14.24

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

9/4

Form: 1-1211 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict

Did well in handicap hurdles but he is already a far superior chaser; three wins from four starts in this sphere, on last two occasions from the front at Cheltenham when taking a Listed novice event (3m, soft; by 20l) and Grade 3 handicap (3m2f, soft); the latter, when heavily backed favourite, was despite notable jumping errors and a mighty performance in the circumstances; gives weight all round but will be hard to outmuscle.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
23	5th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1	16:00 Aintree Broadway Boy 10st 9lb J: Tom Bellamy T: Nigel Twiston-Davies	Started this season brightly, notably when second to Kandoo Kid in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft); he'd have a good shout judged on that display and going beyond 3m2f made plenty of appeal even before that; however, he disappointed at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and ran badly there last month; cheekpieces (tried at this meeting last year, tailed off) return.	66/1
23	5th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1	16:00 Aintree Broadway Boy 10st 9lb J: Tom Bellamy T: Nigel Twiston-Davies	Started this season brightly, notably when second to Kandoo Kid in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft); he'd have a good shout judged on that display and going beyond 3m2f made plenty of appeal even before that; however, he disappointed at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and ran badly there last month; cheekpieces (tried at this meeting last year, tailed off) return.	66/1
3	11th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 3m 1f 0y Class 1	14:40 Cheltenham Broadway Boy 11st 12lb J: Sam Twiston-Davies T: Nigel Twiston-Davies	Didn't jump fluently when below par here on New Year's Day; however, he's reportedly had his knees medicated since and two starts ago was a fine second in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft); two wins here (3m/3m2f) during last season's novice campaign; in the mix if back on song.	7/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

23

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

10st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

Started this season brightly, notably when second to Kandoo Kid in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft); he'd have a good shout judged on that display and going beyond 3m2f made plenty of appeal even before that; however, he disappointed at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and ran badly there last month; cheekpieces (tried at this meeting last year, tailed off) return.

66/1

23

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

10st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

Started this season brightly, notably when second to Kandoo Kid in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft); he'd have a good shout judged on that display and going beyond 3m2f made plenty of appeal even before that; however, he disappointed at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and ran badly there last month; cheekpieces (tried at this meeting last year, tailed off) return.

66/1

3

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

11st 12lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Didn't jump fluently when below par here on New Year's Day; however, he's reportedly had his knees medicated since and two starts ago was a fine second in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft); two wins here (3m/3m2f) during last season's novice campaign; in the mix if back on song.

7/1

2

Grey Dawning

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

9/4

Form: 1F-312 C BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict

Won the 2m5f Grade 2 novice hurdle on heavy ground at this meeting last year; ran away with a graduation chase at Haydock (2m5f, soft) on second start over fences and may well have added a good novice chase at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) four weeks ago but for getting the second last all wrong, as he closed all the way to the line thereafter; has a bit more to prove at 3m (third attempt) but an exciting prospect.

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

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

11st 10lb

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

11st 10lb

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

11st 10lb

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

3

Carbon King

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

50/1

Form: 16-8P1

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict

Three wins over hurdles in Ireland (2m/2m5f) last season and he shot back to form when taking a six-runner novice handicap chase at Ffos Las (2m3f, heavy) last month on third start for this stable; however, not proven over this sort of trip and above all looks well out of his depth at this level.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
10	17th Jan 2025 Soft 2m 6f 41y Class 3	16:08 Windsor Carbon King 11st 7lb J: Adam Wedge T: Evan Williams	Last campaign was very hit and miss but included two wins over about 2m4f on heavy going and he seems to be working his way back to form this season; not proven beyond 2m5f but he's too well handicapped to be ignored.	20/1
10	17th Jan 2025 Soft 2m 6f 41y Class 3	16:08 Windsor Carbon King 11st 7lb J: Adam Wedge T: Evan Williams	Last campaign was very hit and miss but included two wins over about 2m4f on heavy going and he seems to be working his way back to form this season; not proven beyond 2m5f but he's too well handicapped to be ignored.	20/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

10

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 41y

Class 3

11st 7lb

Last campaign was very hit and miss but included two wins over about 2m4f on heavy going and he seems to be working his way back to form this season; not proven beyond 2m5f but he's too well handicapped to be ignored.

20/1

10

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 41y

Class 3

11st 7lb

Last campaign was very hit and miss but included two wins over about 2m4f on heavy going and he seems to be working his way back to form this season; not proven beyond 2m5f but he's too well handicapped to be ignored.

20/1

4

The Changing Man

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

6/1

Form: 282-2U D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict

Progressive in 3m handicap hurdles last season (including on soft) and took his form to a new level when second at Exeter (3m, good to soft) in November on chase debut, 1l ahead of Grey Dawning who has improved since; unseated six out in Grade 2 at Sandown latest; needs to resume improvement in a major way if he's to beat the best of these.

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

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

11st 9lb

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

11st 9lb

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

11st 7lb

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

5

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

2/1

Form: 111-31 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 141

Form & Verdict

Rapid progress over hurdles after turn of the year last season, climaxing with front-running success in Grade 1 novice at Aintree festival (3m, soft); switched to chasing this term, no match for Grey Dawning on first occasion but winning by a street in a three-runner race at Leicester (2m6f, heavy) one month ago; lots to like and may well hold her own in this company too.

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

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

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

11st 4lb

J: Derek Fox

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

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

11st 6lb

J: Derek Fox

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