17.30
SoftWellChild National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £60387.5
- 3m 5f 201y
- Class 1
- 10 runners
Runners: 10 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
Evs (Won)
- Win: £1.91
- Place: £1.20
Form: 33-213
Last run: 37 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 155
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
25th Nov 2023 Soft 2m 5f 127y Class 2 |
11st 11lb |
disputed lead, led clearly after 1st, headed and raced in second just after 8th, outpaced 4 out, no chance with winner when mistake 2 out, kept on run-in |
11/8 |
|
3rd 13 |
15th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
Has never finished out of the first three in his nine races over fences, including when third in the 3m5f Irish Grand National (yielding) last term and arriving on the scene in the nick of time to send the favourite backers home happy in last month's 3m6f NH Chase at Cheltenham (soft); this even greater stamina test has to make appeal. |
12/1 |
|
1st 4 |
14th Mar 2023 Soft 3m 5f 201y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Second-season novice; not that far off the best last term, staying on for third in 3m Grade 1 in the mud at this meeting before confirming his stamina when also taking third in the 3m5f Irish Grand National; won 3m Grade 1 novice at Leopardstown in December and 2m5f was against him on latest start; has the best form and presents a very strong case. |
Evs |
7/1
- Place: £1.70
Form: 85-114 C
Last run: 44 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 147
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 12 |
2nd May 2026 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 90y |
11st 7lb |
Very smart as a novice and some good runs in the Galway Plate and Munster National in 2024; generally ineffective in cross-country races since then however, reportedly burst blood vessels when fifth in this race last year, most recently (after two point-to-point wins) pulled up after never counting in 3m1f Fairyhouse hunter-chase at Easter; questions remain. |
9/2 |
|
3 |
5th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 180y |
12st 0lb |
High-class novice chaser in the 2022/23 season, when second in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham; ran well in the Galway Plate and Munster National in 2024; generally ineffective in cross-country races since then; back-to-back point wins in the autumn offer some hope; however, he was tailed off in the hunter chase at Cheltenham last month. |
9/1 |
|
11th 3 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Won a novice chase here in October 2022 and second in the NH Chase at this fixture that season; on a losing run of 14 under rules but contested plenty of strong handicaps in that time and back-to-back point wins in the autumn may give him some renewed belief; has soft-ground form but his trainer has always believed that good ground is ideal, so watch the weather; well held in a Galway Plate when tried in this equipment combination. |
12/1 |
9/1
- Place: £1.90
Form: 220-22 BF
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 7lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 145
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 8 |
20th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 91y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
A classy chaser who has famously gone 0-19 in this discipline, running numerous good races in smart company and finishing runner-up nine times; did run well for a long way in a veterans' chase at Cheltenham last month (3m2f, good to soft) and this might just be the day it happens for him. |
11/10 |
|
5th 5 |
28th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 1f 214y Class 2 |
11st 4lb |
Let down by his jumping when returned to the cross-country course at Cheltenham last time; has lots of useful form otherwise and ties in with Eldorado Allen on reappearance running; well capable of being involved but is famously frustrating and still a maiden over fences (0-18). |
13/2 |
16/1
Form: 31-322 BF
Last run: 52 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 143
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13 |
10th Apr 2023 Soft 3m 5f 0y |
10st 7lb |
Has only won a 3m maiden hurdle in the mud; beaten four times over fences and, while the opposition has been respectable each time, he never posed much of a threat when raised in distance to the 3m6f of the National Hunt Chase; only a 6yo and this might be a year too early for him. |
14/1 |
|
4th 9 |
14th Mar 2023 Soft 3m 5f 201y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
3m win in the mud only hurdles run; placed against notable rivals this term in three beginners chases and stayed on well over 3m on last two occasions but 10l adrift of today's rival Mahler Mission latest (soft to heavy); very lightly raced, the best still to come from him, but he needs a jolt of improvement. |
16/1 |
|
2nd 8 |
21st Jan 2023 Soft To Heavy 3m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
prominent and disputing second early, lost position but in touch with leaders after 4th, pressed leaders before 10th, went third from 4 out, soon pushed along, ridden when went second but no chance with winner 2 out, kept on |
3/1 |
20/1
Form: 5-1111
Last run: 44 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 12 |
29th Apr 2023 Good 3m 4f 146y Class 1 |
10st 3lb |
Out of his depth in Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham Festival; 5-5 over rules fences otherwise, most recently beating Revels Hill by 1l at Exeter (3m6f, good to soft; pair well clear); highly progressive in handicaps, no ground worries, stays well and may not have reached his ceiling yet; shortlisted. |
14/1 |
|
1st 3 |
26th Mar 2023 Good To Soft 3m 6f 153y Class 3 |
11st 9lb |
Bit off more than he could chew in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham but had been going great guns with four successive wins from 2m7f to 3m3f (three at Fontwell); this is nothing like so demanding as at the Festival but it's still a step up from the grade in which he was winning; respected nonetheless. |
8/1 |
|
2 |
