April 26 / 15.35 Sandown

15.35

Good

bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £99662.5
  • 1m 7f 99y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV
View Course
bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.70
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 2131-1 D

Last run: 359 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Top-class novice chaser from 2m to 2m4f, winning his third Grade 1 over fences (also won at that level hurdling) when flooring the Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior on yielding ground at Punchestown last May; this is a huge ask after almost 12 months off but he is trained by a genius; he could give Jonbon something to think about.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 98y

18:05 Punchestown

Il Etait Temps

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Ground versatile; not the biggest in stature but a hugely talented performer who has won eight of his 11 chase starts, including six Grade 1s; bolted up in the Champion Chase on latest, immediately bouncing back from a rare blip at Sandown; won a Grade 1 novice over C&D at this meeting last year and he's preferred by Townend; leading chance.

7/4

1st

4

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Il Etait Temps

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Acts on any ground; small in stature but big in talent and his record of 7-10 over fences features five Grade 1 wins, the most recent impressively in this season's Tingle Creek at Sandown; not bombproof in this scenario as he's 0-3 at the Cheltenham Festival (finishing positions 553) and was let down by his jumping in the 2024 Arkle, admittedly posting a good placed effort in the circumstances; possible denting of confidence is another concern as he was winded and took a while to get up from a late fall in the Clarence House most recently (under pressure and not responding when the tumble occurred); removal of usual hood adds to the uncertainty; otherwise a huge player provided he's in top form.

4/1

2

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

15:30 Ascot

Il Etait Temps

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Hugely likeable chaser who made it 7-9 over fences when slamming Jonbon by 9l in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft; fine on softer) six weeks ago; that represented another personal best and he's the clear pick on the ratings; has excellent credentials.

8/15

4/7

  • Place: £1.10

Form: -11121 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 169

Form & Verdict
Again forgot his lines at the Cheltenham Festival where he stayed on for a never-dangerous second in the Champion Chase after an almighty blunder at halfway; has been his brilliant self otherwise this season and was only doing enough when ridden out for further top-level honours at Aintree (2m4f, good); has won the last two editions of this race and made it 5-5 at the track in the Tingle Creek on his last visit in December; Mark Walsh replaces the injured Nico De Boinville; hard to oppose.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Jonbon

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Has maintained an incredibly high standard in Grade 1s over 2m but, although he has won here, his rare reverses have come on this track; no longer quite the speedster he used to be at 2m and the extra stamina test was a help when winning at Ascot (about 2m5f, good to soft) last month, where he could have settled for second had his enduring will to win not come to his aid; now defends a strike-rate of 3-3 at about this trip but it remains to be seen whether he can rise to this very big occasion.

13/2

1st

5

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Jonbon

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Acts on any ground; yet to finish out of the first two; formerly dominant at shorter but has lost a bit of his speed and was aided by the stiff test over the 2m1f trip at Ascot (soft) most recently, recording a second success in the Clarence House and 11th Grade 1 win; seems to be crying out for this step back up in distance and, still high class at the age of ten, may well add to his impressive tally; 2-2 over 2m4f, both in the Melling at Aintree; cheekpieces worn in last two starts are retained.

8/15

Form: 11/12P D

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 163

Form & Verdict
Former main man in this division and defied his advancing years with a defeat of subsequent Cheltenham Festival heroine Dinoblue on his return from a long absence at Cork in December; however, he was swatted aside by Jonbon next time at Ascot and then folded tamely in the Champion Chase; as on those two occasions, today's ground will be livelier than ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 98y

18:05 Punchestown

Energumene

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Rolled back the years with a dominant win at Fairyhouse on latest, his first start at 2m4f for almost six years; won this in 2022 and 2023 but he's a 12yo now and Paul Townend prefers the chances of Il Etait Temps; probably vulnerable to younger legs dropped back in trip.

16/1

1st

1

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 180y

16:20 Fairyhouse

Energumene

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

High class operator in his pomp; has won eleven chases, including six at the top table; however, it seems like time is catching up with the 12yo and he was well held by Found A Fifty at Cork in December; tailed off at Leopardstown on latest in first-time cheekpieces (discarded); last ran at this trip in 2020; others preferred.

9/2

4th

1

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 0y

14:10 Leopardstown

Energumene

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Top-class chaser won the Champion Chase in 2022-23 while he previously won a Grade 1 novice over C&D; returned after a long absence last season and wasn't at his best, but still capable of smart form; was third to Found A Fifty in a Cork Grade 2 on return but will have to improve a fair bit on that; does handle testing ground well; cheekpieces added.

