have more substance to their form; unraced on good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

13

1st May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

16:15 Punchestown

Wonderwall

12st 0lb

J: Mr R James

T: S Curling

Has run only three times since beating Its On The Line at Cheltenham last season; winner of points at Dromahane in November and 19 days ago, that recent display providing reassurance after a disappointingly lifeless Cheltenham defence; leading contender for the stable that has dominated the point-to-point scene this season.

3/1

7th

23

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Wonderwall

12st 0lb

J: Mr R James

T: S Curling

4-4 since bought for £33,000 in July 2024 and he emerged from midfield to win this last year (good to soft; effective on softer), fending off the late charge of Its On The Line; has undergone a similar preparation, arriving here fresh after winning a point in early November; there have been back-to-back winners of this race and a bold defence looks on the cards.

11/2

1st

23

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Wonderwall

12st 0lb

J: Mr R James

T: S Curling

Only three runs over regulation fences but he was third in a Grade 2 in 2022 and fourth in a good novice handicap here in late 2023; signed off for the Bowen yard last summer with respectable runs over hurdles and hasn't been overly pressed to win two small-field points in Ireland for this stable; positive jockey booking and brings each-way hopes provided a 131-day break doesn't come back to bite him.

25/1

Form: 144-1U D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Won a Grade 2 novice hurdle (2m3f, good) at Chepstow last October and landed a competitive handicap hurdle at Punchestown (2m3f, yielding) in April; possesses considerable ability but it's disconcerting he jumped badly right and unseated his rider at the first fence on his recent chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

4th Nov 2023

Soft

1m 7f 152y

Class 2

15:15 Ascot

Camprond

12st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Close third of 26 in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft) in March, 3l ahead when not fluent at the final flight; 4lb higher today but chief concern is that the Coral Cup is the only time he really fired last season.

20/1

15th

3

14th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Camprond

11st 11lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Returned to form with close third of 26 in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft) last month, where he was 3l ahead when not fluent at the final flight; close second of 22 at this meeting in 2021 (2m, good to soft) and he's a strong contender despite a 5lb rise since last time.

11/2

3rd

18

15th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:50 Cheltenham

Camprond

11st 1lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Fourth in two major handicaps here last term, including this race when soft ground might not have been ideal; won well in a good handicap at Punchestown (2m3f, yielding) next time; failed to shine this winter, chasing initially, but he is 2lb lower than this time last year; headed the recent betting.

9/1

Form: 2214-1 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Progressive in handicap hurdles last term and won on chase debut in Listed intermediate event at Carlisle (2m4f, soft) last month; a 5lb penalty makes things tougher here but he should have a bright future over fences and can give another good account if handling the ground (unraced on good going).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

20

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Beauport

10st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Took well to these fences in last year's renewal but subsided rapidly after three out, which might have been surprising for one who'd won a 4m2f Midlands National (March 2024) but he seemed to race a bit too zestfully in the front rank; 3lb lower today, having run respectably on reappearance but moderately in two hurdle races since (wind surgery before latest); now tongue tied first time; a bit to prove.

100/1

4th

3

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 1

14:05 Haydock

Beauport

11st 2lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

10yo who was pulled up in Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December and conditional Toby McCain-Mitchell is unable to claim today; however, he's had wind surgery since his latest outing, which might help, and he was second in this 12 months ago having finished third in the Long Walk the time before; it will be no surprise to see a bold bid from this prominent-racer.

10/1

12th

12

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Beauport

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Jumped and hung badly right in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter (4m2f, heavy) last March but nevertheless battled back to win, the clear highlight among seven chases going this way round; scoring by 31l at Ascot (3m5f, good; 12lb higher today) was a good way to start this season and he's run with credit over hurdles since; going left-handed is a concern but there are lots of positives otherwise.

22/1

Non-runners

Beauport

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.90
Straight Forecast £31.61
Trifecta £81.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Stage Star

TOPSPEED:

Beauport

The Star:

Camprond

RP Ratings:

Stage Star

POSTDATA:

Stage Star

WEST COUNTRY:

Stage Star

The Times:

Stage Star

Telegraph:

Stage Star

The Guardian:

Stage Star

Daily Mail:

Stage Star

D Express:

Stage Star

Daily Mirror:

Stage Star

The Sun:

Stage Star

Daily Record:

Beauport