December 21 / 13.50 Ascot

13.50

Good To Soft

Howden Graduation Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £26015
  • 2m 5f 8y
  • Class 2
  • 4 runners
ITV4
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Howden Graduation Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50

Form: 1/416- D

Last run: 281 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Turns 11 soon but has only raced six times and this Grade 3 winner took his form to a new level when a 21l sixth in last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup (didn't appear to stay); absent since but commands the utmost respect back at this level; distance winner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

4

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Jungle Boogie

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Talented but delicate 12yo who has run just ten times over the years; conditions suit but he's been soundly beaten and pulled up in his two starts for new yard; will do very well to add to trainer's three wins in the race.

40/1

2

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Jungle Boogie

11st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Venetia Williams

Low-mileage 12yo; had a record of 3-3 for Willie Mullins and 2-5 for Henry de Bromhead, but he was tailed off on stable debut at Cheltenham (22-1) on New Year's Day and needs to have come on a ton in the 16 days since.

14/1

Form: 73-P21

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Grade 2-winning hurdler and yet has posted superior figures over fences, notably in defeat when highly tried; given too much to do when second in a Grade 2 on his return and was then gifted a Listed race at Thurles (2m6f; odds of 1-40 in a match); obvious claims, for all that it's not ideal him having to concede 3lb to two of his rivals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(7)

2nd Sep 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

17:37 Gowran Park

Fil Dor

9st 9lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart jumper with four wins over hurdles and two over fences including in Grade 2 company; was runner-up on sole Flat start in France in 2021 over this trip; might find this trip a bit sharp now but should run a big race.

11/2

2nd

3

20th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

15:57 Cork

Fil Dor

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in

100/30

2nd

3

20th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

15:57 Cork

Fil Dor

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in

100/30

Form: 4372-F D

Last run: 234 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 155

Form & Verdict
Sole win in 11 chases came in a beginners' event but has run some mighty races in defeat, notably over this trip in last year's Topham when reeled in late on under a big weight; off since suffering a crunching fall at Punchestown in May but has every chance on all the figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

28th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 90y

16:08 Navan

James Du Berlais

11st 3lb

J: J J Slevin

T: W P Mullins

Modest strike rate over fences (2-19); smart handicap form; second in the 2024 Topham; won at the Punchestown festival last April; out of his depth in the John Durkan on reappearance; last of three in the Howden at Ascot, squeezed for room and failed to pick up from the last; justified his second-favourite status when chasing home Appreciate It at Thurles.

11/4

2nd

4

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 66y

15:20 Thurles

James Du Berlais

11st 3lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Modest strike over fences (2-18); however, one of those wins came in fine style in a handicap at the Punchestown festival (2m4f, yielding) last April; no impact when 50-1 in the John Durkan on reappearance; outsider of three in the Howden at Ascot, got squeezed for room and failed to pick up form the last; capable of better

4/1

1st

2

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 80y

18:05 Punchestown

James Du Berlais

11st 11lb

J: J J Slevin

T: W P Mullins

held up in rear

8/1

Form: /152-2 D BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Last season's injury-hit novice chase campaign concluded with Grade 1 second at Aintree (3m1f, soft); Grand National is the ultimate goal this season but he's highly effective at this trip, over which he made an excellent return to action at Haydock where the smart winner got first run; hard to knock.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

13

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Iroko

11st 1lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Staying-on fourth in last season's Grand National (good to soft) off 5lb lower as just a 7yo; a second crack at it has been his main target this term but he looked better than ever when winning from Firefox in a hot, three-runner race at Ascot (2m5f; second run after wind surgery) in December and had an excuse (scoped dirty) at the Cheltenham Festival last month; has to be in serious calculations.

14/1

10th

1

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Iroko

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Fourth in last season's Grand National (4m2f, good to soft) off 5lb lower; the big one at Aintree is again his main target but this 8yo looked better than ever when winning a hot, three-runner graduation chase at Ascot (2m5f, good to soft) in December and on that evidence he's entitled to considerable respect off his revised mark; won the Martin Pipe Hurdle at the 2023 Festival.

6/1

4th

18

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Iroko

10st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Noble Yeats three years ago showed a 7yo can still win the National; this one has spent most of his career at about 2m4f/2m5f and his three appearances over 2m7f-3m1f were defeats but they were among his best efforts (two were Grade 1 novice places here) and contained mouthwatering suggestions of stamina not yet called upon; it is today and there's almost no doubt he remains capable of better.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.90
Straight Forecast £22.86
Trifecta £34.60

Selections

POSTDATA:

Iroko

RP RATINGS:

Jungle Boogie

SPOTLIGHT:

James Du Berlais

Daily Record:

Fil Dor

The Times:

Iroko

D Express:

Iroko

Daily Mirror:

Iroko

The Sun:

Iroko

The Star:

Iroko

Daily Mail:

James Du Berlais

TOPSPEED:

Jungle Boogie

Telegraph:

Jungle Boogie

The Guardian:

Jungle Boogie