14th Mar 2023 Soft 3m 5f 201y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Big improvement switched to chasing, with one win at Lingfield and three at Fontwell; 19l and 17l were the last two winning margins, the latest over 3m4f (good to soft) and he goes well in the mud; that handicap form leaves him with a lot to find but he's certainly been impressing at that much lower level. |
20/1 |
33/1
Form: 652420
Last run: 47 days
W: 11st 7lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 135
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 7 |
11th May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 7f 0y |
11st 7lb |
His smart form for Gordon Elliott was a long time ago now and was well behind Tullybeg in his latest point. |
66/1 |
|
10 |
18th Jan 2026 Yielding 3m 0f 184y |
11st 7lb |
Winning hurdler; weak form over fences; failed to complete his last three races in points. |
66/1 |
|
9th 9 |
2nd Jun 2025 Good 3m 0f 0y |
11st 7lb |
Grade 3 novice hurdle winner at his best but failed to win over fences in 17 starts; still rated 119 in this sphere and not a bad open point run last week after a lay-off; hood added and a player. |
12/1 |
7/1
Form: 1-2312 BF
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 146
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
13th Apr 2024 Heavy 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Usually front-runs or races prominently; best known for last year's NH Chase at the Cheltenham Festival (3m6f, soft; has won well on soft to heavy) where he was 4l ahead when falling two out; that left a lingering stamina question but he resumed improvement to be second in the big 3m2f handicap at Newbury in November when last seen; raised 7lb but he's a second-season chaser who may well improve again and makes serious appeal. |
14/1 |
|
10 |
13th Apr 2024 Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Usually front-runs or races prominently; best known for last year's NH Chase at the Cheltenham Festival (3m6f, soft; has won well on soft to heavy) where he was 4l ahead when falling two out; that left a lingering stamina question but he resumed improvement to be second in the big 3m2f handicap at Newbury in November when last seen; raised 7lb but he's a second-season chaser who may well improve again and makes serious appeal. |
14/1 |
|
2nd 9 |
2nd Dec 2023 Good To Soft 3m 1f 214y Class 1 |
10st 10lb |
travelled strongly, prominent |
7/1 |
100/1
Form: 12/136
Last run: 45 days
W: 11st 7lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
14th Mar 2023 Soft 3m 5f 201y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Lightly raced 8yo, tongue tied this term; lengthy absence and wind surgery before winning at Newcastle (2m7f) on handicap/chase debut; creditable third at Newbury (2m6f, soft) next time, before soundly beaten over 2m4f here; has stamina in the family but his form is badly lacking in this context. |
100/1 |
|
6th 7 |
28th Jan 2023 Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 2 |
11st 3lb |
Lightly raced 8yo; has returned from a lengthy absence in good form, winning at Newcastle (2m7f, good to soft; handicap/chase debut) then creditable third at Newbury (2m6f, soft); hurdles win (in 2020) came over 2m4f; should still have further improvement in him; shortlisted. |
8/1 |
|
3rd 5 |
31st Dec 2022 Good To Soft 2m 6f 93y Class 3 |
11st 3lb |
Won well on soft as a hurdler; absent 686 days (had wind surgery in September) and tongue tied when he won a five-runner novice handicap at Newcastle (2m7f, good to soft) five weeks ago on chase debut in gritty style, always up with the pace; raised 5lb but very lightly raced and more to offer. |
8/1 |
7/1
Form: -P2132 BF
Last run: 34 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 146
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
15th Apr 2026 Good 3m 1f 125y Class 2 |
10st 13lb |
Once very smart for Gordon Elliott but left that yard on a downer and has continued in similar vein for current team; too risky at the minute. |
25/1 |
|
11 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 5f 56y Class 2 |
10st 5lb |
Very useful at his best for Gordon Elliott but was pulled up in this race last year and changed hands after a heavy defeat over regulation fences at Punchestown festival; struggled when dropped back to 2m4f for last month's stable debut; 6lb wrong here and has too much to prove. |
100/1 |
|
1 |
21st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 19y Class 3 |
12st 2lb |
His last win was at the Punchestown festival (3m, soft) in May 2024; right out of form in his last three starts (same Punchestown race last time) and this is his first start since leaving Gordon Elliott for £10,000 last May; probably best watched this time. |
20/1 |
100/1
Form: 142-43
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 0lb
6 yo Mare
OR: 124
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 11 (10) |
12th May 2023 Soft 2m 2f 140y Class 2 |
9st 8lb |
Has a slight doubt over her current form, based on her results over jumps this year; however, won this contest (off 4lb lower; good ground) in 2022 when last seen on the Flat and remains unexposed in this sphere; acts on soft; has to be feared back here. |
8/1 |
|
6th 2 |
21st Apr 2023 Good To Soft 3m 0f 70y Class 2 |
11st 4lb |
prominent, led narrowly or disputed lead 1st, led overall before 7th |
6/1 |
|
10 |
14th Mar 2023 Soft 3m 5f 201y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
Her greatest test of stamina was a hurdles win (3m2f, soft) and she also won the 2m2f Chester Plate on Flat; none of her form gives her a say in this, however, and soundly beaten this season in her two starts over fences. |
100/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £8.50 |
| Straight Forecast | £8.85 |
| Tricast | £48.65 |
| Trifecta | £38.90 |
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Gaillard Du MesnilLAMBOURN:
Mister CoffeyTOPSPEED:
Mahler MissionWEST COUNTRY:
MalinelloRP Ratings:
Gaillard Du MesnilPOSTDATA:
Gaillard Du MesnilThe Times:
Gaillard Du MesnilTelegraph:
Gaillard Du MesnilThe Guardian:
Gaillard Du MesnilDaily Mail:
Gaillard Du MesnilD Express:
Gaillard Du MesnilDaily Mirror:
Gaillard Du Mesnil