January 19 / 12.10 Windsor

12.10

Soft

Hampton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £28475
  • 3m 0f 53y
  • Class 1
  • 3 runners
SKY
View Course
Hampton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 3 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sleet

OUR TIP

8/13 (Won)

  • Win: £1.45

Form: 211P-1

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Disappointed in Grade 1 novice hurdle at last year's Cheltenham Festival, but looked promising beforehand and created very good impression when readily drawing clear of a next-time-out winner on last month's seasonal/chasing debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft); moves up in trip today; the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 1

16:02 Sandown

Jingko Blue

11st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Has shown good form over 2m4f/2m5f at Cheltenham this term, finishing second to Kabral Du Mathan in Grade 2 and recording an emphatic success from the front in Festival handicap; failed to get home in 3m Grade 1 at Aintree last time; one of the main contenders, back down in distance.

11/2

6th

8

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

15:05 Aintree

Jingko Blue

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Runner-up in Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham in January (2m4f, good; no match for Kabral Du Mathan) when his jumping lacked fluency, then convincing winner of the BetMGM Cup (Handicap) at Cheltenham (2m5f, good to soft) last month; he should be fine now back up in trip, having won a 3m Grade 2 novice chase last season, and this unexposed 7yo could have a part to play.

11/2

1st

10

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Jingko Blue

11st 3lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Unseated last February in his third chase but won the previous two and that form makes this hurdles mark look highly tempting; second to a fine prospect over hurdles here on New Year's Day (Lucky Place third) suggested he's on his way back; bold show likely for a top trainer with three solid candidates.

10/1

Form: 2-4211

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
4-5 as a novice hurdler last season and 2-3 since switched to fences in the autumn, the wins gained in 2m3f handicaps at Exeter and Chepstow (both on soft); did it in pretty good style last time and could quite plausibly have untapped potential over 3m; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

15:32 Newbury

Lowrys Bar

11st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Largely progressive prior to bleeding from the nose on his final start last season (February) and he did not show much when pulled up again here in November, albeit in a top 3m2f handicap chase (22-1); this is his first hurdle race since October 2024 and there are plenty of reasons to believe he's well handicapped if all is well with him.

7/1

1

22nd Feb 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Kempton

Lowrys Bar

12st 0lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

in touch with leaders

11/2

Form: 84-133 BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
A very useful novice hurdler last season and won a tactical three-runner novice chase at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) on reappearance in October; safely held when third in two subsequent Grade 2 novice chases (2m4f/2m3f), though, and will need to raise his game on this return to 3m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

33

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Johnnywho

10st 4lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Fine over these fences in November; laboured from before three out when a well-beaten fifth to Haiti Couleurs in Irish National last April; that was in the mud, though, and his top efforts have been on good to soft; they include his neck second in the 3m2f Kim Muir at Cheltenham last March and, equipped with first-time cheekpieces after wind surgery, a 3m1f win from Jagwar at this year's Festival; able to race here off the same mark as last time (due to go up 6lb) and he wasn't stopping in either of those big races at Cheltenham; seriously considered.

12/1

1st

7

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Johnnywho

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Neck second in the Kim Muir here (3m2f, good to soft) 12 months ago; promise in defeat on his first two runs this season; not quite at the top of his game at Haydock last time but wind op since and cheekpieces are added; remains one to be interested in, especially given his Festival form.

11/1

5th

2

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:00 Haydock

Johnnywho

11st 1lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Beaten just a neck in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival (3m2f, good to soft) last March and finished strongly for close third in the Silver Cup at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last month; every chance he'll be bang there.

3/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.00
Straight Forecast £2.31
Trifecta £2.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jingko Blue

TOPSPEED:

Lowry's Bar

POSTDATA:

Lowry's Bar

Telegraph:

Lowry's Bar

D Express:

Lowry's Bar

The Star:

Lowry's Bar

RP RATINGS:

Jingko Blue

LAMBOURN:

Jingko Blue

The Times:

Jingko Blue

Daily Mirror:

Jingko Blue

The Sun:

Jingko Blue

Daily Record:

Jingko Blue