December 22 / 15.05 Ascot

15.05

Good To Soft

Howden Noel Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £29614
  • 2m 2f 175y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
SKY
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Howden Noel Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.20

Form: 308-11 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Has relished the switch to fences, with handicap wins at Aintree (2m, soft) and Newbury (2m, good to soft; ahead of Persian Time who is due to run at 1:55); it remains to be seen how far this lightly raced 5yo can go over fences, and the step back up in trip could be a plus; firmly in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

Djelo

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Well beaten in Grade 1s on final two starts last season; however, he impressed with two Grade 2 wins earlier in the campaign, namely the Peterborough at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) and the Denman at Newbury (extended 2m7f, soft), and he has a very positive reappearance record; respected under 6lb penalty.

9/4

1

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

Djelo

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Well beaten in Grade 1s on final two starts last season; however, he impressed with two Grade 2 wins earlier in the campaign, namely the Peterborough at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) and the Denman at Newbury (extended 2m7f, soft), and he has a very positive reappearance record; respected under 6lb penalty.

9/4

6th

2

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Djelo

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Always behind and well beaten in the Ryanair but may benefit from this step back up in distance, having been well suited by 2m7f in the Denman Chase at Newbury (one of two soft-ground Grade 2 wins this term) the time before; largely progressive prior to latest start and unexposed over staying trips.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 37-221 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Course hurdles winner (soft) who rallied to win a handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago on his third chase start; he may not have won last time but for the leader's final-fence blunder, and he has something to find in this field, but there can be optimism he will continue to progress for the champion trainer, who has won four of the last eight runnings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Kandoo Kid

10st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Negotiated these fences in dashing style when staying-on third in the 2m5f Topham (soft) last April and returned from wind surgery to win the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (upped to 3m2f, good to soft) in November from Broadway Boy; 7lb higher today; had a run at Newbury five weeks ago and, although there are slightly mixed signals with that display and whether he will be suited by this distance, he looks set for a bold show.

20/1

17

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Kandoo Kid

10st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Negotiated these fences in dashing style when staying-on third in the 2m5f Topham (soft) last April and returned from wind surgery to win the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (upped to 3m2f, good to soft) in November from Broadway Boy; 7lb higher today; had a run at Newbury five weeks ago and, although there are slightly mixed signals with that display and whether he will be suited by this distance, he looks set for a bold show.

20/1

8th

1

1st Mar 2025

Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Kandoo Kid

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Grand National hope who landed the big 3m2f handicap here (good to soft; sole outing this term) in November, taking Newbury record to 2121; not crying out for this drop back in trip but ran well in this race last year and warrants respect kept to a course that suits him well.

7/1

Form: 24-521 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Highly talented hurdler who pushed classy rival close on chase debut at Newton Abbot (2m5f, heavy) in October, despite making mistakes, and while he was left alone from the eighth fence in a match at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month, he jumped with greater fluency; capable of having a big say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

7th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

13:35 Newbury

Might I

12st 0lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Faye Bramley

Acts on heavy; useful for Harry Fry but became inconsistent and has never won a handicap; bought for £35,000 last May and had a remote finish at Worcester in July on his only start since; has career-low mark but plenty to prove, including stamina on this fourth attempt at about 3m.

25/1

1

7th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:45 Worcester

Might I

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Faye Bramley

Smart for Harry Fry but became inconsistent; wasn't disgraced in Coral Cup at Cheltenham Festival (2m5f, good to soft) on latest outing in March and sights are lowered on stable debut having changed hands for £35,000.

8/1

Form: 53-155 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Several good runs in defeat during last season's novice campaign and he won a Listed novice at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) on his reappearance this term; respectable fifth in the Paddy Power next time, and heavy ground may have been too much in the Grade 1 Henry VIII most recently; won over hurdles on sole previous course visit and he's respected, even with 5lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

1st May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Warwick

Unexpected Party

12st 4lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Bled from the nose when a fading fourth in the Aintree Foxhunters latest (2m5f, good to soft), though still had Fan De Blues comfortably behind for the second time this year; more prolific on easier surfaces but Taunton win in January reaffirmed he's effective on good as well.

2/5

4th

22

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Unexpected Party

12st 0lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Won the Grand Annual at Cheltenham Festival in March 2024 (2m, soft) and runner-up in it last year (good to soft); comfortable wins in hunter chases on last two starts (2m5f/2m6f, good/good to soft); his stamina will be more severely tested in today's hotter company but leading claims if seeing it out.

4/1

1st

2

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 54y

Class 3

16:30 Haydock

Unexpected Party

12st 4lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Useful handicapper who won the Grand Annual Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival (2m, soft) and was second in that race last year (good to soft); did not need to be at best to make winning hunter chase debut at Taunton (2m5f, good; main rival disappointed) last month and ought to remain a potent threat at this level.

5/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.60
Straight Forecast £6.04
Trifecta £8.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Djelo

WEST COUNTRY:

Kandoo Kid

Daily Mail:

Might I

The Times:

Unexpected Party

RP RATINGS:

Djelo

TOPSPEED:

Djelo

POSTDATA:

Djelo

The Guardian:

Djelo

Daily Mirror:

Djelo

Daily Record:

Djelo

Telegraph:

Kandoo Kid

D Express:

Kandoo Kid

The Sun:

Kandoo Kid

The Star:

Kandoo Kid