December 26 / 14.15 Aintree

14.15

Soft

William Hill Epic Boost Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £15609
  • 3m 0f 210y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
William Hill Epic Boost Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.60
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 75-152 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Chasing this term, comfortably taking a five-runner handicap at Southwell (3m, good to soft) on first attempt; not discredited next time and good second to No But I Will at Wetherby (3m, soft) latest, so he's firmly in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

27th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:53 Newton Abbot

Snipe

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Record of 2-4 since switched to hunter chases in January and he ran well to finish six of 24 in the Foxhunters' at Aintree (2m5f) last month; on career-high mark back in a handicap but he hasn't been far off his best this year and he has won over 3m1f in the past; respected.

7/2

6th

19

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Snipe

12st 0lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Won on his first hunter chase start at Hereford (2m5f, soft) in January and bounced back from a heavy defeat behind Golden Son at Taunton (2m7f, heavy) to win at Leicester (2m, good to soft) last month; however, he needs a clear career best if he's to win this.

25/1

1st

3

6th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

17:03 Leicester

Snipe

12st 2lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Made a bright start to hunter chases when beating Stattler (subsequent winner) at Hereford (2m5f, soft) in January and, although well beaten at Taunton (2m7f) when trying to match strides with Golden Son last month, he likely continues in form; leading contender dropped back to 2m for the first time, with fewer questions to answer than most.

11/10

Form: 71-314 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
2-7 over fences; his win at Wetherby (3m, good; acts on soft) in October was over hurdles, as was his creditable fourth at Ascot last month; has better chase form, good enough to have a shout in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

25th Oct 2025

Good

3m 2f 39y

Class 2

15:55 Kelso

Duke Of Deception

10st 6lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Absent since comfortable success in small field at Haydock (3m1f, good) six months ago; faces a stiffer task from 5lb out of weights in this better race and seems unlikely to follow up.

8/1

1st

1

19th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 4

15:50 Haydock

Duke Of Deception

12st 0lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won smoothly on soft ground in this race last year (7lb higher today); handicapper has had the call since but seconds at Warwick (3m5f, good) and Haydock (3m4f, good) on last two outings showed that he should have a big say in this very small field.

13/8

1st

1

19th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 4

15:50 Haydock

Duke Of Deception

12st 0lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

pressed leader, led narrowly 4 out, went clear after 3 out, comfortably

13/8

OUR TIP

Form: /121-0

Last run: 38 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Sent over fences last season, winning twice over about 2m3f on soft in small fields during his three-race campaign; his first venture over this sort of trip under rules (won a 3m point in 2019) came in a handicap at Cheltenham (3m1f, soft) on reappearance last month when he was left some way behind at the start, so it's a bit tough to judge him on that heavy defeat; stable is in good form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

1st Mar 2025

Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

13:20 Newbury

Grandads Cottage

11st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

towards rear

7/1

Form: 2B-P33

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
0-13 over fences, disappointing, and he continues to drop down the weights; not disgraced in small-field events on last two starts (staying on over 3m2f on latest) but others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:30 Kelso

Coconut Splash

10st 12lb

J: Mr Kit Alexander

T: N W Alexander

11yo who has a poor strike-rate and isn't the force of old but, following a wind op, he returned to form with a clear, close second in a first-time visor (retained) at Ayr (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; also effective on good to soft; in the mix if backing up that latest run, despite 6lb rise.

20/1

2nd

9

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:20 Ayr

Coconut Splash

11st 2lb

J: Mr Kit Alexander

T: N W Alexander

Useful in his prime but has been out of form since returning from long absence for new stable in the autumn; needs combination of wind surgery and first-time visor to prompt a revival.

20/1

8th

8

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

13:43 Ayr

Coconut Splash

11st 0lb

J: Mr Kit Alexander

T: N W Alexander

Veteran who has tumbled down the weights but his last win was in 2020 and he's been well held in three runs for new yard this winter; has something to prove and he needs a transformation with cheekpieces added

20/1

Form: 321-71 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Off the mark over hurdles in 2m7f Bangor novice (good) in April; won his only start in a point and it's the same now over fences, as he battled his way to score from Snipe in a seven-runner handicap at Wetherby (3m, soft) four weeks ago; up 4lb but should have more to offer in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

31st May 2026

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

16:37 Fakenham

No But I Will

11st 4lb

J: Miss Jessica Milly Smith

T: Julian Smith

Just held on to make winning stable debut over C&D (soft) in December but failed to build upon an encouraging reappearance run when tailed off at Market Rasen last month; others have more persuasive profiles.

10/1

6th

5

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

13:35 Market Rasen

No But I Will

11st 9lb

J: Miss Jessica Milly Smith

T: Julian Smith

Just held on to make winning stable debut under Jessica Milly Smith at Fakenham (2m5f, soft) in December and returned from break with fairly good fourth at Wetherby (2m3f, good to soft) last month; will also be suited by today's trip-and-ground combination; no surprise if he features.

7/1

4th

2

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

14:37 Wetherby

No But I Will

11st 10lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Julian Smith

Won at Cartmel (2m1f, good) last August on penultimate run for Robbie Llewellyn and he scored on his stable debut at Fakenham (2m5f, soft) in December; he didn't look straightforward on that latest outing but this course winner is entitled to respect nevertheless.

6/1

Form: 6/310-

Last run: 251 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
2-11 for Alan King and well handicapped judged on plenty of form from 2020 and 2021; absent 318 days before having three runs for new stable last term, easily the best of which was a short-head win at Ffos Las (3m, heavy; 3lb higher today) in March; the lesser shows have to be a worry but Venetia Williams has brought many of her charges back in storming form this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Some Scope

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.10
Straight Forecast £22.42
Trifecta £107.80

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Some Scope

SPOTLIGHT:

No But I Will

POSTDATA:

Snipe

The Star:

Duke Of Deception

RP RATINGS:

Coconut Splash

WEST COUNTRY:

Some Scope

The Times:

Some Scope

The Guardian:

Some Scope

D Express:

Some Scope

The Sun:

Some Scope

Telegraph:

No But I Will

Daily Mail:

No But I Will

Daily Record:

No But I Will

Daily Mirror:

Snipe