December 27 / 14.30 Kempton

14.30

Soft

Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £56950
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
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Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

16/1 (Won)

  • Win: £29.00
  • Place: £7.50

Form: 114P-3 D

Last run: 66 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Classy handicapper who scored twice at Cheltenham last autumn under Niall Houlihan; excuses on last two runs, but a bit off the best of these in any case and was well beaten on his only run at Kempton.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

14:40 Doncaster

Editeur Du Gite

10st 13lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

led, headed then prominent 5th, pressed leader before 4 out, weakened after 4 out

14/1

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 3143-1 CD

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 165

Form & Verdict
Won this race handsomely in 2020 and shaped like the best horse in the Champion Chase ten weeks later; in-and-out profile since, although being fresh and running on good ground (potentially has neither here) tends to get the best out of him, as when winning weak Grade 2 at Cheltenham 44 days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

27th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Nube Negra

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Three-time Grade 2 winner who has run pretty well in defeat in Grade 2 and Grade 1 races the last twice; however, he would be a surprise winner today; wears first-time cheekpieces.

50/1

5th

7

27th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Nube Negra

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Three-time Grade 2 winner who has run pretty well in defeat in Grade 2 and Grade 1 races the last twice; however, he would be a surprise winner today; wears first-time cheekpieces.

50/1

Form: 817-22 C

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Enhanced his good record fresh when chasing home stablemate Greaneteen in Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter 53 days ago (2m1f, good); plenty on at the weights here and likely to be of more interest back in handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

1st May 2023

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 2

16:50 Kempton

Dolos

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

prominent, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened quickly, pulled up 2 out

4/1

5th

1

2nd Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 167y

Class 2

15:35 Ascot

Dolos

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Pulled up about two months ago at Sandown, the venue for three of his last four wins; it's hard to be confident on this first run since but he fared respectably on his two other starts this season and has edged down to a handy mark; versatile ground-wise and not ruled out if bouncing back.

7/1

1

4th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

13:45 Sandown

Dolos

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

10yo with a remarkable record in this race, winning it for the third time 12 months ago and narrowly beaten on two other occasions; 3lb higher than last year but he's well treated on old form and a third in the Desert Orchid at Kempton last time suggests he arrives here in good form; high on the list.

11/4

Form: 112P-6 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 161

Form & Verdict
Progressive last season, winning the Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury (2m, good to soft) before chasing home Energumene in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham; well behind Edwardstone in the Tingle Creek on reappearance, but jumped three out in contention and presumably lacked for fitness; good chance he can build on that but faces an uphill task to reverse the form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

13th Mar 2024

Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

15:30 Cheltenham

Funambule Sivola

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Outsider in this contest for the last two years, flattered when second in 2022 (race fell apart) and early faller in 2023; following Boothill's late fall, he inherited a remote second behind Edwardstone at Newbury last month when bidding for a third Game Spirit success; has the worst chance judged on this season's form.

100/1

2nd

3

10th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:40 Newbury

Funambule Sivola

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Has failed to threaten in handicaps on his four runs this season but was also below his best last term prior to a major revival when winning this race for the second consecutive year; four visits to Newbury have yielded three C&D wins (including on soft) and no surprise if he's bang there.

10/1

6th

1

27th Jan 2024

Good

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

11:50 Doncaster

Funambule Sivola

12st 0lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Landed this prize in 2022 and also has two subsequent Grade 2 chase wins on his CV; on the downgrade now but last month's Cheltenham third (2m, soft) was very respectable and today's faster ground will suit.

9/2

Form: 10-129 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Smart 2m chaser for Jessica Harrington, back to best when winning Grade 2 at Navan in February (soft); well below that level in three hurdles runs for David Pipe and up against it in this company even at his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

24th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

18:10 Uttoxeter

Sizing Pottsie

11st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

led, not fluent and briefly headed 2nd, not fluent and headed 7th, lost position 3 out

10/1

7th

8

24th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

18:10 Uttoxeter

Sizing Pottsie

11st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

led, not fluent and briefly headed 2nd, not fluent and headed 7th, lost position 3 out, weakened 2 out

10/1

3rd

3

31st Mar 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Sizing Pottsie

11st 10lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: David Pipe

Smart chaser in his prime; on the downgrade now and has rather mixed record over hurdles this season but lurks on a very tempting mark and ought to handle today's ground well; will be very dangerous if perked up by first-time blinkers.

7/1

Form: 1112-1 CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 170

Form & Verdict
Five-timer around 2m last season included the Wayward Lad on this card and Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival; put up a clear career best to land the Grade 1 Tingle Creek at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft) 24 days ago, scooting clear from the last; a repeat of that form would make him hard to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

14:55 Sandown

Edwardstone

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Admirable veteran, albeit isn't quite the force of old and gained this season's win in substandard Grade 2 at Kempton (2m4f); also perhaps ideally suited by further than about 2m nowadays; beaten twice in this race.

33/1

3rd

1

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Edwardstone

12st 0lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

12yo whose career highlight came when winning the Tingle Creek in 2022; showed he retains considerable spark when winning Grade 2 at Kempton (2m4f, good) this January; he may prefer a longer trip than this nowadays but he's a leading player nevertheless now back in a handicap.

5/2

4th

3

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Edwardstone

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Acts on any ground; formerly a high-class chaser at about 2m, best form when winning the 2022 Tingle Creek; seems better suited by further nowadays and, despite his advancing years, managed to land a Grade 2 prize over 2m4f at Kempton most recently; recapturing Grade 1 honours at the age of 12 is not completely implausible, as he's technically still unexposed at this sort of trip and his two main rivals are also veterans.

10/1

Form: 4P2-F4 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Won the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti here in January (2m4f, soft) but this sketchy jumper has generally struggled since; travelled with purpose in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase 23 days ago (2m4f, good), but folded under pressure and has plenty of questions to answer at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

14:40 Kempton

Mister Fisher

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Has struggled on his three starts this season and was pulled up here last time; however, perhaps the subsequent wind op will have done the trick and this three-time course winner is very well handicapped on last season's best form, including a C&D Grade 2 win last January; not ruled out.

8/1

3

27th Dec 2022

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Kempton

Mister Fisher

11st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

raced in second, lost second when not fluent 6th, not fluent 7th, weakened 8th

33/1

4th

3

4th Dec 2022

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

14:55 Huntingdon

Mister Fisher

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

prominent

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £125.10
Straight Forecast £123.45
Trifecta £936.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Edwardstone

LAMBOURN:

Mister Fisher

WEST COUNTRY:

Dolos

RP Ratings:

Edwardstone

TOPSPEED:

Edwardstone

POSTDATA:

Edwardstone

The Times:

Edwardstone

Telegraph:

Edwardstone

The Guardian:

Edwardstone

Daily Mail:

Edwardstone

D Express:

Edwardstone

Daily Mirror:

Edwardstone

The Sun:

Edwardstone

The Star:

Edwardstone

Daily Record:

Edwardstone