April 22 / 13.50 Ayr

13.50

Good To Soft

CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £26015
  • 3m 0f 20y
  • Class 2
  • 9 runners
ITV
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CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 62-312 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Took seven attempts to get off the mark over fences but he blew them away at Warwick (3m, good) last May and his return from ten months off was encouraging given that was over 2m3f on soft; comes here fresh and looks dangerous.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd Sep 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 3

16:30 Warwick

Sail Away

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won well off 4lb lower at Aintree in May (3m1f, good) and a 4lb higher mark doesn't look too damaging; strongly considered as fitness is unlikely to be an issue given his yard.

2/1

9/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 212113 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Not out of the first three in four chases but he shot up 10lb for his comfortable second success at Southwell (3m, good) and that looked a factor when 15l off the winner at Kelso (3m2f; has won on soft); likely to benefit from getting back on drier ground (as things stand) but this mark could be challenging.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 1

15:15 Doncaster

Forward Plan

11st 9lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Anthony Honeyball

held up in rear

11/2

5

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 1

15:15 Doncaster

Forward Plan

11st 9lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Anthony Honeyball

held up in rear

11/2

3rd

5

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 2

14:05 Doncaster

Forward Plan

11st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Won this 12 months ago (good to soft) and continued in fine form last season, adding a competitive handicap at Kempton (3m, soft) in February; there could still be mileage in his mark and he may have needed last month's reappearance run at Wincanton (well-beaten fourth); one to consider.

5/1

15/8

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 1-5211 C

Last run: 77 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Useful hurdler but a winning pointer who has duly raised his game since sent over fences, winning his last two very comfortably (3m1f, soft; 3m, good to soft); it wasn't a strong Grade 2 last time at Wetherby but he jumped well and looks progressive for his top yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 180y

17:30 Fairyhouse

City Chief

12st 0lb

J: Mr O McGill

T: Cormac Abernethy

Career highlight when winning the 2023 Towton (3m Grade 2) at Wetherby for Nicky Henderson; tailed off at Down Royal in December on his hunter chase debut; has twice in points in the last 12 months; recent Kirkistown success gives him an edge over Now Where Or When.

25/1

1

18th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

19:03 Uttoxeter

City Chief

12st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Grade 2-winning novice chaser who started last season with respectable runs in staying chases at Cheltenham, where he was last seen pulling up in the Kim Muir (first-time cheekpieces retained); too talented to ignore on this return to hurdling.

5/1

1

18th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

19:03 Uttoxeter

City Chief

12st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Grade 2-winning novice chaser who started last season with respectable runs in staying chases at Cheltenham, where he was last seen pulling up in the Kim Muir (first-time cheekpieces retained); too talented to ignore on this return to hurdling.

5/1

Form: 222U13 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Consistent chaser, winning two of his ten starts; ran right up to his best at Navan (2m7f, heavy) a month ago when staying on after getting outpaced; handles any ground and his stable always commands the utmost respect on its British raids.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

21st May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 176y

18:18 Limerick

Temptationinmilan

11st 4lb

J: Ms A T O’Reilly

T: Eamon Courtney

More than three years since his last racecourse win; okay run in a Cork hunters' chase when a 22l fifth but tailed off at Punchestown last time; blinkers go on now but unlikely.

22/1

12th

12

1st May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

16:15 Punchestown

Temptationinmilan

12st 0lb

J: Ms A T O’Reilly

T: Eamon Courtney

More than three years since his last racecourse win; pulled up in the hunter chase won by Panda Boy at Thurles in January; held by Asian Master on Cork running.

100/1

5th

10

6th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

16:10 Cork

Temptationinmilan

12st 0lb

J: Ms A T O’Reilly

T: Eamon Courtney

More than three years since his last racecourse win; huge price when pulled up in a hunter chase at Thurles in January; unlikely to end his losing sequence.

33/1

Form: 6-3165 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Has shown his best form at about 2m4f on testing ground and it wasn't his first unconvincing effort at 3m last time at Newcastle when conditions were in his favour; has enough to prove in a race of this nature.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

10

9th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 2

13:30 Aintree

Donnas Double

10st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

Inconsistent during last season's first chasing campaign but he posted a win at Ayr (2m4f, heavy) in January and was a very close third there (2m4f, good to soft) on last month's reappearance; remains lightly raced and is not ruled out in a first-time tongue-tie.

