March 04 / 15.35 Kelso

15.35

Good To Soft

bet365 Premier Chase (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £34170
  • 2m 7f 96y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV
View Course
bet365 Premier Chase (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00

Form: P12-70 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Won here (2m5f, heavy) last February and close second of four here (3m2f, good) in March; a case can be made on that form and he's not written off, but he needs to perform much better than on his two outings this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:50 Carlisle

Empire Steel

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sandy Thomson

Very well handicapped on old form and returned from layoff with quite encouraging run at Musselburgh (2m7f, good to soft) in January but ought to have been suited by the heavy ground when tailed off at Kelso last month and it's hard to know what to expect from him here.

5/1

5th

4

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 2

15:00 Kelso

Empire Steel

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Sandy Thomson

12yo who wasn't the force of old last season but he's dropped down the weights and returned from an absence with an encouraging fourth at Musselburgh (2m7f, good to soft) a fortnight ago; could show the benefit of that latest outing today, especially now back at a track where he is four from six.

9/2

4th

1

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

16:11 Musselburgh

Empire Steel

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Sandy Thomson

12yo who wasn't the force of old last season and was pulled up last January when last seen; however, he can go well fresh and returns on a reduced mark and with his trainer enjoying a productive winter; not discounted.

6/1

Form: 114-11 C

Last run: 98 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Did well for Tim Vaughan and has won both starts for his new yard this season (3m/3m2f, heavy/good), most recently the prestigious Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November; strong claims if reproducing that form today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Le Milos

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Runner-up in the Stayers' Veterans' Final at Sandown (3m, good) in January two starts ago and he's not ruled out today; however, he's been inconsistent this season and was soundly beaten at Warwick (2m4f, heavy) in February; he may prefer a longer trip than this nowadays; fourth in this last year.

9/1

3rd

2

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Warwick

Le Milos

11st 9lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Returned to form with creditable second in valuable veterans' final at Sandown (3m, good) last month and remains only 1lb higher than when winning this race readily by 6l a year ago (soft ground); major player, and his appeal will increase if the ground turns heavy.

9/4

Form: UP-786 C BF

Last run: 180 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Won the Morebattle Hurdle (2m, good to soft) on this card two years ago and followed up in the Plate over fences at the Cheltenham Festival (2m4f, good to soft) 12 days later; just one win since (on the Flat) but he ran well on the Flat last November when last seen and there can be optimism he'll stay this far; player if at his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(2)

2nd Nov 2025

Heavy

2m 0f 71y

14:30 Curragh

The Shunter

9st 9lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Emmet Mullins

Useful jumper has won twice on the Flat, the last being the 2023 Cesarewitch; didn't get the clearest passage when beaten 11l in this year's renewal; handles this ground and can run well.

12/1

2nd

4

(2)

2nd Nov 2025

Heavy

2m 0f 71y

14:30 Curragh

The Shunter

9st 9lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Emmet Mullins

Useful jumper has won twice on the Flat, the last being the 2023 Cesarewitch; didn't get the clearest passage when beaten 11l in this year's renewal; handles this ground and can run well.

12/1

Form: P6-281 D

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 2lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
13yo front-runner who beat a big handicap field to win the veterans' final at Sandown (3m, soft) in January; has also won on good/good to soft; vulnerable if today's opponents are at the top of their games but he can make another bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

29th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

13:25 Aintree

Wishing And Hoping

12st 0lb

J: Alex Edwards

T: Mel Rowley

Sound performances in the last two runnings of this race, winning in 2021 and runner-up in 2022; won the latest final of this series at Sandown (soft) in January; has solid credentials and should go well.

7/1

4th

2

2nd Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:45 Ascot

Wishing And Hoping

11st 9lb

J: Alex Edwards

T: Mel Rowley

13yo front-runner who beat a big field in the veterans final at Sandown (3m, soft; 6lb higher today) in January; outsider of four in Listed race at Kelso four weeks ago but the scale of his defeat is rather disconcerting; won in 2015 over hurdles on his only race here.

13/2

4th

5

4th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 1

15:35 Kelso

Wishing And Hoping

11st 2lb

J: Alex Edwards

T: Mel Rowley

13yo front-runner who beat a big handicap field to win the veterans' final at Sandown (3m, soft) in January; has also won on good/good to soft; vulnerable if today's opponents are at the top of their games but he can make another bold bid.

7/1

Form: -62171 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 158

Form & Verdict
first preference is the 2.45 at Newbury
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

6

2nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 1

14:50 Newbury

Zanza

10st 13lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Tailed off over hurdles here on final run last season and same story on last month's return; something to prove regarding current form but chasing is his game nowadays and he has an excellent record here, including a convincing win in the Grade 2 Denman Chase in February (2m7f, good); on a handy mark on that form and could go well at his favourite track now back over fences.

16/1

10th

3

9th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Zanza

11st 9lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

His last five wins have been here, in two handicap hurdles and three chases (the latest a Grade 2); soft ground was an excuse when disappointing on his return to hurdling (now rated 16lb higher over fences) here in March and he's a feasible contender.

12/1

7th

1

24th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 3

15:10 Newbury

Zanza

12st 0lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

His last five wins have been here, in two handicap hurdles and three chases (the latest a Grade 2 over nearly 3m in February; beat Ryanair third Hitman off level weights); struggled off his new/harsh mark back here over 2m4f but perhaps this is more his trip these days and he returns to hurdling off 16lb lower.

11/2

Non-runners

Zanza

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.80
Straight Forecast £8.22
Trifecta £16.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Le Milos

D Express:

The Shunter

POSTDATA:

Wishing And Hoping

WEST COUNTRY:

Zanza

RP Ratings:

Le Milos

TOPSPEED:

Le Milos

The Times:

Le Milos

Telegraph:

Le Milos

The Guardian:

Le Milos

Daily Mail:

Le Milos

Daily Mirror:

Le Milos

Daily Record:

Le Milos

The Sun:

The Shunter

The Star:

Wishing And Hoping