January 27 / 13.50 Cheltenham

13.50

Good To Soft

Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £70337.5
  • 3m 1f 56y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 13P-63 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
Useful sort but his Grade 1 success at Punchestown in 2022 is weak form for the level; 0-4 in 2023, well-held third to stellar stablemate Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown most recently; all of his rivals have stronger claims on balance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Capodanno

12st 2lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Neil Mulholland

Capable of smart form for Willie Mullins and landed the Cotswold Chase two years ago; however, badly lacks recent match practice having been absent since finishing third in the Bobbyjo last February; remains with same owner; market may offer further guidance.

14/1

3rd

2

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 1f 165y

15:25 Fairyhouse

Capodanno

11st 8lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, mistake 4 out, pressed leaders 2 out, no extra before last

10/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 111-P4 C

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 162

Form & Verdict
Has a record of 3-4 over fences at Cheltenham, notably a narrow win in last season's Brown Advisory (3m, soft; Grade 1 novice); had an excuse (found to be lame) here on reappearance, then ran respectably in the King George; may well rate higher still and looks interesting back at this venue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

25

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

The Real Whacker

10st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Patrick Neville

11lb below his peak mark and well handicapped judged on best efforts, the most recent of which were over 3m on good ground late in 2024; muted in this three runs this term, only one of which was over fences but he ended up tailed off in that Wetherby race, which he'd won a year earlier; those past glories may now be too distant.

66/1

3

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

The Real Whacker

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

Front-runner who won this in good style last year (good) and again has the benefit of a recent run, which could give him an advantage over a few of these; can give a good account in first-time cheekpieces but it looks a hotter contest than 12 months ago and he carries a 6lb penalty this time.

4/1

3

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

The Real Whacker

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

Front-runner who won this in good style last year (good) and again has the benefit of a recent run, which could give him an advantage over a few of these; can give a good account in first-time cheekpieces but it looks a hotter contest than 12 months ago and he carries a 6lb penalty this time.

4/1

Form: 214-11 C

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Up-and-coming stayer who won last season's Albert Bartlett (Grade 1) at the Cheltenham Festival; 2-2 since switched to chasing, making all in Grade 2 at Sandown (3m, soft) latest; brings plenty of potential to open company and bids to cement his claims for the Brown Advisory (Grade 1 novice here in March); respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

15:50 Haydock

Stay Away Fay

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Had struggled badly in recent years but belatedly showed a smart level of ability remains when second over C&D (soft) in first-time blinkers (retained) four weeks ago; put back up 4lb but retains handicapping scope if building on that, with his top stable's good form providing hope that he can.

12/1

2nd

1

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 3

14:35 Haydock

Stay Away Fay

12st 0lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Won a Grade 1 novice hurdle and Grade 2 novice chase in 2023; his mark continues to tumble but for good reason and a major revival is required with first-time blinkers replacing cheekpieces.

25/1

25

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Stay Away Fay

10st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Paul Nicholls

Won Grade 1 novice hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival (3m, soft) and made a promising start to chasing career last season, when he continued to look all about stamina; his career has taken a spectacular wrong turn since but there was a slight hint last time of getting back on track.

66/1

Form: 1F2-PP CD

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 166

Form & Verdict
Not always a fluent jumper but he's smart on his day, such as when winning this race (soft) last year and runner-up in Grade 1 at Aintree two starts later; just needs a major revival, having been pulled up in both runs this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

1

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:40 Musselburgh

Ahoy Senor

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Very much the class act in this field but he's become hugely frustrating as a chaser and tailed off (after making the running) when he reverted to hurdles in a Grade 2 at Newbury on latest outing; thrown in if he can even remotely get his act together.

14/1

1

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Ahoy Senor

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

10yo who was underwhelming in the main last season and soundly beaten in the Grade 1 Bowl here in April, having finished runner-up in the previous two runnings of that 3m contest; a longer trip than this would probably be preferable but he's 7lb lower than when a close third in this last year and is well worth a second look in view of his record at this track.

13/2

5th

1

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Ahoy Senor

11st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Comes with some risk having failed to complete in his last three starts (had wind surgery prior to latest); however, comes alive at Aintree and has performed well in this race for the last two years, taking form figures at this meeting to 1122 (gained the wins in Grade 1 novice events over hurdles/fences); big player provided that pattern is sustained.

6/1

Form: /26F-1 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 166

Form & Verdict
Excelled at his ideal venue in the Betfair Chase (3m1f, soft) two months ago, showing career-best form and taking his Haydock record to 4-5; big player provided he's as effective back at Cheltenham (0-3 here, all Gold Cup defeats).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:00 Haydock

Royale Pagaille

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Five-time course winner including this race in 2021 and 2022 and the Betfair Chase in 2023 and 2024; reappeared with fine second in that Grade 1 here 56 days ago (good to soft); struggled last season after his reappearance win but this 12yo could have a big say if backing up his latest effort.

13/2

2

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Royale Pagaille

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

All wins on soft or heavy; he's been a class act at Haydock but did not show it in two visits there this year, including on his second attempt at a marathon trip, and his sixth in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup was a remote one; some conspicuous negatives.

80/1

2

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Royale Pagaille

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

All wins on soft or heavy; he's been a class act at Haydock but did not show it in two visits there this year, including on his second attempt at a marathon trip, and his sixth in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup was a remote one; some conspicuous negatives.

80/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2P1-81 C

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
Delivered with a well-timed challenge to win major 3m2f handicap at Newbury (good to soft) eight weeks ago, proving suited by the new trip and taking chase record to 3-10; generally progressive and is unexposed beyond 2m4f; possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

3

27th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Datsalrightgino

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Delivered with a well-timed challenge to win major 3m2f handicap at Newbury (good to soft) eight weeks ago, proving suited by the new trip and taking chase record to 3-10; generally progressive and is unexposed beyond 2m4f; possibilities.

11/2

1st

11

2nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 1

14:50 Newbury

Datsalrightgino

10st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Jamie Snowden

Unraced beyond an extended 2m4f and this is a tough race in which to test his stamina; however, he was strong at the finish when winning a Grade 2 novice at Ayr (2m4f, good) in April and may well have staying potential; might have needed his reappearance in the Old Roan and is not ruled out.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.50
Straight Forecast £15.46
Trifecta £43.10

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Stay Away Fay

SPOTLIGHT:

The Real Whacker

POSTDATA:

Capodanno

LAMBOURN:

Datsalrightgino

RP RATINGS:

Royale Pagaille

Telegraph:

Ahoy Senor

Daily Mail:

Stay Away Fay

The Sun:

Stay Away Fay

The Star:

Stay Away Fay

The Guardian:

The Real Whacker

Daily Mirror:

The Real Whacker

Daily Record:

Datsalrightgino

The Times:

Capodanno

D Express:

Capodanno

TOPSPEED:

Royale Pagaille