8/1

14/1

Form: -3F235 CD

Last run: 77 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
Grand servent to his connections but an 11yo now and was no match for Jonbon in this 12 months ago, which isn't the only time the Henderson horse has had his number; disappointed last time in the Game Spirit won by Master Chewy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

14:55 Sandown

Edwardstone

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Admirable veteran, albeit isn't quite the force of old and gained this season's win in substandard Grade 2 at Kempton (2m4f); also perhaps ideally suited by further than about 2m nowadays; beaten twice in this race.

33/1

3rd

1

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Edwardstone

12st 0lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

12yo whose career highlight came when winning the Tingle Creek in 2022; showed he retains considerable spark when winning Grade 2 at Kempton (2m4f, good) this January; he may prefer a longer trip than this nowadays but he's a leading player nevertheless now back in a handicap.

5/2

4th

3

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Edwardstone

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Acts on any ground; formerly a high-class chaser at about 2m, best form when winning the 2022 Tingle Creek; seems better suited by further nowadays and, despite his advancing years, managed to land a Grade 2 prize over 2m4f at Kempton most recently; recapturing Grade 1 honours at the age of 12 is not completely implausible, as he's technically still unexposed at this sort of trip and his two main rivals are also veterans.

10/1

Form: -52422 D BF

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Won last season's Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival and put up a sterling defence when runner-up last month; however, Jonbon comfortably has his measure on their previous clashes; lots to find on the figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

1st May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Warwick

Unexpected Party

12st 4lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Bled from the nose when a fading fourth in the Aintree Foxhunters latest (2m5f, good to soft), though still had Fan De Blues comfortably behind for the second time this year; more prolific on easier surfaces but Taunton win in January reaffirmed he's effective on good as well.

2/5

4th

22

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Unexpected Party

12st 0lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Won the Grand Annual at Cheltenham Festival in March 2024 (2m, soft) and runner-up in it last year (good to soft); comfortable wins in hunter chases on last two starts (2m5f/2m6f, good/good to soft); his stamina will be more severely tested in today's hotter company but leading claims if seeing it out.

4/1

1st

2

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 54y

Class 3

16:30 Haydock

Unexpected Party

12st 4lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Useful handicapper who won the Grand Annual Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival (2m, soft) and was second in that race last year (good to soft); did not need to be at best to make winning hunter chase debut at Taunton (2m5f, good; main rival disappointed) last month and ought to remain a potent threat at this level.

5/4

Form: -4F315 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 156

Form & Verdict
Smart novice last season, running well when falling in the Arkle and then nearly winning the equivalent at Aintree (good to soft); at least matched that form in winning the Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury in February and his Ryanair defeat can be attributed to the 2m4f; a good bet to give his running but he's relying on some of these being off their game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Master Chewy

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Finished a creditable close second of three finishers in a Grade 2 at Kempton (about 2m4f, good) in January but he's an infrequent winner and it's two years since he ran well in a Grade 1 (not far away when falling two out in the Arkle here, then touched off at Aintree); well adrift in this race last year and there's no reason to expect much better today.

100/1

5th

1

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:45 Newbury

Master Chewy

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Landed this prize last year but incurs a bigger penalty this time, making him worse off with runner-up Libberty Hunter, and concedes weight to some other notable rivals that include a very promising 5yo; outgunned by 12yo Edwardstone at Kempton most recently; chance of doing the Game Spirit double partly depends on how well he responds to first-time headgear.

11/1

2

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Master Chewy

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Unproven at this trip but kept on well to win Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury (2m, soft) in February and his two subsequent defeats came in Grade 1s; likes it here, with course form figures of 122, and he's fine on good ground; from in-form yard and can play leading role if seeing out the trip.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 52143P CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Highly talented but a quirky customer and even if on his best behaviour this looks far too tough a task for one who is essentially a quality handicapper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 2

15:40 Chepstow

Harpers Brook

11st 4lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Quirky customer who tends to idle when striking the front and needs to be produced with a well-timed challenge; on a good mark now and Kielan Woods knows his foibles well but he's seemingly on the downgrade and always comes with extra risk.

11/2

5th

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

15:13 Doncaster

Harpers Brook

10st 12lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Back in better form, albeit wilted a bit late on, at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) last time and remains below last winning mark but continues to carry risk, being a quirky sort.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.70
Straight Forecast £7.55
Trifecta £22.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jonbon

RP RATINGS:

Jonbon

TOPSPEED:

Jonbon

POSTDATA:

Jonbon

LAMBOURN:

Jonbon

The Times:

Jonbon

Telegraph:

Jonbon

The Guardian:

Jonbon

Daily Mail:

Jonbon

D Express:

Jonbon

Daily Mirror:

Jonbon

The Sun:

Jonbon

The Star:

Jonbon

Daily Record:

Jonbon