10/1

Form: 15F541 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
The most exposed of these after 21 runs over fences, but he still doubled his tally when well on top over 3m at Carlisle (heavy) a month ago; the return of a visor seemed to help but whether it will do again remains to be seen, and this is tougher from 4lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

13:23 Ayr

Hold The Note

10st 12lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Ewan Whillans

Winless since early in 2023 and didn't get going last season; tumbling in the weights but others are more appealing.

20/1

7

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

13:23 Ayr

Hold The Note

10st 12lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Ewan Whillans

Winless since early in 2023 and didn't get going last season; tumbling in the weights but others are more appealing.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: -50P15 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Has plenty of chasing experience for a novice and chose a good day to open his account in this discipline when beating two rivals in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown at Ascot (3m, good to soft); it was not his first notable effort at the Festival when fifth in a very warm opening-day staying handicap (soft) won by Corach Rambler; solid credentials back in novice company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

22nd Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:50 Ayr

Oscar Elite

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Joe Tizzard

Has plenty of chasing experience for a novice and chose a good day to open his account in this discipline when beating two rivals in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown at Ascot (3m, good to soft); it was not his first notable effort at the Festival when fifth in a very warm opening-day staying handicap (soft) won by Corach Rambler; solid credentials back in novice company.

9/2

5th

17

14th Mar 2023

Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:50 Cheltenham

Oscar Elite

10st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Joe Tizzard

Runner-up in the 3m Albert Bartlett in 2021 and another rock-solid Festival run when third to Corach Rambler in this race last year (good to soft; when 1lb lower) especially as he bled from the nose; hard to catch on a good day since but was his best self when winning a three-runner Grade 2 novice at Ascot in February and ought to be set fair to go well.

11/1

1st

4

18th Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 1

13:50 Ascot

Oscar Elite

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Joe Tizzard

Point winner in his younger days but he's 0-8 over rules fences and has a question mark over current form; useful on his day (finished third in last season's Ultima) but needs to stage a revival.

8/1

Form: P-F523

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Useful novice hurdler last season at up to 3m; now tackles his first handicap as a chaser and encouraging that he ran so well over 2m4f (short of his best) on his latest run at Cork (yielding); a danger to all should he make the anticipated improvement returned to further.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

13:50 Cheltenham

Where It All Began

10st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

Well suited by a slog in the mud but seems badly to have lost his way; needs combination of change of headgear and switch to cross-country chasing to rekindle his enthusiasm.

25/1

9

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Where It All Began

11st 3lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

None too consistent and was well held when falling at Punchestown last time in the race won by stablemate Fortunedefortunata; however, he does have a valuable staying 3m3f handicap in the bag and was looking threatening in the Welsh National in December until he clouted four out (in first-time blinkers that have been retained since); his best days have been on slow ground.

16/1

Form: -41412 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
2-5 over hurdles and has the same strike-rate as a chaser, with both his wins in this discipline coming at Kelso (2m7f; soft/good); ran perfectly well at Haydock over a trip (2m4f) shy of his best and makes plenty of each-way appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

14th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Ned Tanner

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

Dual winner over 2m4f on soft ground in 2024-25 season but has been rather inconsistent and didn't offer enough when fifth of seven over C&D (good) three weeks ago to suggest he's likely to cash in on his reduced mark now.

9/1

5th

7

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Ned Tanner

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

Dual winner over 2m4f on soft ground last season; has been rather inconsistent since wind surgery this term; has won over this trip, but perhaps better at shorter and has no easy task from 3lb out of the handicap.

12/1

3

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

16:41 Hexham

Ned Tanner

11st 11lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

He's down to a dangerous mark and showed some spark at Haydock in December three starts ago; however, two disappointing performances have followed from this 10yo and he needs to get back on track.

6/1

Non-runners

Ned Tanner

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £72.10
Straight Forecast £61.04
Tricast £152.09
Trifecta £219.90

Selections

TOPSPEED:

City Chief

RP Ratings:

Sail Away

SPOTLIGHT:

Oscar Elite

POSTDATA:

Ned Tanner

The Times:

Where It All Began

LAMBOURN:

City Chief

Telegraph:

City Chief

Daily Mail:

City Chief

Daily Mirror:

City Chief

The Sun:

City Chief

The Star:

City Chief

Daily Record:

City Chief

WEST COUNTRY:

Oscar Elite

The Guardian:

Sail Away

D Express:

Sail Away