January 01 / 13.30 Cheltenham

13.30

Soft

Betfair Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £26015
  • 3m 1f 56y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
ITV
View Course
Betfair Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.00
  • Place: £2.80

Form: 409-55 CD

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 13lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Beaten off lower marks since returned to hurdles; smart chaser in his prime and has won notable prizes at Cheltenham but not seen over fences since taking a fall in late 2022; not sure what to expect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

14

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Chantry House

10st 13lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Very smart in his heyday; returned to chasing at Cheltenham (extended 3m1f, soft) on New Year's Day and looked much more like his old self, asserting late on in a five-runner handicap; however, he singularly failed to back that up in a Grade 2 over that same C&D over three weeks later.

80/1

16th

14

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Chantry House

10st 13lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Very smart in his heyday; returned to chasing at Cheltenham (extended 3m1f, soft) on New Year's Day and looked much more like his old self, asserting late on in a five-runner handicap; however, he singularly failed to back that up in a Grade 2 over that same C&D over three weeks later.

80/1

5th

3

25th Jan 2025

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Chantry House

11st 4lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

towards rear, in touch with leaders 7th, weakened before 2 out, lost fourth run-in

7/1

3/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 0/7F-2

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Successful in two notable handicaps (3m, good) in the 2022-23 campaign; finished second at this course (3m2f, good to soft) last month on return from layoff, showing he retains plenty of ability; major contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Our Power

10st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Withdrawn from Scottish National last week due to the heavy ground; 6lb lower than this time last year (when third in the Scottish National) as he's not fired on all cylinders this term, but excuses can be made; he's won two major 3m handicaps going right-handed (Ascot and Kempton) on good ground, back in the 2022-23 season admittedly but this 11yo may be dangerous to dismiss, including as first-time blinkers replace his usual cheekpieces.

20/1

Form: 0-651P

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Made all at Newbury (2m7f, good) in November, belatedly opening his chase account; failed to back up that form last time, having been pestered up front; chance may depend on whether he gets his own way.
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: 135-32 CD BF

Last run: 32 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft; second-season chaser who ran well for second when favourite for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f) on latest start and that form has received a couple of boosts since; 3-5 at Cheltenham; strongly respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

23

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Broadway Boy

10st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Started this season brightly, notably when second to Kandoo Kid in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft); he'd have a good shout judged on that display and going beyond 3m2f made plenty of appeal even before that; however, he disappointed at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and ran badly there last month; cheekpieces (tried at this meeting last year, tailed off) return.

66/1

23

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Broadway Boy

10st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Started this season brightly, notably when second to Kandoo Kid in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft); he'd have a good shout judged on that display and going beyond 3m2f made plenty of appeal even before that; however, he disappointed at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and ran badly there last month; cheekpieces (tried at this meeting last year, tailed off) return.

66/1

3

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Broadway Boy

11st 12lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Didn't jump fluently when below par here on New Year's Day; however, he's reportedly had his knees medicated since and two starts ago was a fine second in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft); two wins here (3m/3m2f) during last season's novice campaign; in the mix if back on song.

7/1

Form: 253P-1 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 9lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Justified favouritism in veterans' event at Haydock (3m1f, soft) last month but has gone back up the weights and this is a harder task; beaten (third of five) in this race last year and is now 2lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

23rd Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

16:30 Carlisle

Cloudy Glen

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

led at steady pace, faced challenges from 13th, not fluent 14th, headed and lost second 3 out, soon lost third, lost touch from 2 out, tailed off

7/1

8th

3

1st Mar 2025

Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

13:20 Newbury

Cloudy Glen

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

disputed lead

10/1

5th

3

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 2

15:00 Exeter

Cloudy Glen

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Venetia Williams

Has an excellent reappearance record and won at Haydock (3m1f, soft) in December following a break; however, two lesser performances have followed from this 12yo and he needs to raise his game.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £51.70
Straight Forecast £52.18
Trifecta £123.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Broadway Boy

TOPSPEED:

Bowtogreatness

The Guardian:

Our Power

LAMBOURN:

Chantry House

POSTDATA:

Cloudy Glen

RP RATINGS:

Broadway Boy

WEST COUNTRY:

Broadway Boy

The Times:

Broadway Boy

Telegraph:

Broadway Boy

Daily Mail:

Broadway Boy

D Express:

Broadway Boy

The Sun:

Broadway Boy

Daily Mirror:

Bowtogreatness

The Star:

Bowtogreatness

Daily Record:

Our Power