December 26 / 13.20 Kempton

13.20

Good

Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £56950
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV
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Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 2-1411 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Useful hurdler but a superior chaser, now 3-4 in this discipline after back-to-back wins over 3m at Cheltenham (good); jumped well when making all last time, repelling a respected rival by half a length; nagging concern that all seven career wins have come on left-handed tracks but he commands respect.
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

Form: 10-212 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Finished behind The Jukebox Man when they clashed over hurdles and again at Newbury last month (on second chase start) when perhaps flattered to finish within 2l of Ben Pauling's 6yo; has a fighting chance of being involved but looks vulnerable from a win perspective.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:43 Ayr

Masaccio

12st 0lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Flat-bred gelding who hasn't convinced on two previous attempts at 3m, the latest a Grade 1 novice at Kempton in December; however, he rallied for third at Cheltenham (nearly 2m5f, soft) in January and kept on well when filling the same position in the Plate at the Festival (extended 2m4f, good to soft); worth another go at this trip and could have a part to play.

3/1

1st

1

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:43 Ayr

Masaccio

12st 0lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

in touch with leaders

3/1

3rd

9

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Masaccio

11st 1lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Found immediate improvement for the switch to fences when winning on chase debut at Newbury (2m4f, good) in November; useful, persevering efforts in two good 2m4f races since, on that track and when third to Jagwar in a well-contested C&D handicap, and a truly run race kept to this trip will suit; has win possibilities if fitting cheekpieces brisks him up.

7/1

Form: 1322-1

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Competitive in 2m4f-3m Grade 1s as a novice hurdler and only some late idling cost him the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival; built for chasing and made the perfect start at Newbury in a traditionally strong Grade 2 (2m4f, good to soft), beating Masaccio by 2l after a sure-footed round of jumping; this is his first time racing right-handed under rules but he's exciting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

11

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

The Jukebox Man

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Cruelly caught in the final strides in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle here (3m, heavy) in March 2024; 2-2 in novice chases last season (including Grade 1) and, after missing last year's Festival due to injury, he made it 2-2 this term and 4-4 over fences when winning the King George (3m, good) in December, narrowly in a breathtaking four-way finish (Gaelic Warrior third, Jango Baie fourth); the way he rallied to edge back in front at Kempton provides optimism regarding today's stiffer test and he's a key player.

7/2

Form: 2128-4

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced hurdler who finished runner-up in a Grade 2 novice (3m, good) last winter; ran as though his reappearance race would bring him on, tiring late on in a Grade 2 novice chase at Sandown (3m, soft; wore first-time tongue-tie following a second wind op); retains significant potential and his stable has won this five times before.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

23rd Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Welcom To Cartries

11st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Contrasting performances since switched to handicap chases, winning narrowly at Sandown then folding tamely at Ascot, both over 3m; presents a dilemma but could have more to offer provided he's back on song and it's too soon to write him off.

3/1

3

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 3

13:00 Ascot

Welcom To Cartries

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Lightly raced 8yo who held on narrowly at Sandown (3m, good to soft; handicap chase debut) most recently, adding to his point/hurdle wins and posting a career-best performance; may be capable of further improvement in this sphere and commands respect.

4/1

Form: 134-11 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Inferior hurdler to some of today's rivals but he had a good strike-rate of 5-12 and he's now 2-2 as a chaser after winning a Haydock handicap (2m5f, soft; has won on good) without too much fuss; has been progressing for a good while now and he's not to be passed over lightly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 1y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

White Rhino

11st 9lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Big progress as hurdler initially last term (2m4f-3m) and also won handicaps when switched to chasing for first two starts this season (up to an extended 2m5f); 12-1 but unseated early for 3m Grade 1 novice at Kempton on Boxing Day (has similar Cheltenham entry); has a question to answer with new trip but, barring mishaps, best days are still ahead of him.

5/1

Betting Forcast

7/2 Hyland, 9/2 Masaccio, 10/11 The Jukebox Man, 12/1 Welcom To Cartries, 7/1 White Rhino

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Jukebox Man

POSTDATA:

Hyland

TOPSPEED:

Masaccio

RP RATINGS:

The Jukebox Man

WEST COUNTRY:

The Jukebox Man

The Times:

The Jukebox Man

The Guardian:

The Jukebox Man

Daily Mirror:

The Jukebox Man

The Sun:

The Jukebox Man

The Star:

The Jukebox Man

LAMBOURN:

Hyland

Telegraph:

Hyland

Daily Mail:

Hyland

Daily Record:

Hyland

D Express:

Masaccio