13.55
SoftStan Mellor Memorial Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £9505.8
- 2m 4f 0y
- Class 3
- 5 runners
Runners: 5 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
11/10 (Won)
- Win: £2.10
- Place: £1.30
Form: /1113- D
Last run: 207 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 145
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 13 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 1lb |
Staying-on fourth in last season's Grand National (good to soft) off 5lb lower as just a 7yo; a second crack at it has been his main target this term but he looked better than ever when winning from Firefox in a hot, three-runner race at Ascot (2m5f; second run after wind surgery) in December and had an excuse (scoped dirty) at the Cheltenham Festival last month; has to be in serious calculations. |
14/1 |
|
10th 1 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 1f 0y Class 1 |
12st 0lb |
Fourth in last season's Grand National (4m2f, good to soft) off 5lb lower; the big one at Aintree is again his main target but this 8yo looked better than ever when winning a hot, three-runner graduation chase at Ascot (2m5f, good to soft) in December and on that evidence he's entitled to considerable respect off his revised mark; won the Martin Pipe Hurdle at the 2023 Festival. |
6/1 |
|
4th 18 |
5th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
10st 11lb |
Noble Yeats three years ago showed a 7yo can still win the National; this one has spent most of his career at about 2m4f/2m5f and his three appearances over 2m7f-3m1f were defeats but they were among his best efforts (two were Grade 1 novice places here) and contained mouthwatering suggestions of stamina not yet called upon; it is today and there's almost no doubt he remains capable of better. |
8/1 |
4/1
- Place: £1.80
Form: 233/2- BF
Last run: 556 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 142
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 |
13th May 2026 Good 3m 1f 170y Class 5 |
12st 8lb |
Useful handicapper; easy winner of two hunter chases before a commendable fourth in the big one at the Cheltenham Festival; he was only 17-2 for the Aintree version but never emerged from midfield; entitled to take care of these. |
8/15 |
|
12th 11 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Useful handicapper who posted easy wins this year in his first two hunter chases (3m/2m7f, good to soft/heavy); 14l fourth at the Cheltenham Festival last month (3m2f, good to soft) so has work to do with some of these, but he was left behind up the hill and is not ruled out back down in trip. |
12/1 |
|
4th 5 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Returned from ten months off to win hunter chases at Warwick (3m, good to soft) and Taunton (2m7f, heavy); not remotely pressed on either occasion and the RPRs were highly respectable; Paul Nicholls has won this four times and this 8yo could be interesting, provided he lasts home. |
14/1 |
7/2
Form: 16121- D
Last run: 194 days
W: 11st 2lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 137
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
2nd May 2024 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
11st 2lb |
prominent, not fluent 6th, pulled up quickly after 8th, looked to go wrong |
20/1 |
|
11 |
2nd May 2024 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
11st 2lb |
prominent, not fluent 6th, pulled up quickly after 8th, looked to go wrong |
20/1 |
|
6th 6 |
13th Apr 2024 Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
Creditable efforts in defeat in Graded novice chases this winter (3m, good/good to soft) and ran well for long way in 3m6f NH Chase at Cheltenham last month (heavy; beaten 32l); could be in the mix now back down in trip and back in a handicap, provided the removal of cheekpieces isn't an issue. |
12/1 |
7/1
Form: 24665- D
Last run: 200 days
W: 10st 9lb
7 yo Mare
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 2 |
17th May 2024 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 2 |
11st 9lb |
Posted career-best performance when winning readily from the front at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) in December but weakened rather tamely there later that month, and a switch to patient tactics didn't pay dividends at Ascot in March; now has a point to prove. |
8/1 |
|
10th 2 |
17th May 2024 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 2 |
11st 9lb |
Posted career-best performance when winning readily from the front at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) in December but weakened rather tamely there later that month, and a switch to patient tactics didn't pay dividends at Ascot in March; now has a point to prove. |
8/1 |
|
6th 1 |
24th Mar 2024 Good 2m 5f 141y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
Inconsistent in the last two seasons and well beaten at Newbury in December last time out, but she comfortably made all there (2m4f, good to soft) earlier that month and can make bold bid if back on song after a break. |
7/1 |
25/1
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
10th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Ex-Laura Morgan; dual point winner (one on yielding to soft) who got off the mark under rules on stable debut last time when winning at Leicester (2m4f, good); up 8lb; the one to beat. |
8/13 |
|
4th 1 |
31st Dec 2024 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
in touch with leaders, prominent on outer before 11th, weakened before 2 out |
4/1 |
Non-runners
Ballydesmond
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £4.70 |
| Straight Forecast | £5.49 |
| Trifecta | £10.50 |