15.20
SoftWeatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide Handicap Chase
- Prize money: £6178.77
- 2m 4f 19y
- Class 3
- 11 runners
Runners: 11 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: 131233 D
Last run: 34 days
W: 12st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
4th Jun 2026 Good 2m 7f 70y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Four good efforts from as many starts for current connections, though once again wasn't quite able to convert a winning opportunity at Huntingdon latest (3m1f, good to firm); fair claims off an unchanged mark, and ought to cope with any rain. |
11/4 |
|
3rd 6 |
19th May 2026 Good To Firm 3m 1f 10y Class 3 |
11st 5lb |
Without a win since summer 2024 and not getting any younger but runner-up three consecutive times (2m7f-3m1f; once over fences) for new stable towards end of last season; probably won't be far away. |
15/2 |
Form: 134302
Last run: 23 days
W: 12st 0lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
7th Mar 2026 Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 4 |
10st 13lb |
Winning hurdler/chaser when trained in Ireland; beaten 29l and 34l on both hurdle starts for current yard; best watched. |
16/1 |
|
8th 2 |
31st Jan 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 124y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Useful at his peak in Ireland but soundly beaten on debut for this stable at Haydock just before Christmas; quickly dropped 6lb but needs a big leap forward. |
12/1 |
|
5 |
1st Jan 2025 Soft 2m 0f 180y |
11st 7lb |
prominent |
16/1 |
Form: 7-2331 D
Last run: 34 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 123
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 5 |
21st Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 187y Class 2 |
11st 6lb |
Northern runner who has looked as good as ever in winning two of his last three races, taking chase record to 6-18; did it quite readily at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) latest; ran respectably at Newbury in November; likely player in current form. |
5/1 |
|
1st 3 |
21st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 19y Class 3 |
11st 8lb |
5-17 over fences and his win at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day was up there with his best efforts; ran poorly at Cheltenham four weeks later but in the mix if bouncing back. |
5/1 |
Form: /13P-1 CD
Last run: 26 days
W: 11st 9lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 120
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 2 |
11th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
raced in second, bad mistake 8th |
11/2 |
|
5th 2 |
11th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
raced in second, bad mistake 8th |
11/2 |
|
4 |
13th Apr 2024 Heavy 2m 4f 19y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
raced in third, lost position briefly 6th, reminders and dropped to last before 8th, detached and struggling from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out |
8/1 |
Form: -22325 D
Last run: 105 days
W: 11st 9lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 120
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
13th Nov 2024 Good 2m 4f 100y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
raced in second, mistake 4 out, not fluent and lost position 3 out |
12/1 |
|
6th 2 |
13th Nov 2024 Good 2m 4f 100y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
raced in second, mistake 4 out, not fluent and lost position 3 out, no impression after 2 out |
12/1 |
|
11th 1 |
16th Oct 2024 Good To Soft 3m 0f 26y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Bumper/hurdle/chase winner at up to 2m6f for Dan Skelton; placed on first four starts over fences last season, but absent for over a year and changed yards since finishing a well-beaten fifth of six at Warwick in October (2m4f, good); probably best watched back over hurdles after a year off. |
14/1 |
Form: 2-52U3 D
Last run: 19 days
W: 11st 8lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 119
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 4 |
14th May 2026 Good 2m 7f 180y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
Dual winner over 2m4f on soft ground in 2024-25 season but has been rather inconsistent and didn't offer enough when fifth of seven over C&D (good) three weeks ago to suggest he's likely to cash in on his reduced mark now. |
9/1 |
|
5th 7 |
23rd Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 180y Class 3 |
10st 2lb |
Dual winner over 2m4f on soft ground last season; has been rather inconsistent since wind surgery this term; has won over this trip, but perhaps better at shorter and has no easy task from 3lb out of the handicap. |
12/1 |
|
3 |
25th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 15y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
He's down to a dangerous mark and showed some spark at Haydock in December three starts ago; however, two disappointing performances have followed from this 10yo and he needs to get back on track. |
6/1 |
Form: 24-104
Last run: 23 days
W: 10st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 5 |
27th Mar 2025 Good 3m 0f 60y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
took keen hold, prominent |
10/1 |
|
2nd 6 |
4th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 5f 89y Class 4 |
11st 0lb |
Won over fences in France; inconsistent in his eight British races and was pulled up in the latest; others safer. |
10/1 |
|
8 |
12th Feb 2025 Soft 3m 0f 45y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
jumped left on occasions, prominent, lost ground but in touch with leaders after 6th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up approaching last |
12/1 |
Form: 11-125 D
Last run: 26 days
W: 10st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 107
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 3 |
24th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 189y Class 5 |
11st 11lb |
Has won three times over hurdles and three times over fences, but was disappointing back over hurdles with a visor (retained) instead of cheekpieces at Hexham last time (2m7f, good; 40-1). |
50/1 |
|
13th 1 |
2nd May 2026 Good 2m 7f 63y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Won three handicap chases on the trot in 2024; has struggled to finish since; may fare better back over hurdles with visor tried. |
16/1 |
Form: 36-135 C
Last run: 32 days
W: 10st 8lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
14th Apr 2025 Good 3m 0f 41y Class 5 |
11st 11lb |
midfield, lost ground 4th, detached after 5th, struggling when pulled up before 15th |
10/1 |
|
2 |
14th Apr 2025 Good 3m 0f 41y Class 5 |
11st 11lb |
Bagged a second C&D victory in November but his more recent form is less encouraging, only sixth over C&D last time; handily weighted if getting back on track, though. |
10/1 |
|
6th 3 |
13th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 3m 0f 41y Class 5 |
11st 9lb |
Resumed winning ways over C&D in November and posted a respectable sixth of ten in 3m Musselburgh handicap chase following month; much respected for his in-form yard after a break. |
6/1 |
Form: 224-34
Last run: 33 days
W: 10st 7lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 104
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 5 |
13th Mar 2024 Soft 2m 3f 189y Class 5 |
11st 11lb |
Without a win since 2021 but has made the frame on all four starts this season, most notably when second at Sedgefield (2m3f, soft) two runs ago; continues to slip down the weights and has possibilities if the first-time cheekpieces give him a boost. |
9/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
18th Feb 2024 Soft 2m 4f 88y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Four wins divided between hurdles and fences; has raced mostly at about 2m but seemed to stay Sedgefield's extended 2m3f (soft) when runner-up three weeks ago; drops into a Class 5 here and must have a chance. |
3/1 |
Form: 7-3134 D BF
Last run: 31 days
W: 10st 4lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 101
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 3 |
11th Apr 2026 Good 2m 4f 19y Class 3 |
11st 8lb |
Carlisle specialist; sits close to a career-high mark following a gritty win there (2m, good to soft) in February; "never travelling and jumped poorly" in the Monet's Garden Series Final there three weeks ago; bit to prove for the time being, even acknowledging a 2024 C&D win. |
4/1 |
|
1 |
22nd Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 210y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Record of 6-10 over fences at Carlisle features wins in this race last year (on good ground) and latest outing (2m); on a career-high mark but commands major respect kept to this venue. |
6/1 |
|
1st 7 |
16th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 207y Class 3 |
11st 3lb |
Won here (2m4f, good) in October and followed up at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft); below par at Newcastle and Wetherby since and arrives with something to prove, but he's back on his last winning mark and ten visits to Carlisle have yielded five wins (various ground); not ruled out now back here. |
7/1 |
Betting Forcast
Tiger Orchid, Irish Blaze, Prairie Wolf, Brayhill, Quid Pro Quo, Ned Tanner, Jar Du Desert, William Of York, Return Fire, Out On The Tear, Hello Judge