October 25 / 13.50 Cheltenham

13.50

Good

William Hill Top Price Guarantee Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £20812
  • 1m 7f 199y
  • Class 2
  • 4 runners
ITV
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William Hill Top Price Guarantee Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.54

Form: 2233-5 D

Last run: 176 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
0-10 over rules fences but ran some commendable races in defeat in major handicaps last season, including when third in Grand Annual over C&D (soft) at the Festival in March; will be fine on the forecast faster ground today and has a very good chance at the weights in this novice chase.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

7

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

16:50 Punchestown

Path Doroux

11st 6lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Gavin Cromwell

Only one win from 21 starts over fences, placed seven times; a long way below his best at Cork last time and well held by third-placed Sky Lord.

25/1

5th

1

6th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 45y

14:25 Cork

Path Doroux

11st 12lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Gavin Cromwell

Useful although hard to win with and soundly beaten lately, but the handicappper is relenting; one of three runners for in-form yard

12/1

9th

1

7th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

16:18 Gowran Park

Path Doroux

11st 12lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Useful chaser at his best, but hard to win with; record of 1-19 in chases is off-putting, placed seven times; tailed off in a strong handicap at Fairyhouse in January (2m1f, yielding); out of his depth along with Drumgill in a Grade 3 contest at Naas 13 days ago.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0F13P1 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Won Boodles hurdle at 2023 Festival here (2m, soft) for Gordon Elliott and is a dual chase winner for new stable this season (2m3f/2m5f, good) but faces a fairly tough assignment under 8lb penalty here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

16

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Jazzy Matty

11st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Cian Collins

Better over fences; stays 2m5f; had wind surgery prior to the latest Cheltenham Festival (2m, good) where he very nearly recorded a second success in the Grand Annual; not guaranteed to transfer the form back to hurdles but he is attractively treated off a much lower mark in this sphere.

9/1

2nd

8

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Jazzy Matty

11st 2lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Cian Collins

8lb higher than when winning this last year (good to soft) and his subsequent form (chiefly over hurdles) hasn't been at the same level; however, he's had a wind op since last time and his 2-2 record at the Cheltenham Festival (also won the Fred Winter in 2023) means he's firmly in calculations.

7/1

6th

2

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

1m 7f 168y

13:40 Thurles

Jazzy Matty

11st 11lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Cian Collins

Five-time winner, including wins in the Fred Winter and last season's Grand Annual; generally below since, beaten 26l in the Galway Plate; respectable effort back over hurdles at Cheltenham last time when a 12.5l fifth of 20; took the runner-up spot in this race last year from 1lb lower, so not ruled out.

5/1

Form: /2-241 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Versatile 5yo who looked in very good nick when readily winning 0-120 handicap chase by 6l at Sedgefield (2m, good to soft) this month, his second start over fences; faces daunting task against much stronger opposition here, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

29th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 78y

Class 4

14:40 Doncaster

Noble Anthem

11st 7lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Probably flattered by his proximity in a tactical novice chase at Cheltenham last month and has since had his limitations exposed in a Grade 2 there; however, he's back at a much more realistic level today and still has plenty of scope to progress from his convincing handicap win at Sedgefield (2m, good to soft) three starts ago.

9/2

2nd

7

29th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 78y

Class 4

14:40 Doncaster

Noble Anthem

11st 7lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Probably flattered by his proximity in a tactical novice chase at Cheltenham last month and has since had his limitations exposed in a Grade 2 there; however, he's back at a much more realistic level today and still has plenty of scope to progress from his convincing handicap win at Sedgefield (2m, good to soft) three starts ago.

9/2

7th

6

16th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

13:45 Cheltenham

Noble Anthem

11st 4lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Won a Class 4 handicap at Sedgefield (2m, good to soft) last month on second chase start and faced tough task when creditable third of four in warm novice contest over C&D (good) last time; this 5yo may have more to offer but others have considerably more substance to their claims.

40/1

Form: -F7411 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Not an instant success over fences but really got his act together last month, winning twice; displayed good turn of foot in Roscommon Grade 3 (2m, soft) on latter occasion and needs to be taken very seriously here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18

24th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 7f 180y

16:23 Listowel

San Salvador

10st 12lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Three Flat wins this year, the latest over 1m5f at Ballinrobe in July; jumping was untidy at times on return to chasing at Galway; down the field in the Cheltenham Festival novice handicap in which Anyway finished second; plenty to prove.

10/1

4th

1

1st Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

18:00 Galway

San Salvador

11st 12lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Dual-purpose performer is 8-28 in all codes, two of his wins coming over fences in novice chases; has been plying his trade on the Flat recently with good success, including two wins; fell at Leopardstown and tailed off at Cheltenham in his last two chase starts so he has something to prove now returned to this discipline.

13/1

1

(11)

21st Jul 2025

Yielding

1m 4f 184y

19:30 Ballinrobe

San Salvador

10st 0lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Seven wins under all rules with last one coming in a Killarney conditions race in May; even better form when beaten only 4l in the Ascot Stakes h'cap last time; this trip is fine too and is a big player.

7/2

Non-runners

Shecouldbeanything

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.10
Straight Forecast £4.85
Trifecta £11.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Path d'Oroux

The Sun:

San Salvador

RP RATINGS:

Path d'Oroux

TOPSPEED:

Path d'Oroux

POSTDATA:

Path d'Oroux

The Times:

Path d'Oroux

Telegraph:

Path d'Oroux

The Guardian:

Path d'Oroux

Daily Mail:

Path d'Oroux

D Express:

Path d'Oroux

Daily Mirror:

Path d'Oroux

The Star:

Path d'Oroux

Daily Record:

San Salvador