March 12 / 14.00 Cheltenham

14.00

Good To Soft

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices’ Chase) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £112540
  • 3m 0f 110y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
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Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices’ Chase) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

16/1 (Won)

  • Win: £22.90
  • Place: £5.70

Form: 35-511

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Just shy of the best novice hurdlers last season but 2-2 front-running over fences, much improved in Grade 3 at Punchestown (extended 2m3f, soft) last time despite dicey jumping; could play the hare again but it's hard to see him staying away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Lecky Watson

11st 2lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Unraced beyond 3m2f; came into his own as a novice last term, notably in the 3m Grade 1 at Cheltenham Festival which he won by 4l from Stellar Story; no impact at the top level in Ireland this season and he clambered over the final fence on his way to a heavy defeat behind several of today's rivals in a Grade 3 last time, so current prospects don't look so bright.

33/1

8th

1

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 2f 0y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Lecky Watson

11st 12lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Leading novice chaser last season, unbeaten in three completed starts; beat Stellar Story by 4l in the Brown Advisory but fell at the fifth at the Punchestown festival; never sighted in the John Durkan on return and soundly beaten in the Savills (ahead of Stellar Story but behind Grangeclare West); pulled up in the Irish Gold Cup last time; top-weight looks up against it.

14/1

10

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Lecky Watson

11st 10lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

A leading novice chaser last season when unbeaten in three completed starts; took advantage of Ballyburn's failure to beat Stellar Story in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham; fell at the fifth in a 3m1f Grade 1 event won by Champ Kiely at the Punchestown festival; never involved in the John Durkan on reappearance; soundly beaten in the Savills.

33/1

10/1

  • Place: £4.40

Form: 1-4142 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
Last-gasp win in last year's Albert Bartlett here (3m, heavy) was the highlight of his hurdles career; took three runs to match that level over fences, closing to the line on Better Days Ahead at Navan (3m, soft to heavy) 31 days ago; it's likely he would appreciate a stiffer test than spring ground is likely to provide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Stellar Story

10st 11lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Gordon Elliott

Second to Lecky Watson in the 3m Grade 1 novice at Cheltenham last March; while comfortably dismissed in the closing stages of his three starts this winter, the first two of those were Grade 1 events and giving 8lb to Grangeclare West and Gerri Colombe at Fairyhouse (blinkers replaced cheekpieces) on latest outing makes that result look a whole lot better; above all, perhaps, while unraced beyond 3m2f, he has strongly suggested on plenty of occasions that he has serious stamina reserves; each-way appeal.

28/1

3rd

2

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 2f 0y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Stellar Story

11st 8lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Won Grade 2 novice chase at Punchestown (3m, soft) last season and 4l second to Lecky Watson in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham; made little impression in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on return and down the field in the Savills; a winner of the 2024 Albert Bartlett on heavy, he should relish the ground but race conditions don't favour him; tongue tie and blinkers go on for the first time.

10/1

Form: 1-3121 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Won the Martin Pipe at this meeting in 2024 then third to Dancing City in 3m Grade 1 at Punchestown; 2-3 over fences, not having to improve when holding on in Grade 2 at Navan last time (3m, soft to heavy) but he did jump notably well; may have to settle for minor honours again at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

28th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 90y

16:08 Navan

Better Days Ahead

11st 8lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Won the 2024 Martin Pipe, then third to Dancing City in 3m Grade 1 at Punchestown; won two small-field Grade 2 chases at this venue last season and finished third in the Brown Advisory; sixth in the Irish Grand National; returned with a satisfactory second behind a shorter-priced stablemate in the Boyne Hurdle here; capable sort is again the stable's number two.

7/2

2nd

5

8th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 180y

14:50 Navan

Better Days Ahead

11st 3lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Won the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham two seasons ago, then third to Dancing City in 3m Grade 1 at Punchestown; won two small-field Grade 2 chases at this venue last season and finished third in the Brown Advisory; sixth in the Irish Grand National, running off a mark of 154; hurdles rating of 145 is the lowest of this sextet.

9/2

6th

1

21st Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

3m 5f 37y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Better Days Ahead

11st 12lb

J: Mr R James

T: Gordon Elliott

Won the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last year, then third to Dancing City in 3m Grade 1 at Punchestown; 2-4 over fences, including Grade 2 at Navan over 3m on soft to heavy, when jumped notably well; on better ground, failed to confirm form with Stellar Story when third in the Brown Advisory; big burden for a novice, rider's 7lb claim a major asset.

11/1

Form: 101F14

Last run: 101 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Made hay in the autumn over fences, winning twice including a Grade 3 at Cork (2m4f, good) in November; close fourth in Grade 1 at Fairyhouse (2m4f, yielding) when last seen in early December and likely to come up short here unless spring ground stumps his rivals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

24

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Gorgeous Tom

10st 9lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Henry De Bromhead

Fourth behind two of these in 3m Grade 1 novice event at Cheltenham last March; ran creditably all three starts this winter, notably 11l fourth of 24 off this mark to Panic Attack at Newbury (3m2f) in November when he stuck to his task very well having been left at the shambolic start; improvement is needed but that race gave encouragement for longer trips and his dam is half-sister to Cappa Bleu who was placed in this race in 2012 and 2013.

