December 08 / 14.25 Sandown

14.25

Soft

Betfair Esher Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £37017.5
  • 3m 0f 37y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
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Betfair Esher Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

Form: 1214-1 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Won the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m, soft) in March and beat The Changing Man by about 2l to win on last month's chase debut at Exeter (3m, good to soft); carries 3lb penalty here but Paul Nicholls believes he'll improve for that reappearance run; strong claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

15:50 Haydock

Stay Away Fay

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Had struggled badly in recent years but belatedly showed a smart level of ability remains when second over C&D (soft) in first-time blinkers (retained) four weeks ago; put back up 4lb but retains handicapping scope if building on that, with his top stable's good form providing hope that he can.

12/1

2nd

1

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 3

14:35 Haydock

Stay Away Fay

12st 0lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Won a Grade 1 novice hurdle and Grade 2 novice chase in 2023; his mark continues to tumble but for good reason and a major revival is required with first-time blinkers replacing cheekpieces.

25/1

25

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Stay Away Fay

10st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Paul Nicholls

Won Grade 1 novice hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival (3m, soft) and made a promising start to chasing career last season, when he continued to look all about stamina; his career has taken a spectacular wrong turn since but there was a slight hint last time of getting back on track.

66/1

Form: /U12-5 C

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 9yo who is a two-time hurdle winner, but others have considerably better form and his two chase starts have yielded an early unseat and a heavy defeat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

7th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 4f 146y

Class 2

15:35 Sandown

Conkwell Legend

10st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Neil Mulholland

0-8 over fences and has failed to complete four times; no issues on the stamina front (stays 3m6f) but he faces a difficult task at this level and comes with risk.

16/1

3rd

10

7th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 4f 146y

Class 2

15:35 Sandown

Conkwell Legend

10st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Neil Mulholland

0-8 over fences and has failed to complete four times; no issues on the stamina front (stays 3m6f) but he faces a difficult task at this level and comes with risk.

16/1

2

26th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Conkwell Legend

12st 0lb

J: Mr A P Ryan

T: Neil Mulholland

Dual hurdle winner who is 0-7 over fences; again he travelled well for a long way last time at Exeter (3m6f, heavy) but ultimately came up shy behind a 6l winner with only one other completing; others might just see this out stronger.

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: 111-U1 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
3-3 over hurdles last season (including Listed novice) and, after unseating on his chase debut at Carlisle, he defied a lofty mark to win a four-runner novice handicap at Aintree last month (3m1f, soft; three home-straight fences were omitted); an exciting prospect and he could have a big say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

12th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Giovinco

11st 7lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

Acts on heavy ground; the only C&D winner in this field, ran well in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham (3m) most recently and represents a trainer who landed this prize two years ago; therefore has respected credentials and cannot be dismissed.

9/1

3

12th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Giovinco

11st 7lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

Acts on heavy ground; the only C&D winner in this field, ran well in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham (3m) most recently and represents a trainer who landed this prize two years ago; therefore has respected credentials and cannot be dismissed.

9/1

3

13th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 1

14:10 Cheltenham

Giovinco

11st 7lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

Strong traveller who has won two small-field handicaps this season but Stay Away Fay had too much for him in 3m Sandown Grade 2 on soft ground in December; pulled up in Kauto Star at Kempton later that month on his other attempt at Graded level; playing for minor honours unless his form takes a leap forward.

20/1

Form: 2282-2 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Progressive in handicap hurdles last season (won on good to soft/soft) and form went to new level with near-2l defeat to Stay Away Fay on chase debut at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last month; the winner arguably has greater scope for improvement but has to carry a 3lb penalty today, and this fellow may also have more to offer; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

The Changing Man

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Unfair to knock his strike-rate of 1-12 over fences as he's run some crackers in defeat, with four seconds last season including a strong C&D handicap and the Ultima at Cheltenham in March; quite likely that he was over the top when last to finish in the 3m1f Grade 1 novice at Aintree; tough, consistent and much respected despite a challenging mark.

100/30

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

The Changing Man

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Unfair to knock his strike-rate of 1-12 over fences as he's run some crackers in defeat, with four seconds last season including a strong C&D handicap and the Ultima at Cheltenham in March; quite likely that he was over the top when last to finish in the 3m1f Grade 1 novice at Aintree; tough, consistent and much respected despite a challenging mark.

100/30

3rd

7

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

The Changing Man

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Only 1-11 over fences, the success in a Grade 2 Reynoldstown at Ascot that essentially fell apart; however, he's proved very consistent in good handicaps otherwise this term, second at the Cheltenham Festival (3m1f, good to soft) most recently; again likely to give his running.

10/1

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Stay Away Fay

SPOTLIGHT:

Giovinco

Telegraph:

Giovinco

The Guardian:

Giovinco

Daily Mirror:

Giovinco

The Star:

Giovinco

Daily Record:

Giovinco

POSTDATA:

Stay Away Fay

WEST COUNTRY:

Stay Away Fay

The Times:

Stay Away Fay

Daily Mail:

Stay Away Fay

D Express:

Stay Away Fay

The Sun:

Stay Away Fay