November 23 / 13.30 Ascot

13.30

Good

Copybet 1965 Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £45560
  • 2m 5f 8y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
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Copybet 1965 Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

4/9 (Won)

  • Win: £1.45

Form: /121P- CD

Last run: 225 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 161

Form & Verdict
A rare poor run when failing to fire at Aintree on his final start of last season; prior to that, his form figures following his previous wind operation were 11121121, including a runaway success in this last year (helped by Shishkin's refusal to race) and another over C&D in February, that time at the highest level when comfortably making all to beat the high-class L'Homme Presse; goes exceptionally well when fresh and hard to oppose even with his penalty; likes to front-run but doesn't have to.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Pic DOrhy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

11yo who looked as good as ever when runner-up in a captivating battle with Jonbon in the Ascot Chase (2m5f, good to soft) in February, when bidding to win that Grade 1 for the third consecutive year; won the Grade 1 Melling Chase here (2m4f, soft) in 2023; seemed fine at 3m when 1l second in this season's Charlie Hall (good) and his trainer has won this race six times; no surprise to see a bold bid from this front-runner, who is not ruled out.

14/1

2nd

6

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Pic DOrhy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Smart front-runner whose record of 5-9 over fences at Ascot features emphatic wins in this race for the last two years (good/good to soft; has scored on soft); had excuses (soon taken on for lead, race possibly came too soon after reappearance) over C&D in November when last seen, failing to land the 1965 Chase for a third time; perhaps best caught fresh nowadays and, assuming he's able to dominate, commands respect in another hat-trick attempt.

7/4

2

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

Pic DOrhy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Multiple Grade 2 chase winner who has also won three Grade 1s (good-soft), the latest being the 2m5f Ascot Chase in February; this 10yo is unproven beyond that trip and unraced over 3m, but there's every chance he'll stay and he goes well fresh; key player under 6lb penalty if seeing it out.

9/2

Form: -14115 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Progressive this year (from 2m5f to 3m) but couldn't bridge the class-gap in a Grade 3 handicap here three weeks ago and this is tougher again; relying on all his rivals being below par.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

23rd Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 8y

Class 1

13:30 Ascot

Hidden Depths

11st 4lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders, ridden and went second just after last, kept on

50/1

2nd

5

23rd Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 8y

Class 1

13:30 Ascot

Hidden Depths

11st 4lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders, ridden and went second just after last, kept on

50/1

5th

11

2nd Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

Hidden Depths

10st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

held up in rear, midfield 10th, outpaced from 2 out, stayed on run-in

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 13487- CD

Last run: 224 days

W: 11st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Admirable veteran who ran his usual honest race in quality staying hurdles last season but now returns to fences for the first time since his second in a 3m1f Grade 2 at Aintree two years ago; switching back to this discipline shouldn't be a problem but dropping to 2m5f could be.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 213y

Class 2

15:50 Cheltenham

Dashel Drasher

12st 1lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

Hasn't been running badly over fences this season but he's clearly not the force of old and he would prefer softer ground for this return to hurdling.

10/1

6th

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 213y

Class 2

15:50 Cheltenham

Dashel Drasher

12st 1lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

Hasn't been running badly over fences this season but he's clearly not the force of old and he would prefer softer ground for this return to hurdling.

10/1

Form: 2P-778 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Has run well here but seems to save his best for Kempton; hard to envisage him posing a threat at this level after his recent struggles in handicaps, this season at 2m3f and 3m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:55 Kempton

Flegmatik

11st 11lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Three-time course winner (2m4f-3m); not quite at best this season but handicapped according, and went down fighting when a clear second here (2m4f, good) last month; likely contender.

9/4

2nd

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:55 Kempton

Flegmatik

11st 11lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Three-time course winner (2m4f-3m); not quite at best this season but handicapped according, and went down fighting when a clear second here (2m4f, good) last month; likely contender.

9/4

Non-runners

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Payout
Exacta £8.90
Straight Forecast £8.32
Trifecta £13.50

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