October 26 / 16.05 Cheltenham

16.05

Good

William Hill Most Top Prices Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £20812
  • 3m 0f 110y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
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William Hill Most Top Prices Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 602-14 C

Last run: 118 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Looked as good as ever over hurdles when second at Warwick (3m1f, good) at the end of last season and made very good start to chasing career when eased-down winner at Southwell (2m4f, good) in June; not seen since a lesser effort later that month but has conditions to suit here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

13

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Hyland

11st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Won Listed novice chase here (3m, good) in November 2024; 0-5 in handicaps in 2025 but having edged down the weights he was a close fourth at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in December last time; 3-5 here and, with the drying ground in his favour, he could be in the mix in first-time cheekpieces.

11/1

3

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Cheltenham

Hyland

11st 11lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Doesn't want the ground worse than good to soft; took care of Transmission here last October and followed up in a Listed novice at the track, beating subsequent improver Resplendent Grey; nothing wrong with his following seconds (3m; Grade 1/hot handicap) and can be forgiven his no-show in the Grand National; goes well fresh and very feasible that there's further improvement to come.

11/2

30

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Hyland

10st 6lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Best away from soft ground; saw the 3m out well on last two starts when second at Kempton in a Grade 1 novice and a major handicap; reverting to a left-handed track here may help his jumping; however, he switched from hurdling only last June and, notwithstanding his three small-field wins, six runs over fences is a slight record for a would-be Grand National winner.

18/1

14/1

  • Place: £3.60

Form: 31581- D

Last run: 195 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on chasing debut in Ireland last summer but, with cheekpieces added, subsequently developed into a useful staying handicap hurdler for Neil Mulholland, winning twice over 3m1f; versatile regarding ground; interesting to see how he fares on this second attempt at chasing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Transmission

10st 13lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Tapped back into last season's initial promising form, and then some, to win by 12l in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh (3m7f, good to soft; from Rock My Way) in February with a first-time visor, which has been kept since; ridden by 7lb claimer when fair third off this 8lb higher mark behind Havaila in the Sussex National at Plumpton 19 days ago but needs to hit new heights again.

16/1

3rd

1

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 104y

Class 2

16:25 Plumpton

Transmission

12st 0lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Neil Mulholland

Tapped back into last season's promising form, and then some, to win by 12l in a first-time visor at Musselburgh (3m7f, good to soft; Edinburgh National) in February; has also won on good ground and 2-2 over hurdles here; an 8lb rise may not stop him if the visor maintains its positive effect.

7/2

1st

3

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 76y

Class 2

15:05 Musselburgh

Transmission

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Cheltenham regular over fences and competitive off slightly higher marks than this last season, never-nearer fifth in the NH Chase when shaping as if he stayed 3m6f; that's not been the case this campaign and although a good deal closer at Ascot last time, he was still only eighth of ten finishers; needs to build markedly on that in new visor, replacing cheekpieces.

9/2

Form: 3310-3

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Won novice hurdle on debut for Fergal O'Brien in February then rejoined John McConnell after a poor handicap run in April; just a respectable third in recent Punchestown beginners' chase (2m, good to yielding) but that was his first start for six months and he ought to be seen to better effect on this return to 3m; a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

9

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

12:45 Haydock

Moon Dorange

10st 8lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: John C McConnell

Inconsistent chaser who's saved his best for Cheltenham in 2025 and 2026, including a win (his only handicap success) in January 2025 and third at the Festival this March; both were over an extended 2m4f and he's shown his form only once from seven attempts under rules over 3m+; not the percentage call.

16/1

7th

9

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Moon Dorange

10st 10lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: John C McConnell

9lb higher when beaten 3.5l by Riskintheground 12 months ago; 0-10 in the meantime but the new visor worked well when a never-nearer third in the Plate at Cheltenham last month and clear claims if he can back that up.

9/1

3rd

22

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Moon Dorange

10st 2lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: John C McConnell

Pulled up in the 2m4f novice handicap here last March but that was out of character as he had won over that C&D the time before and generally has a good track record; not much of a force this season, though, and he doesn't look in enough form to take advantage of a weights drop; often wears headgear, first-time visor today.

50/1

Form: 232F0-

Last run: 197 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
0-4 over fences last season and well beaten when reverting to hurdles at Aintree festival in April; however, his second to subsequent dual Grade 1 runner-up Ginny's Destiny here (2m4f, good to soft) in January reads very well and he should be fine over this trip; sports first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:40 Newbury

Theatre Man

11st 1lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Launched chasing career with three good runs last season but fell next time and suffered heavy defeats in his three starts since; this should be a good mark but plenty now seems to depend on January's wind surgery.

5/1

4th

2

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

13:42 Uttoxeter

Theatre Man

11st 6lb

J: David Bass

T: Richard J Bandey

Launched chasing career with three good runs last season, most notably when chasing home subsequent dual Grade 1 runner-up Ginny's Destiny at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) in January; holds strong claims here if judged on that evidence but was a disappointing favourite when returned to Cheltenham for seasonal debut in October and needs to rebound.

4/1

4th

2

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

13:42 Uttoxeter

Theatre Man

11st 6lb

J: David Bass

T: Richard J Bandey

Launched chasing career with three good runs last season, most notably when chasing home subsequent dual Grade 1 runner-up Ginny's Destiny at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) in January; holds strong claims here if judged on that evidence but was a disappointing favourite when returned to Cheltenham for seasonal debut in October and needs to rebound.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: P530-6

Last run: 175 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Placed in major handicap at Kempton (3m, soft) in February and has the ability to feature here if on song after his break, but this inconsistent 8yo is 0-11 over fences over last two seasons and would appeal more on slower ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

16:50 Fakenham

Bowtogreatness

12st 6lb

J: Mr Dale Peters

T: D Peters

Winless away from galloping tracks, but recorded some of his best RPRs in Graded chases around Kempton and the Mildmay Course; still capable of fairly useful form little more than a year ago, and right in the mix if racing more sparingly with the hood debuted latest quickly discarded.

2/1

1

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:50 Leicester

Bowtogreatness

12st 4lb

J: Mr Dale Peters

T: D Peters

Has made the frame in a couple of points this winter for new yard; fairly useful for previous stable and, accordingly, is one of the main players on ratings in this hunter chase debut; hood applied.

9/1

11

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 1

15:15 Doncaster

Bowtogreatness

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

towards rear

14/1

Form: 33P-41

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Third of 22 in valuable Leopardstown handicap hurdle when upped to 3m in February and began chasing career with clearcut success at Listowel (2m6f, also on soft) last month; may not be ideally suited by the faster ground here but still commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 19y

14:25 Leopardstown

Yeats Star

10st 10lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

All three wins came on soft over shorter trips; has looked in the handicapper's grasp over both hurdles and fences of late; cheekpieces now tried.

40/1

9

19th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:15 Limerick

Yeats Star

11st 2lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Very useful handicap hurdler on his day but yet to make any further progress over fences since winning Listowel beginners' chase last season; went close at Perth last time, faces a much harder task in a handicap of this standard.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £40.20
Straight Forecast £36.07
Trifecta £109.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Theatre Man

POSTDATA:

Bowtogreatness

The Times:

Yeats Star

Daily Mirror:

Hyland

The Sun:

Yeats Star

Daily Record:

Yeats Star

RP RATINGS:

Theatre Man

TOPSPEED:

Theatre Man

LAMBOURN:

Theatre Man

Telegraph:

Theatre Man

The Guardian:

Theatre Man

Daily Mail:

Theatre Man

WEST COUNTRY:

Bowtogreatness

D Express:

Bowtogreatness

The Star:

Bowtogreatness