April 13 / 13.45 Aintree

13.45

Good To Soft

Racehorse Lotto Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £67524
  • 2m 3f 200y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Racehorse Lotto Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 0-1132 D

Last run: 68 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Impressed when successful at Gowran (2m4f, good to yielding) and Cheltenham (2m, good) on first two starts over fences; shaped as he'd be suited by a return to further when 10l second to El Fabiolo in Grade 1 Irish Arkle at Leopardstown (2m1f) in February, staying on after getting outpaced; capable of going very well but peak form achieved on good/good to soft and perhaps wouldn't want too much rain (non-runner at Cheltenham last month due to soft ground).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Banbridge

11st 11lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

So nearly won his second King George at Kempton over Christmas but, although he's a class act, excelling over 3m on good ground at that speed track doesn't mean that this test will suit him; his moderate late headway in the extended 2m4f Grade 1 Ryanair at Cheltenham last month isn't that persuasive either.

50/1

3rd

1

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Banbridge

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Won the Martin Pipe over hurdles at this meeting in 2022 as well as a novice chase here that year, but Kempton is where his heart lies, having won the Grade 1 King George (3m, good) in 2024 and gone desperately close in the same race (first-time visor, retained here) on Boxing Day; however, he's been beaten a long way out at the last two Festivals, in this race and the Gold Cup, and a flat track may now be ideal; has something to prove.

6/1

4th

1

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

17:30 Punchestown

Banbridge

11st 10lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

jumped left on occasions, raced in third, went second 6th, struggling and lost second 3 out, weakening when lost third before 2 out, tailed off

4/1

100/30

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 4321U3

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Very smart hurdler (third in last year's Champion Hurdle) and equally as good over fences, seeing off the reopposing Visionarian to win a 2m1f Grade 1 novice at Leopardstown (yielding) over Christmas; another good effort when picking up the pieces for third behind El Fabiolo and Jonbon (Straw Fan Jack 16l behind Saint Roi in fourth) in Arkle at Cheltenham (2m, soft) last month; has the form to go close but he's unproven over this trip (faded into fifth on 2m3f stable debut and raced only at 2m/2m1f since).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

4th Aug 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 2f 54y

15:30 Galway

Saint Roi

11st 12lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: W P Mullins

Smart chaser who put in two promising efforts when runner-up in the Red Rum at Aintree and a competitive handicap at Punchestown behind Plate winner Pinkerton; well held behind that rival four days ago but has leading claims back down to a more suitable trip.

100/30

17th

3

31st Jul 2024

Good

2m 6f 111y

19:10 Galway

Saint Roi

11st 8lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: W P Mullins

Won a 2m1f Grade 1 at Leopardstown the season before last; returned to form when second in the Red Rum at Aintree; beaten a short head in a valuable 2m Punchestown festival handicap; finished second in a 2m4f Grade 1 at Aintree as a novice, but not certain to stay effectively enough to win a race of this high standard.

14/1

Form: -11226 D

Last run: 68 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Useful hurdler and even better chaser, winning first two starts over fences last summer; improved again when second to Saint Roi in a 2m1f Grade 1 at Leopardstown (yielding) in December; not in the same form when a remote sixth to El Fabiolo in another Grade 1 there in February; successful around 2m4f over hurdles; could run well but likely he'll find at least one too strong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 180y

16:50 Killarney

Visionarian

11st 12lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Dropping down the ratings since he won a three-runner Grade 2 contest at Gowran last autumn; no signs of a revival at Wexford last month when finishing well behind; it is hard to fancy him at the moment.

22/1

9th

1

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 110y

16:25 Wexford

Visionarian

11st 12lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Winner of a three-runner Grade 2 at Gowran in October (2m4f, good); well held in stronger Graded contests; poor run in a DRF handicap chase and pulled up when last seen in a handicap chase at the Punchestown festival last time from a 3lb higher mark.

18/1

Form: 7-1144 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Flagbearer for the Sheila Lewis yard who scored twice over hurdles in 2020 and has reached new heights over fences this season; however, his limitations at the highest level were seemingly exposed when 28l fourth in the Arkle at Cheltenham (2m, soft) last time, with the reopposing Saint Roi 16l ahead in third; steps back up in trip now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

26th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

13:50 Aintree

Straw Fan Jack

10st 7lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Capitalised on a reduced mark in three-runner handicap at Ludlow (3m, good) in April and could improve for this month's 25l second of five on reappearance at Ludlow (3m, good to firm), when making mistakes; also effective on soft ground; possible player if jumping better this time.

7/1

1

8th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

15:35 Ludlow

Straw Fan Jack

12st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

10yo who turned things around when narrowly beating an odds-on rival in a C&D handicap (good; 11-2) in April; been absent since then but he's only 1lb higher than for that win and has claims if he can pick up where he left off.

9/2

1st

5

2nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

15:45 Ludlow

Straw Fan Jack

10st 13lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Commendable third off 11lb higher at last year's Cheltenham Festival (2m4f, soft; good ground also suits) but badly out of form this season (four runs) and is the one in this line-up with by far the most to prove.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: -12111 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 155

Form & Verdict
Took his chase record to 4-5 when seeing off six rivals in the Grade 1 Turners at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) four weeks ago, taking full advantage of being able to dictate the pace; it's possible he'll be able to boss another small field here and his jumping is a real asset; the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Stage Star

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Best known for his 2m4f exploits that include Grade 1 novice wins over hurdles/fences; however, put up a good fight against odds-on L'Homme Presse when upped to 3m1f in Grade 2 at Cheltenham (soft) most recently, emerging as the best horse at the weights; one of a few runners who remain unexposed at this sort of trip.

13/2

3rd

7

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Stage Star

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Best known for his 2m4f exploits that include Grade 1 novice wins over hurdles/fences; however, put up a good fight against odds-on L'Homme Presse when upped to 3m1f in Grade 2 at Cheltenham (soft) most recently, emerging as the best horse at the weights; one of a few runners who remain unexposed at this sort of trip.

13/2

2nd

2

25th Jan 2025

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Stage Star

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, led after 1st, faced challenge before 2 out, soon disputing lead, hung left run-in, no extra towards finish

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.50
Straight Forecast £8.24
Trifecta £31.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Stage Star

Telegraph:

Banbridge

TOPSPEED:

Saint Roi

RP Ratings:

Stage Star

POSTDATA:

Stage Star

WEST COUNTRY:

Stage Star

The Times:

Stage Star

Daily Mirror:

Stage Star

The Star:

Stage Star

The Guardian:

Banbridge

D Express:

Banbridge

The Sun:

Banbridge

Daily Record:

Banbridge

Daily Mail:

Saint Roi