December 15 / 12.40 Cheltenham

12.40

Soft

Cheltenham & South-West Racing Club Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £20812
  • 2m 4f 127y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
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Cheltenham & South-West Racing Club Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 123-71 C

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Beaten 5l by Grey Dawning when they clashed off level weights in a 2m5f Grade 2 hurdle last season (heavy); however, promises to be a better chaser judged on his course win (2m4f handicap, soft) last month when he bounded clear up the run-in to collect by 10l; has the look of a horse firmly on the upgrade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Ginnys Destiny

11st 4lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Front-runner who was runner-up in two 2m4f Grade 1 novice chases last spring, at Cheltenham then here; attractively handicapped on that form and could be suited by these fences, but this season has been somewhat underwhelming and he needs a boost from the first-time tongue-tie and cheekpieces.

14/1

7th

7

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Ginnys Destiny

11st 4lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Front-runner who was runner-up in two 2m4f Grade 1 novice chases last spring, at Cheltenham then here; attractively handicapped on that form and could be suited by these fences, but this season has been somewhat underwhelming and he needs a boost from the first-time tongue-tie and cheekpieces.

14/1

7th

2

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Ginnys Destiny

11st 6lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Powerful front-runner when on song, as when winning twice over C&D (soft and good to soft) last midwinter before finishing an honourable runner-up in Grade 1 novice at the Festival; had some problems since but said to be showing better signs at home of late and is weighted to have a say, off just 2lb higher than the latest win; a revival could be on the way.

10/1

15/8

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 11F-31 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Beat Ginny's Destiny to bring up his hurdles hat-trick (2m-2m5f, good to soft-heavy) last season in a Grade 2 at Warwick; has looked a natural in both his runs over fences, perhaps needing it (in-keeping with a few stablemates) when third to top prospect Stay Away Fay at Exeter before leaving quality opposition for dead in a graduation chase at Haydock (2m5f, soft); has a penalty but he's looking exciting; stable won the last running of this with My Drogo.
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

3/1

Form: 3/11-1 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Would probably be unbeaten in five starts had he not hung for pressure late on at Exeter in his second run; lengthy breaks are a feature in his profile but he won two staying handicap hurdles on soft ground last winter and it was all very straightforward when defying a big weight on his chase debut at Carlisle (2m4f, soft); remains unexposed and shaping into a top prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Trelawne

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Well-backed 5-1 shot in this last year only to fall early (a stablemate won); 8lb higher this time; won over an extended 2m7f over hurdles and this second-season chaser reappeared with a win in a graduation chase at Haydock (extended 2m5f, soft) in November; fair efforts when fourth in handicaps the next twice (3m/3m1f, good to soft/soft) but needs something extra today.

25/1

4th

2

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:30 Haydock

Trelawne

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Promising novice chaser last season and his reappearance win in a graduation chase here (2m5f, soft) represents strong form; won over an extended 2m7f over hurdles; merely fourth off this mark when back in a handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last month but it was still a reasonable performance on ground that may not have been ideal; respected now back on testing surface.

7/2

4th

2

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:30 Haydock

Trelawne

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Promising novice chaser last season and his reappearance win in a graduation chase here (2m5f, soft) represents strong form; won over an extended 2m7f over hurdles; merely fourth off this mark when back in a handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last month but it was still a reasonable performance on ground that may not have been ideal; respected now back on testing surface.

7/2

Form: 2261-F D BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Enjoyed a productive last season over hurdles and really impressed in a 2m4f soft-ground handicap at Sandown the final time; backed into favouritism for his recent chase debut here and was looking a serious threat to Ginny's Destiny when not seeing eye-to-eye with the tricky second-last fence and coming down; clearly a big player if his confidence hasn't taken a knock.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

28th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

19:32 Market Rasen

Crebilly

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Very useful hurdler/chaser in his prime; well below best during a fairly light campaign last season (four hurdle runs; cheekpieces added last time) but will appreciate this ease in grade and has slipped to a dangerous mark.

12/1

5th

4

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

16:57 Wincanton

Crebilly

11st 7lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Made a quite encouraging seasonal debut in November but well beaten twice since, albeit on heavy ground last time; drops back in trip on a dangerous mark but needs to be perked up by the first-time cheekpieces.

9/1

10/1

Form: 9854-1

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Last season over hurdles was a bit of a struggle but he made the frame in the 2m4f handicap at Royal Ascot during the summer and, while it looked unlikely at times, he stayed on best to make a successful chase debut at Wincanton (1m7f, soft); this stronger race will test his mettle but he probably needs this sort of trip nowadays.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(2)

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

14:40 Goodwood

Tritonic

9st 10lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alan King

Capable of useful form on Flat and over jumps; however, hasn't scored under this code since 2022 and needs to improve on his 2025 AW efforts; admittedly this 8yo may benefit from today's drop back in class.

20/1

4

(2)

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

14:40 Goodwood

Tritonic

9st 10lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alan King

Capable of useful form on Flat and over jumps; however, hasn't scored under this code since 2022 and needs to improve on his 2025 AW efforts; admittedly this 8yo may benefit from today's drop back in class.

20/1

5

(12)

18th Apr 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:42 Newcastle (AW)

Tritonic

8st 12lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

Fine servant to his team but hasn't got his head in front since winning a four-runner chase in late 2023; 33-1 and never dangerous back on the Flat three weeks ago at Kempton (2m).

16/1

Form: 15/17-

Last run: 240 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who doubled his tally in an ordinary maiden hurdle at Ayr (2m3f, good to soft) before finishing well held in a novice here in April; had wind surgery in the meantime and a tongue-tie is added, but this represents a severe first assignment over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 2f 0y

13:42 Thurles

Blue Hop

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won a bumper and three hurdle races when trained in Britain; not as good in two handicap chase starts in 2024; seemed to lose confidence when badly hampered at the fourth in a novice chase at Tramore five weeks ago on Irish debut; could be competitive off this mark; might prefer better ground.

9/2

19th

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 93y

15:05 Punchestown

Blue Hop

11st 3lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: B F Brookhouse

Won his third hurdle race at Wetherby (2m5f) last time; has won over this trip but stays 3m too; is in form so has to be taken seriously.

11/1

19th

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 93y

15:05 Punchestown

Blue Hop

11st 3lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: B F Brookhouse

Won his third hurdle race at Wetherby (2m5f) last time; has won over this trip but stays 3m too; is in form so has to be taken seriously.

11/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.80
Straight Forecast £8.34
Trifecta £21.20

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Trelawne

SPOTLIGHT:

Grey Dawning

TOPSPEED:

Ginny's Destiny

RP RATINGS:

Crebilly

Telegraph:

Tritonic

D Express:

Trelawne

Daily Mirror:

Trelawne

The Sun:

Trelawne

The Star:

Trelawne

Daily Mail:

Grey Dawning

Daily Record:

Grey Dawning

The Times:

Crebilly

POSTDATA:

Ginny's Destiny

The Guardian:

Ginny's Destiny