November 25 / 13.50 Haydock

13.50

Soft

Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £26015
  • 2m 5f 127y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
ITV
View Course
Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 111F-3 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Completed a novice hurdle hat-trick (2m-2m5f, good to soft-heavy) in a Grade 2 at Warwick (2m5f, heavy) in January; ran and jumped well when third of five in good race at Exeter (3m, good to soft) on recent chase and seasonal debut and this unexposed 6yo is open to further improvement; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

Grey Dawning

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Two Grade 1 wins, namely the 2m4f novice chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival (soft) and this season's Betfair Chase at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft); ran well for a long way before fading into fourth in last month's Gold Cup at Cheltenham (3m2f, good to soft); this drop back in trip could well be a positive move; effective here and respected in first-time cheekpieces.

2/1

4th

5

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Grey Dawning

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won the 2m4f novice chase at the 2024 Festival (soft) and added a second Grade 1 win in the Betfair Chase at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) this season; a mistake two out proved costly when 5l third of four to Spillane's Tower in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase here (3m1f, soft) in January and he rallied up the hill; however, he may just lack the required class today.

12/1

3rd

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Grey Dawning

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Top-class 9yo, successful in ten of his 18 races; better than ever on his last two starts, winning Betfair Chase at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) on reappearance with plenty in hand; has run well on both his outings at Cheltenham; again looks the one to beat.

8/13

OUR TIP

11/8

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 21313- D

Last run: 224 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 156

Form & Verdict
Won the NH Chase at Cheltenham (3m6f, soft) in March and was third in the Grand National (4m2f, good to soft) next time; stamina is a major asset and he takes a sizeable drop back in trip for his reappearance, but he's a class act and he ran well when second in a 2m4f Grade 1 last December.
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

13:50 Haydock

Gaillard Du Mesnil

11st 11lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

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

17:15 Aintree

Gaillard Du Mesnil

11st 0lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

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

17:30 Cheltenham

Gaillard Du Mesnil

11st 7lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

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

Form: 32111-

Last run: 225 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Highly progressive staying novice hurdler last season, making all in a Listed mares' novice at Doncaster (3m, good) in March and following up in a Grade 1 novice against males at Aintree (3m, soft); strong claims if transferring that ability to fences at the first attempt, and there can be optimism in that regard given who she's trained by and given she's a point winner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 1

15:10 Perth

Apple Away

11st 4lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Consistent sort who won this two years ago (soft); Panic Attack has better form and she's run just once this season, but that was a solid effort when third of five at Carlisle in November over an inadequate 2m4f (good to soft), and she can give a good account.

6/1

3rd

1

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

13:32 Carlisle

Apple Away

11st 6lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Classy mare but very much a stayer having won last season's 3m4f Grand National Trial at Haydock (good to soft; kept on) in February, after which she disappointed in the Midlands National; does travel strongly so unwise to dismiss purely on the strength of today's trip, especially on a stiff track; returns with yard in form.

4/1

3rd

1

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

13:32 Carlisle

Apple Away

11st 6lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Classy mare but very much a stayer having won last season's 3m4f Grand National Trial at Haydock (good to soft; kept on) in February, after which she disappointed in the Midlands National; does travel strongly so unwise to dismiss purely on the strength of today's trip, especially on a stiff track; returns with yard in form.

4/1

Form: 416-4U BF

Last run: 189 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Won a novice hurdle for Emmet Mullins at Wexford (3m, heavy) in March but has a poor strike-rate and is 0-6 over fences; changed hands for £4,000 in May and he'd be a shock winner on his stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(3)

28th Aug 2025

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 3

19:15 Southwell (AW)

Hardy Bloke

8st 4lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Brian Ellison

8yo former hurdler/chaser who turned his attentions to the Flat last summer; enjoyed a solid spell in soft-ground staying handicaps in the autumn and produced a career best in this code when winning over C&D (Dreams Adozen fourth) on his reappearance in April; found the Northumberland Vase too warm when last seen two months ago but he's not discounted.

8/1

18

(17)

28th Jun 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

14:40 Newcastle (AW)

Hardy Bloke

8st 12lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

8yo who is a former hurdler/chaser; enjoyed a solid spell in soft-ground staying handicaps on the Flat last autumn, and produced a career best in this code when winning by 3l on his reappearance at Southwell (2m, Tapeta) two months ago; a 5lb rise isn't harsh and he could be involved.

16/1

1st

7

(3)

30th Apr 2025

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 5

20:40 Southwell (AW)

Hardy Bloke

9st 2lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Brian Ellison

nudged along early, in rear, steady headway and in touch with leaders over 3f out, headway to lead over 1f out, kept on well

7/2

Form: 1P2-54

Last run: 167 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Won at Lingfield (2m7f, good) in February and good second at Kempton (3m, good to soft) in April; however, below par on final run for Tom Lacey and same story on stable debut in June; up against it today even if back to best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

6th Oct 2024

Good

3m 2f 39y

Class 4

15:15 Kelso

Scipion

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

in rear

10/1

4th

5

26th Aug 2024

Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 3

16:40 Cartmel

Scipion

10st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Useful hurdler/chaser when with Tom Lacey but had very disappointing five-race spell with Stuart Coltherd last season and was tailed off behind Tommie Beau over hurdles here on stable debut in May; can cope with slow ground but needs combination of wind surgery and refitted tongue-tie to make a big difference.

12/1

11th

10

27th May 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 83y

Class 2

14:55 Cartmel

Scipion

10st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

led early, headed but prominent before 2nd

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.30
Straight Forecast £5.62
Trifecta £6.80

Selections

The Times:

Apple Away

RP RATINGS:

Gaillard Du Mesnil

SPOTLIGHT:

Grey Dawning

Telegraph:

Apple Away

Daily Mail:

Apple Away

Daily Mirror:

Apple Away

The Star:

Apple Away

Daily Record:

Apple Away

D Express:

Grey Dawning

TOPSPEED:

Gaillard Du Mesnil

POSTDATA:

Gaillard Du Mesnil

The Guardian:

Gaillard Du Mesnil