16.15
YieldingKPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £65265.49
- 2m 0f 100y
- 5 runners
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Runners: 5 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
5/6 (Won)
- Win: £1.60
- Place: £1.10
Form: 1-1152 C BF
Last run: 42 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 151
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
14th Mar 2024 Soft 2m 3f 168y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Has raced only at 2m-2m1f; versatile ground-wise; an exciting horse early in career and has performed well in both Cheltenham Festival attempts, winning the Champion Bumper in 2022 then runner-up in the Supreme last year; beaten twice since scoring on debut over fences but wasn't disgraced in the Irish Arkle latest; may take his form to the next level over this new trip, being out of Quevega who won the 2m4f Mares' Hurdle at this meeting six times; very interesting with that in mind. |
15/8 |
|
3rd 1 |
3rd Feb 2024 Soft 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
soon raced in second, joined leader after 3 out, challenging when carried left before last, not fluent and pecked on landing last, soon lost second and ridden, no match for first two |
9/2 |
|
4th 1 |
26th Dec 2023 Yielding 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Top bumper horse two seasons ago, winning all four starts, including Grade 1s at Cheltenham and Punchestown; won three of his five starts over hurdles last season, and second in the Supreme Novices'; had an excuse at this venue in February; gradually warmed to his task on his chasing debut at Navan; room for improvement in his jumping; hard to oppose. |
2/7 |
3/1
- Place: £1.50
Form: 4-1215 D
Last run: 42 days
W: 11st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 148
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
Ground versatile; not the biggest in stature but a hugely talented performer who has won eight of his 11 chase starts, including six Grade 1s; bolted up in the Champion Chase on latest, immediately bouncing back from a rare blip at Sandown; won a Grade 1 novice over C&D at this meeting last year and he's preferred by Townend; leading chance. |
7/4 |
|
1st 4 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; small in stature but big in talent and his record of 7-10 over fences features five Grade 1 wins, the most recent impressively in this season's Tingle Creek at Sandown; not bombproof in this scenario as he's 0-3 at the Cheltenham Festival (finishing positions 553) and was let down by his jumping in the 2024 Arkle, admittedly posting a good placed effort in the circumstances; possible denting of confidence is another concern as he was winded and took a while to get up from a late fall in the Clarence House most recently (under pressure and not responding when the tumble occurred); removal of usual hood adds to the uncertainty; otherwise a huge player provided he's in top form. |
4/1 |
|
2 |
17th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 172y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Hugely likeable chaser who made it 7-9 over fences when slamming Jonbon by 9l in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft; fine on softer) six weeks ago; that represented another personal best and he's the clear pick on the ratings; has excellent credentials. |
8/15 |
16/1
Form: 4-1120 D
Last run: 11 days
W: 11st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 19 |
2nd May 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 118y |
10st 0lb |
Smart form as a younger horse but on losing run since Grade 2 success at Limerick in December 2022; a step in the right direction in a 2m Cork conditions hurdle on latest but he's unproven at this trip; 4lb wrong and hard to fancy. |
28/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
5th Apr 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 70y |
11st 2lb |
Smart form in his younger days, including a Grade 2 win, but has lost his way; soundly beaten at Leopardstown last time when well behind Soir De Garde and he's poorly treated by these race conditions. |
25/1 |
|
4th 5 |
2nd Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 2f 72y |
11st 2lb |
Won a Grade 2 in 2022 (2m, heavy); has struggled since then; more likely to return to winning ways in a handicap; looks out of his depth here with blinkers replacing previously work cheekpieces. |
50/1 |
16/1
Form: 2128 D
Last run: 11 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 142
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 10lb |
Eight-time chase winner; beat Majborough and Energumene at Cork in December; won this race last year, holding off the late challenge of Saint Sam (Blood Destiny a 7.25l third); pulled up in the Champion Chase last time, but this is more his level and he is the one to beat. |
7/4 |
|
3 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Fared best of the rest behind the impressive winner in the 2024 Arkle but weakened into last of five finishers in this contest last season and has largely fallen short at Grade 1 level in open company; beaten 19l by Majborough at this year's Dublin Racing Festival and flopped when back down in class at Navan (2m4f; blowing hard post race) later in February. |
33/1 |
|
4th 2 |
28th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 90y |
11st 8lb |
Eight-time chase winner, including the 2m Fortria at this venue twice; beat top-class mare Dinoblue in this season's edition and then took the notable scalp of Majborough in the Hilly Way at Cork; has since suffered two heavy defeats in 2m1f Grade 1 races at Leopardstown; now back over 2m4f for the first time since beating Saint Sam at Fairyhouse last April. |
13/8 |
3/1
Form: 613 CD
Last run: 42 days
W: 11st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 147
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 |
25th Apr 2023 Yielding 2m 0f 100y |
11st 12lb |
led, briefly headed after 1st, 3 lengths ahead halfway, reduced lead before 3 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off |
3/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
14th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 0f 87y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Useful French Flat winner (10.5f, good) who returned from a long layoff to make his hurdle debut at Leopardstown in December, and improved a bundle from that run when easily winning a maiden at Punchestown (2m, soft); this is a much tougher task and others have achieved more (including his three stablemates) but he was impressive last time and the ceiling of his ability could lie at a lofty level; wears a first-time tongue-tie; not ruled out each-way. |
16/1 |
|
1st 3 |
30th Jan 2023 Soft 2m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
prominent, led and made rest from 5 out |
9/4 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | €2.70 |
| Straight Forecast | €3.19 |
| Trifecta | €27.10 |
Selections
The Irish Sun:
Facile Vega