February 11 / 14.40 Warwick

14.40

Good

Virgin Bet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £31322.5
  • 2m 0f 54y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
ITV4
View Course
Virgin Bet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

1/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.10

Form: 121-11 CD

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
Sole defeat came behind outstanding stablemate Constitution Hill in last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle and he's impressed on both chase starts, easily making all in a Grade 1 novice at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft) last time; should be very tough to beat if handling the ground (unraced on good going).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Jonbon

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Has maintained an incredibly high standard in Grade 1s over 2m but, although he has won here, his rare reverses have come on this track; no longer quite the speedster he used to be at 2m and the extra stamina test was a help when winning at Ascot (about 2m5f, good to soft) last month, where he could have settled for second had his enduring will to win not come to his aid; now defends a strike-rate of 3-3 at about this trip but it remains to be seen whether he can rise to this very big occasion.

13/2

1st

5

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Jonbon

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Acts on any ground; yet to finish out of the first two; formerly dominant at shorter but has lost a bit of his speed and was aided by the stiff test over the 2m1f trip at Ascot (soft) most recently, recording a second success in the Clarence House and 11th Grade 1 win; seems to be crying out for this step back up in distance and, still high class at the age of ten, may well add to his impressive tally; 2-2 over 2m4f, both in the Melling at Aintree; cheekpieces worn in last two starts are retained.

8/15

Form: 351-12 D BF

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Three-time hurdle winner (including on good ground) who improved for the switch to fences with a comfortable win at Carlisle (2m, soft) in November; another big run when going close in Wetherby handicap (2m3f, soft) since but Jonbon and Haddex Des Obeaux have stronger form credentials.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Bass Rock

11st 9lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Better handicapped now and signs of a revival when third in a Ludlow handicap chase in December, only to then pull-up at Kempton; difficult to know what to expect on this return to hurdles with cheekpieces added.

14/1

2nd

4

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Bass Rock

11st 9lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Better handicapped now and signs of a revival when third in a Ludlow handicap chase in December, only to then pull-up at Kempton; difficult to know what to expect on this return to hurdles with cheekpieces added.

14/1

17

27th Dec 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:08 Kempton

Bass Rock

11st 1lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Georgina Nicholls

Had a long spell of mediocre results but he's much better handicapped now and his recent run behind Dreaming Blue at Ludlow (3m1f, good to soft) showed he was turning a corner for his new yard; needs more but he could be just at the start of a comeback; not dismissed.

12/1

Form: 6-2241 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

2

16th Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 50y

12:50 Navan

Calico

11st 12lb

J: Finn Brickley

T: Gordon Elliott

Five-time winner including over hurdles in America 12 months ago, not long after opening her chase account at Galway; has been chasing lately; trainer appears to have stronger candidates.

12/1

15th

2

16th Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 50y

12:50 Navan

Calico

11st 12lb

J: Finn Brickley

T: Gordon Elliott

Five-time winner including over hurdles in America 12 months ago, not long after opening her chase account at Galway; has been chasing lately; trainer appears to have stronger candidates.

12/1

6th

1

1st Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 100y

14:40 Down Royal

Calico

12st 0lb

J: Carl Millar

T: Gordon Elliott

Five-time winner including over hurdles in America 12 months ago, not long after opening her chase account at Galway; out of her depth in a Grade 2 chase at Punchestown festival; had a run over hurdles before 12l second to The Banger Doyle on handicap debut at Cork.

7/2

Form: 1-U211 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Has built upon the promise of his first two chases to make all in 2m handicaps the last twice (good/heavy), most recently over C&D by a wide margin; he's very promising but takes on a possible superstar in Jonbon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

31st Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

14:02 Sandown

Haddex Des Obeaux

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Formerly a progressive sort and has Grade 1 form over C&D; however, two runs since returning from long layoff suggest he's not the force of old and unlikely to defy top weight in this warm handicap.

14/1

4

27th Dec 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Kempton

Haddex Des Obeaux

11st 10lb

T: Nicky Henderson

3rd

3

9th Dec 2023

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Haddex Des Obeaux

11st 10lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Gary Moore

Progressive novice chaser last season, winning twice (good/heavy); still held a fighting chance when final-fence faller in Cheltenham handicap on reappearance and could well rate higher still; faces a stiffer assignment upped in class but brings an attractive profile.

14/1

Non-runners

Bass Rock, Haddex Des Obeaux

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jonbon

POSTDATA:

Haddex Des Obeaux

The Guardian:

Haddex Des Obeaux

RP Ratings:

Jonbon

TOPSPEED:

Jonbon

LAMBOURN:

Jonbon

The Times:

Jonbon

Telegraph:

Jonbon

Daily Mail:

Jonbon

D Express:

Jonbon

Daily Mirror:

Jonbon

The Sun:

Jonbon

The Star:

Jonbon

Daily Record:

Jonbon