March 04 / 13.30 Doncaster

13.30

Good

Virgin Bet Cheltenham Festival Money Back Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £20812
  • 2m 0f 78y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Virgin Bet Cheltenham Festival Money Back Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

3/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: -83431 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Seemingly back in peak form when keeping on well for clearcut success at Musselburgh (2m, good to soft) last month; today's 6lb higher mark probably demands a career-best performance but this left-handed track should also suit and he ought to give it a good shot.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

18:30 Kelso

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

Won this 12 months ago on his reappearance when 4lb lower and then finished a 2l second to Primoz at Wetherby, the form of which could be reversed on these more favourable terms; consistent and should have every chance.

3/1

2nd

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:48 Perth

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ann Hamilton

Has consistent form figures and should give his running but this 10yo may have to settle for a supporting role off top weight; returns to fences after two runs over hurdles.

6/1

2nd

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:48 Perth

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ann Hamilton

Has consistent form figures and should give his running but this 10yo may have to settle for a supporting role off top weight; returns to fences after two runs over hurdles.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: P-1153 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
5-7 over fences; didn't jump well enough when below form at Warwick last month but stayed on for very respectable fifth in competitive C&D race two starts ago (good ground; behind Gold Des Bois) and is now only 1lb higher than when winning here (2m3f, good) in November; dangerous if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

Mackenberg

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Multiple winner at up to 2m5f but none since 2022 and the last year or so hasn't gone well; this belated step up to 3m (having run over 2m last time) is perhaps more in hope than expectation.

20/1

1

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

Mackenberg

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Multiple winner at up to 2m5f but none since 2022 and the last year or so hasn't gone well; this belated step up to 3m (having run over 2m last time) is perhaps more in hope than expectation.

20/1

Form: 114635 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Safely held behind Pay The Piper at Musselburgh last month but a mid-race blunder seemed to knock the stuffing out of him there, and he is probably better judged on his creditable C&D third two starts ago; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

7th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Kelso

Gold Des Bois

11st 12lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Has a good record here but all his best days have been over shorter distances and, now an 11yo, he's leaving it late to prove his worth over this far.

14/1

3

7th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Kelso

Gold Des Bois

11st 12lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Has a good record here but all his best days have been over shorter distances and, now an 11yo, he's leaving it late to prove his worth over this far.

14/1

5th

2

22nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 4

15:35 Kelso

Gold Des Bois

11st 8lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

in touch with leaders, weakened 5 out

7/2

Form: -41172 CD BF

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Quite progressive 8yo who is a dual chase winner this season (once over C&D); put a slightly disappointing run behind him when second at Wetherby (1m7f, good) last month and may yet have a bigger run in him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Xcitations

11st 2lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Pam Sly

Grand servant for the yard with eight wins (six over fences) and he showed he was no back number when second of four at Leicester (2m, soft; handles good) in February; took the wrong course last time; has form here and should be thereabouts.

7/1

1

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

14:50 Stratford

Xcitations

12st 1lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Pam Sly

Grand servant for the yard with eight wins (six over fences); showed he was no back number when second of four in returning cheekpieces (left off here) at Leicester (2m, soft) 13 days ago; should run his race.

9/4

2nd

2

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Xcitations

12st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

Veteran who achieved nothing at Uttoxeter on reappearance but may be back in better form with that outing under his belt; gained last three wins at Sandown but he's 1-1 at Leicester.

4/1

Form: -22412 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Can sometimes race a bit too freely but came good over fences with dominant success from the front in first-time cheekpieces at Southwell (2m, good) in January; briefly gave top-class rival Jonbon a fright before succumbing in a match race at Warwick (2m, good) last month; must be considered in current form.
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: 6-2673 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Completed a slow-ground hat-trick last winter and has performed well on two of his four appearances this season, more recently when third (just behind Xcitations) at Wetherby (1m7f, good) last month; 2lb lower today and can't be ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

18th Oct 2023

Good

1m 7f 36y

Class 3

14:25 Wetherby

Hasankey

11st 13lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: L J Morgan

in touch with leaders

7/1

5th

6

22nd Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 1

13:15 Ayr

Hasankey

11st 2lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: L J Morgan

Better than the bare result when fourth of 13 at Aintree (2m, good; came from rear after early mistake) last week; that followed a good second at Warwick and suggests his current mark is still workable; has an impressive record (a win, a second and a third from three runs) at Ayr and should go well.

13/2

4th

11

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Hasankey

11st 1lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: L J Morgan

Hat-trick at about this trip last midwinter (on heavy/soft) but in the meantime has all too often looked weighted to his best off similar marks to today's; others higher up the list.

12/1

Non-runners

Hasankey

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.80
Straight Forecast £10.48
Trifecta £25.70

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Pay The Piper

RP Ratings:

Calico

POSTDATA:

Gold Des Bois

Daily Mirror:

Xcitations

SPOTLIGHT:

Mackenberg

Daily Mail:

Pay The Piper

D Express:

Pay The Piper

The Sun:

Pay The Piper

The Star:

Pay The Piper

The Times:

Calico

Telegraph:

Calico

Daily Record:

Calico

The Guardian:

Gold Des Bois