December 27 / 13.20 Kempton

13.20

Soft

Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £29614
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
ITV4
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Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/10 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75

Form: 2-P112 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Has made a much better fist of chasing this season, winning twice including a valuable handicap at Ascot in November (2m1f, good) before giving vain chase to Jonbon in Grade 1 at Sandown 24 days ago; holds the strongest form claims and there may be more to come; plenty of good runs on soft ground.
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: 141-12 C

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Built up a likeable profile around 2m over hurdles last season and has quickly developed into a better chaser, winning at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) before going down narrowly in handicap company off 138 at Newbury 32 days ago; another sound run can be expected, but others have more raw ability.
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: 154-4U D

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
In the process of showing much better form over fences in Grade 2 at Cheltenham 45 days ago (2m, good) when unseating rider two out, a length down at the time behind winner Banbridge; still needs to sharpen his jumping on that evidence, but clearly has the class to compete at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

18th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

16:30 Worcester

Glory And Fortune

11st 9lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Smart in his prime but needed considerable help from the handicapper before driven-out win at Chepstow (2m, good) in April; subsequent defeat in valuable Haydock race is not viewed harshly but he's not yet proven over this far and others in the field have more appealing profiles; cheekpices removed after one use.

11/2

11th

5

10th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:35 Haydock

Glory And Fortune

11st 9lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Tom Lacey

Winning for the first time since the 2022 Betfair Hurdle when digging deep to edge out Helnwein at Chepstow two weeks ago (2m, good); will do well to defy a 4lb rise in this deeper race but he'll give it his best shot; cheekpieces added.

14/1

11th

5

10th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:35 Haydock

Glory And Fortune

11st 9lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Tom Lacey

Winning for the first time since the 2022 Betfair Hurdle when digging deep to edge out Helnwein at Chepstow two weeks ago (2m, good); will do well to defy a 4lb rise in this deeper race but he'll give it his best shot; cheekpieces added.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: /111-1 C

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten hurdler, including Listed novice at Exeter in February (2m, soft); left that form well behind when making an impressive chasing debut here five weeks ago (2m2f, soft), having not a moment's concern against useful rivals; deserves this step up in class and not to be underestimated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

20th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

14:02 Leicester

Lac De Constance

12st 0lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Fell on only appearance last season and didn't fire on either hurdling start this autumn (albeit not beaten that far on latter occasion); very well handicapped on old form but has quite a bit to prove on first chasing start since spring 2023.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.90
Straight Forecast £8.17
Trifecta £15.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lac De Constance

RP Ratings:

Boothill

The Times:

Lac De Constance

Telegraph:

Lac De Constance

The Guardian:

Lac De Constance

Daily Mail:

Lac De Constance

D Express:

Lac De Constance

The Star:

Lac De Constance

TOPSPEED:

Boothill

POSTDATA:

Boothill

WEST COUNTRY:

Boothill

Daily Mirror:

Boothill

The Sun:

Boothill

Daily Record:

Boothill