16.50
Yielding To SoftDooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £60950.41
- 3m 0f 213y
- 8 runners
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Runners: 8 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
33/1 (Won)
- Win: £23.00
- Place: £3.60
Form: 3/1413 BF
Last run: 9 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 150
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
Won the Grade 1 novice here last year, beating stablemate Ballyburn; has experienced a torrid campaign after starting off with a second placing over 2m; remote seventh behind Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup; not a bad effort in the Grand National; making up the numbers here. |
33/1 |
|
8th 12 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 1lb |
The furthest he's been is 3m1f in Grade 1 novice at Punchestown Festival (good to yielding) last April which he won in good style, showing improved form; went close over 2m in November and although he slipped up next time and met with heavy defeats twice since, he went well enough to the home turn in Irish Gold Cup on latest; whether he'll stay 4m2f is a big question but he could outrun his odds for a long way. |
28/1 |
|
7th 2 |
2nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 3m 0f 100y |
11st 10lb |
Grade 1 novice hurdle winner came back from a long absence last season; won three races as a novice chaser, notably a Grade 1 win at Punchestown over 3m1f; a fine second to the 11lb-receiving Only By Night over 2m at Naas on return; clipped heels and unseated rider early on in the Savills; race may have come too soon when disappointing at Tramore four days later. |
50/1 |
11/8
- Place: £1.20
Form: 1-1215 C BF
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 160
| 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 |
11st 10lb |
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 |
11st 10lb |
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 |
10/1
- Place: £2.30
Form: 4-1422 CD
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 154
| 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 |
10st 11lb |
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 |
11st 8lb |
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 |
14/1
Form: 01F144 C
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 150
| 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 |
10st 9lb |
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 |
11st 11lb |
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 |
11st 7lb |
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 |
50/1
Form: 2-111P D
Last run: 25 days
W: 11st 3lb
10 yo Mare
OR: 144
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 9 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 213y |
11st 3lb |
unruly at the post, led narrowly 1st, headed and raced in second halfway, briefly disputed lead 5 out, weakened from 2 out |
50/1 |
|
5th 9 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 213y |
11st 3lb |
unruly at the post, led narrowly 1st, headed and raced in second halfway, briefly disputed lead 5 out, weakened from 2 out |
50/1 |
|
8 |
4th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
Front-running 10yo who has to defy the stats as only two veterans have landed this prize since its inception in 1981; however, has low mileage for her age and remains unbeaten over fences; bagged Listed honours, against her own sex, at Newbury/Exeter the last twice and is a rising force for Polly Gundry; gets the 7lb sex allowance and shouldn't be passed over lightly. |
16/1 |
16/1
Form: 7-115U
Last run: 9 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 153
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
His form/jumping have been in and out since his Grade 2 novice chase win at Naas last January, soundly beaten in a handicap at Leopardstown latest; however, two starts ago he followed Heart Wood home in a 2m7f Grade 3 at Tramore; could have a big say for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. |
15/2 |
|
8th 2 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 5f 107y |
11st 12lb |
Hurdle winner and won twice over fences last season, including a Grade 2 at Naas; however, his form then fell away and twice failed to complete; signs of a resurgence when second to Heart Wood at Tramore last time and can go well if building on that. |
9/1 |
|
4 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, slightly hampered 5th, fell 10th |
16/1 |
9/2
Form: 1-1131 C
Last run: 26 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 159
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Unproven at this trip and reportedly never travelling when pulled up in the Ryanair at Cheltenham last month; however, he's won at this meeting in each of the last two seasons, landing the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase last April (2m4f, good to soft; Jango Baie third), and he produced a top performance in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park this February; could bounce back with big run for last year's winning trainer Willie Mullins. |
7/2 |
|
5 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
A fine hurdler whose three Grade 1 wins included the Ballymore at this meeting in 2023; has reached the same standard over fences, winning at the top level at Aintree (about 2m4f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) last April, and he was ultimately quite convincing in a tactical race at Gowran (about 2m3f, heavy) last month; his form doesn't yet match that of stablemate Fact To File but he is considered for a place. |
7/1 |
9/4
Form: 55-111 C
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 159
| 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 |
11st 2lb |
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 |
11st 12lb |
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 |
11st 10lb |
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 |
Non-runners
Slade Steel
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | €74.40 |
| Straight Forecast | €54.39 |
| Tricast | €463.20 |
| Trifecta | €609.40 |
Selections
The Irish Sun:
Ballyburn