18.00
Yielding To SoftWilliam Hill Champion Chase (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £146280.99
- 2m 0f 98y
- 6 runners
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Runners: 6 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
5/4 (Won)
- Win: £3.00
- Place: £1.20
Form: 5-2321 C
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 167
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 5 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
The 2025 Champion Chaser arrives here a fresher horse than most after missing Cheltenham with a sore neck; returned to action at Leopardstown in December with a pleasing effort behind Solness after making an early mistake; no match for Majborough at the DRF on testing ground but he's a much better horse on a sounder surface; won this in fine style last year and could repeat the dose. |
2/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Top-class novice hurdler had an interrupted novice chase season but came good last term, finishing runner-up to Solness in this race before winning the Champion Chase at Cheltenham; he then followed up at Punchestown in style; did well to recover from an error on comeback over C&D last time, just losing out to Solness again; this testing ground is a question, but is the one to beat if handling it. |
15/8 |
|
1st 4 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
towards rear but in touch with leaders, smooth headway 3 out, soon niggled along, challenging after 2 out, led going best approaching last, shaken up and went clear run-in, comfortably |
5/4 |
20/1
- Place: £3.00
Form: 2-P563 CD
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 12lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 157
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Has a good record (213) in the Champion Chase but is by no means certain to sustain it; proved a somewhat fortuitous winner of a weak edition two years ago (on soft ground) when the race fell apart and only three runners completed; far from solid on his form this term, below par in Grade 3 most recently, and returns to Cheltenham as an 11yo who may be on the wane; wears first-time headgear. |
50/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 1lb |
Six-time chase winner, the highlight being the 2024 Champion Chase (2m, soft); not at his best last season but signed off with a solid runner-up finish behind Marine Nationale at Punchestown (2m, yielding); pulled up on seasonal return in the Fortria at Navan (2m, soft to heavy) and tailed off at Leopardstown last time (2m1f, yielding); should be a player here but he's a risky proposition given his form although trainer reported him to be 'really coming to himself' in a recent stable tour. |
13/8 |
|
2nd 1 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
raced in second, challenging 2 out, no chance with winner from last, kept on |
20/1 |
8/1
Form: 324114 D
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 161
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 1 (5) |
19th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 4f 0y |
10st 5lb |
Three-time Grade 1-winning chaser makes his Flat debut here at the age of eight; his dam is an unraced half-sister to a German 1m Listed winner; it's hard to know what to expect from him, but he's an intriguing runner and hails from a savvy yard in great form. |
11/2 |
|
3rd 6 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 1m 7f 99y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Smart front-runner whose Grade 1 form features three wins at Leopardstown (2m1f) in 2024/2025 and neck second, showing career-best form, at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) on latest start; one of the main contenders back down in distance. |
7/2 |
|
2nd 7 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 200y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Tailed off at Leopardstown in February when the soft ground was against him and a visor replaced his usual cheekpieces, which return today; prior to that he posted a third Grade 1 win at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) in December; there's a question mark regarding the step back up in trip for this front-runner but his trainer won this twice in a row with Fakir d'Oudairies in 2021 and 2022, and this 8yo arrives fresh after just two starts this winter; chance. |
9/1 |
5/4
Form: 1-1231 C
Last run: 47 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 172
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 2 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
2024 Brown Advisory winner, 2025 Ryanair winner; won the 2024 John Durkan at this venue, had a hard race when narrowly beaten by Gaelic Warrior in this season's repeat bid; failed to do himself justice in the King George; back to best when readily beating Gaelic Warrior and Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup; fascinating rematch now after bypassing Ryanair. |
5/4 |
|
1st 3 |
2nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 3m 0f 100y |
11st 10lb |
Four Grade 1 wins, including the 2024 Brown Advisory, and last season's Ryanair; narrowly denied by Gaelic Warrior in the John Durkan Memorial Chase; raced keenly and never looked like imposing his presence in the King George; three-time course winner, just lost second to Grangeclare West here 12 months ago; capable of matching that effort if on back on song. |
8/1 |
10/1
Form: P2-F2F CD
Last run: 25 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 168
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Probably acts on any going; high class over fences until jumping issues developed; has proved suited by the return to hurdles and an easy win at Leopardstown (2m2f) last time took his record in this sphere to 4-7; the best horse in this field if viewed on his peak chase form. |
5/1 |
|
1st 2 |
2nd Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 2f 72y |
11st 7lb |
Outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell in a number of Grade 1 contests; reverted to hurdles with a smooth 8.5l success at Punchestown on New Year's Day on seasonal return (2m3f, yielding), second won Gr.3 next time; this is much easier than the Irish Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy) last time, in which he finished last of five; huge chance. |
10/11 |
|
5th 3 |
1st Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
An outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell last season in Grade 1 races here, at Aintree and at Punchestown; return to hurdling did the trick at Punchestown a month ago, beating subsequent Grade 3 hurdle winner Glen Kiln and Cotswold Chase winner Spillane's Tower. |
10/1 |
66/1
Form: U4U3P1 D
Last run: 59 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 150
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 |
11th May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 100y |
11st 8lb |
Very smart chaser when at his best but he was well beaten in this 12 months ago and last season's placed efforts were remote ones behind class acts; current wellbeing is a bit of an issue. |
12/1 |
|
5 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Decent sort has two wins apiece over hurdles and fences, including a Grade 2 at Navan last season, his best performance; however, he is rated a long way below all of these rivals and is an unlikely winner. |
66/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | €34.40 |
| Straight Forecast | €35.87 |
| Trifecta | €160.10 |
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