March 02 / 15.25 Kelso

15.25

Good To Soft

bet365 Premier Chase (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £28475
  • 2m 7f 96y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV
View Course
bet365 Premier Chase (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 62-1P2

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Strong form in defeat last term and a clearcut win in four-runner Listed event at Carlisle (2m4f, soft; jumped well) in November; soon struggled with the Cheltenham fences in December but ran on well from off the pace when second in first-time cheekpieces (absent today) at Musselburgh four weeks ago; his only attempt at this sort of trip under rules was in Cheltenham Grade 1 last March and latest run put him firmly back on the radar.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

21

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Thunder Rock

12st 0lb

J: Mr James King

T: Olly Murphy

Very talented in his prime; this 10yo isn't the force of old and today's race is much tougher than the hunter chases he's won easily on his last two starts (2m4f, good to soft/good) but if he can tap further into his back-class he may well be in the mix; James King has won this twice.

16/1

1st

1

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

17:15 Kempton

Thunder Rock

12st 6lb

J: Mr James King

T: Olly Murphy

Listed winner in his prime and has made a solid start to hunter chasing, namely a close second and easy success at Wincanton; should follow up.

1/10

1st

2

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

Thunder Rock

12st 6lb

J: Mr James King

T: Olly Murphy

Powers were on the decline when confined to hurdling last season but he was a classy chaser back in the day and nearly won his first hunter chase over 3m1f here a month ago (heavy); may need that longer trip now but strong claims otherwise.

Evs

9/1

  • Place: £3.60

Form: 13-237 C

Last run: 67 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Usually gives his running, but nowhere near it on last two outings and had wind surgery in between; a hood (absent previous five starts) returned last time, for first hurdle race since 2021, but is removed again today and now he has tongue tied first time; first run beyond 2m5f under rules.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Minella Drama

12st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Very useful chaser at his best, last win coming in the 2024 Old Roan Chase at Aintree (2m4f, good); highly tried this term, best run when second in a Listed chase at Kelso in February (2m7f, good to soft); on a fair mark now.

9/1

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Minella Drama

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Inconsistent nowadays but ran well in second when facing an impossible mission behind Protektorat at Kelso (2m7f, good to soft) last time; now 5lb lower than when third in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in October and this C&D winner is capable of being involved.

11/1

2nd

1

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 1

13:40 Kelso

Minella Drama

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Smart on his day and ran creditably when third in the Old Roan at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in October, a race he'd won in 2024; however, two runs since have been poor and he has to concede weight all round.

11/1

Form: 3U1-17 C

Last run: 77 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Held up; acts on soft and has some form on heavy; tailed off at Cheltenham in December latest but he has a fine record at this track, including wins last March and October; they were 3m2f and there is more for him to prove back at this trip but he's on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 2

15:00 Kelso

Elvis Mail

12st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

12yo who lacked fluency when back over fences and was soundly beaten at Haydock in December; however, prior to that he made a fairly encouraging return from an absence over hurdles at Ayr and he's a six-time winner at Kelso; could have a part to play now back here.

13/2

5th

1

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

13:58 Ayr

Elvis Mail

12st 0lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Likeable veteran whose ten wins include six at Kelso and three here; made a successful reappearance in 3m2f chase at Kelso (from Famous Bridge) last autumn; doesn't run often over hurdles these days but he has a lower mark and cannot be ruled out completely.

15/2

5th

1

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

13:58 Ayr

Elvis Mail

12st 0lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Likeable veteran whose ten wins include six at Kelso and three here; made a successful reappearance in 3m2f chase at Kelso (from Famous Bridge) last autumn; doesn't run often over hurdles these days but he has a lower mark and cannot be ruled out completely.

15/2

OUR TIP

Form: 44-232 C

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Unraced on heavy; agonisingly missed out in a veterans race at Chepstow in October and ran well again when second in the final of that series at Warwick (3m, soft; ridden by 7lb claimer) seven weeks ago; effective at this track and set for another bold show.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

2nd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 1

15:25 Kelso

Aye Right

11st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

led, headed before 6th

3/1

2nd

3

13th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Warwick

Aye Right

11st 11lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

Agonisingly missed out in a leg of this series when tying up close home at Chepstow in October (collared by Good Boy Bobby); there are some course concerns as he wasn't so good when behind Thomas Darby and Mill Green here last time but he's still respected off the same mark as at Chepstow and new partner Dylan Johnston is good value for his 7lb; handles all ground.

13/2

Form: 113-P3 D

Last run: 91 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Third at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival (3m1f, soft) against two rivals who quickly boosted the form no end; got badly messed around on November reappearance and wasn't at his most fluent in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f) three months ago but still rallied into third; absent since with reportedly minor problems; next month's Grand National is his big target and it will be interesting to gauge his market strength.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Monbeg Genius

11st 10lb

J: Mr J L Scallan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Third in the Ultima here (3m1f, soft) in March 2023; this 10yo has run respectably in the Welsh National (3m6f, good to soft) and Haydock Grand National Trial (3m4f, good to soft) on his last two starts and is now below his last winning mark; not discounted with blinkers replacing cheekpieces.

33/1

7th

2

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Monbeg Genius

11st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

10yo who won at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) last February and returned to form when fifth of 17 in the Welsh National at Chepstow (3m6f, good to soft) in December, when 7l and two places behind Deafening Silence; now back down to last winning mark and might not be far away.

11/1

6th

7

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Monbeg Genius

10st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Dictated the pace for a Uttoxeter win (3m, soft; 3lb higher today) in February with second-time cheekpieces (kept since) in a less demanding race than he's often appeared in; 13l fourth in the Welsh National (near 3m7f, soft) was respectable but he did not spark in the big one at Aintree three weeks ago and good ground would give him more to prove.

33/1

Form: -12P22

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
6yo who is 3-10 over fences (the three wins at Ludlow); also five seconds in this sphere, including keeping on well in mares' Listed events over about 2m4f at Doncaster (50-1; best form) and Huntingdon on last two outings; has much more to prove on worse than good to soft, especially as she's unraced beyond 2m5f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

14:20 Huntingdon

La Renommee

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Record of 6-16 over fences; broke her Listed duck in Doncaster contest (2m4f) most recently, taking advantage of odds-on Brides Hill's below-par show; chance of following up partly depends on whether that opponent, who beat her by 6l in this event last year, is back on song.

4/1

4th

2

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

14:20 Huntingdon

La Renommee

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

raced in second

4/1

1st

4

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 115y

Class 1

13:38 Doncaster

La Renommee

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

in touch with leaders, went second 11th, going best when not fluent 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on well run-in

5/1

Form: 2-8PPP D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Mostly ran well last term, culminating in his second in Scottish National (7lb lower today); this season, however, has made for grim viewing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.60
Straight Forecast £17.44
Trifecta £75.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Aye Right

WEST COUNTRY:

Monbeg Genius

TOPSPEED:

Thunder Rock

The Sun:

Minella Drama

The Guardian:

Monbeg Genius

D Express:

Monbeg Genius

The Times:

Thunder Rock

Daily Record:

Thunder Rock

RP RATINGS:

Aye Right

POSTDATA:

Aye Right

Telegraph:

Aye Right

Daily Mail:

Aye Right

Daily Mirror:

Aye Right

The Star:

Aye Right