22/1

5th

2

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 120y

16:25 Leopardstown

Gorgeous Tom

11st 11lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Novice wins came at up to 2m4f but some good runs over further, including latest when fourth of 24 in 3m2f Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November on handicap debut; has form on heavy; should go well.

11/2

2nd

2

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 120y

15:15 Down Royal

Gorgeous Tom

11st 7lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won a Grade 3 novice at Cork last year and flew home when beaten just 1l in fourth behind Croke Park and Firefox in the Drinmore; ran well enough in defeat when fourth in Grade 1 novice at Cheltenham; not as good at Punchestown in April; can go well if ready to rock on seasonal reappearance but wouldn't want too much rain.

11/4

Form: 1-1121 C

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Brilliant winner of the Turners Novices' Hurdle at this meeting last year; 2-3 over fences, losing to only Sir Gino, but jumping has been sketchy at times and it took until after the last for him to assert in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown (extended 2m5f, yielding) last month; that, plus his stout pedigree, gives hope he will stay and he looks the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Ballyburn

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Displayed superstar potential when easily winning the 2m5f Grade 1 novice hurdle here in 2024; mixed campaign over fences last term and he's reverted to hurdles this season, going very close behind Teahupoo in Grade 1 Hatton's Grace (2m4f, yielding to soft) before 14l third to that rival in Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle (2m7f, good to yielding); the first-time hood could help this headstrong 8yo settle but he may again be vulnerable to stronger stayers.

8/1

2nd

1

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 213y

16:50 Punchestown

Ballyburn

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

raced in second, not fluent 5th, led halfway, joined briefly 5 out, pushed along before 2 out, headed after 2 out, kept on, no match for winner

11/8

OUR TIP

Form: 31-111 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Won three Grade 1 novice hurdles last season, including on good to yielding ground at Punchestown, and third in the Albert Bartlett here; jumped well and stayed on stoutly when winning his more recent start over fences in Grade 3 at Naas (3m1f, heavy) in January; likely to prove Ballyburn's main challenge, but the stiffer the test the better for him and spring ground may not help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Dancing City

10st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: W P Mullins

Three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including twice last spring, and he began his chasing career in promising style with two wins this winter; there have since been significant reverses when well beaten at Cheltenham and falling at Aintree, both in Grade 1s over about 3m, but he'd previously suggested a strength in stamina which gives this test some appeal.

6/1

4

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Dancing City

10st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: W P Mullins

Three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including twice last spring, and he began his chasing career in promising style with two wins this winter; there have since been significant reverses when well beaten at Cheltenham and falling at Aintree, both in Grade 1s over about 3m, but he'd previously suggested a strength in stamina which gives this test some appeal.

6/1

2

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Dancing City

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Has finished behind Stellar Story at the last two Cheltenham Festivals but was hindered by being pestered up front in latest; otherwise a smart stayer who retains the potential to land a top prize over fences, having been a three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including on this card 12 months ago; remains of major interest.

3/1

Form: 131-31

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Third behind Better Days Ahead in last year's Martin Pipe here; won over fences at the second time of asking at Gowran Park (2m4f, soft to heavy) in January but needs to step up significantly on that in this quality of field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

26

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Quai De Bourbon

10st 9lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: W P Mullins

Third in the 3m5f Irish National last April, despite an indifferent round of jumping, and third of 16 with cheekpieces at Leopardstown on latest outing was his best form, despite just the 2m5f; kept jumping out to his right in the latter and although a case can be made for him, it would have to gloss over that he's completed only four of his eight chases.

25/1

3rd

1

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 120y

16:25 Leopardstown

Quai De Bourbon

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Won 2m4f Gowran beginners' chase last season but completion record since has been poor, standout run when good third in 3m5f Irish National, despite indifferent round of jumping; pulled up both outings this term in 3m handicaps, in Troytown at Navan and after a hesitant round of jumping in Thyestes at Gowran in January; hard to be confident in.

7/1

3

22nd Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 0y

15:30 Gowran Park

Quai De Bourbon

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Won 2m4f beginners' event on this card last year; made a bad mistake and unseated rider four out in the Brown Advisory; making progress when brought down four out in the Mildmay; fine effort, despite an indifferent round of jumping, when third in the Irish Grand National; weakened from five out when favourite for the Troytown at Navan on seasonal debut.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £343.90
Straight Forecast £281.00
Trifecta £950.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ballyburn

Daily Mail:

Dancing City

The Times:

Quai De Bourbon

The Sun:

Gorgeous Tom

RP RATINGS:

Ballyburn

TOPSPEED:

Ballyburn

POSTDATA:

Ballyburn

Telegraph:

Ballyburn

The Guardian:

Ballyburn

Daily Mirror:

Ballyburn

The Star:

Ballyburn

D Express:

Dancing City

Daily Record:

Dancing City