October 24 / 13.50 Cheltenham

13.50

Good

Holland Cooper ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £21784
  • 1m 7f 199y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
ITV
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Holland Cooper ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly sunny

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 2125-1 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso (2m, good to soft) in March and made all from Country Mile in three-runner beginners' chase at Uttoxeter (2m, good) recently on first chase start; now 5lb worse off with the runner-up for about 4l; could have more to offer over fences and one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

12:45 Aintree

Alnilam

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Front-runner who made it 2-2 over fences when winning at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) in October; however, his limitations seem to have been exposed since and he finished well adrift of No Questions Asked and Be Aware at Windsor last time; has had wind surgery but still hard to recommend.

33/1

3rd

1

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 37y

Class 1

13:50 Windsor

Alnilam

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Front-runner who made it 2-2 over fences when winning at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) in October; won on soft ground over hurdles; carries a 3lb penalty today and his progress has stalled on his last two starts, but he's made mistakes each time and could make a bold bid if cutting out the blunders.

9/1

7/1

  • Place: £4.10

Form: 04-F51 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Third of six in Grade 2 novice hurdle at Punchestown (2m1f, soft) in January and tapped back into that promise to win on recent chase debut at Fairyhouse (2m, yielding); others have more substance to their form and King Of Kingsfield looks the yard's chief hope, but this point winner could have more to offer over fences and is not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

16:50 Punchestown

Relieved Of Duties

11st 5lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Found things too demanding in the Grand Annual, and has been campaigned ambitiously overall since a Fairyhouse beginners' win last October; will be more at home in this company.

12/1

13th

18

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Relieved Of Duties

10st 9lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Won on chase debut at Fairyhouse (2m, yielding) in October and very creditable second in quality novice over this C&D (good to soft) 13 days later; well beaten both starts since but they have been on testing ground; could bounce back and play a leading role now he's back on a better surface.

11/1

Form: 1215-2 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Point runner-up and bumper winner who won two novice hurdles last season (2m/2m1f, good to soft), including here, and also ran well on soft ground; beaten just under 4l by Alnilam when second of three on his recent chase and seasonal debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good) but he's 5lb better off with the winner today and could improve for that latest run; firmly in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

24th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 199y

Class 2

13:50 Cheltenham

Country Mile

11st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Point runner-up and bumper winner who won two novice hurdles last season (2m/2m1f, good to soft), including here, and also ran well on soft ground; beaten just under 4l by Alnilam when second of three on his recent chase and seasonal debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good) but he's 5lb better off with the winner today and could improve for that latest run; firmly in calculations.

5/2

1

27th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 3

12:00 Chepstow

Country Mile

11st 10lb

T: Dan Skelton

1

27th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 3

12:00 Chepstow

Country Mile

11st 10lb

T: Dan Skelton

Form: -00321 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Soft-ground maiden hurdle winner who has improved with each of his three runs over fences and won at Sligo (2m1f, good to yielding) this month; he has something to find today but this 6yo is worth a second look given his respected Irish trainer has won the last two runnings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

24th Aug 2026

Good

2m 1f 55y

19:00 Ballinrobe

Addragoole

11st 7lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Won around Sligo last year and handicap winner over this trip at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting; also ran well when third at DRF; 2m6f was too far in the Galway Blazers, but fitter for that and this looks a good opportunity.

13/8

6th

1

31st Jul 2026

Good

2m 6f 111y

18:00 Galway

Addragoole

11st 13lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Gavin Cromwell

Won twice over fences in 2025, most recently off 9lb lower at Leopardstown in December (2m1f, yielding); has come up short in three starts since, weakening on latest when upped to 2m5f in the Topham at Aintree; stamina a query upped further in trip.

14/1

12th

11

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Addragoole

10st 11lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Stamina to prove and he failed to threaten when ninth in the Grand Annual last month; however, Cheltenham may not be his track (also not at his best there last October) and he showed improved form to win a competitive handicap at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) in December; only seven and there have been hints that this sort of trip may suit; no surprise to see him go well.

25/1

Form: 251-51

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Point and two-time hurdle winner (2m2f, soft/good) who won on her chase debut in a mares' novice at Listowel (2m3f, yielding) last month; she looked better than ever on that latest start and is open to further improvement in this sphere, but it's needed against some very talented males.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

21st Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 200y

18:05 Kilbeggan

Cloonainra

11st 12lb

J: Shane Fitzsimons

T: John C McConnell

Two hurdle wins at 2m2f but has lost her way since Listowel novice chase win in September; others in better form.

33/1

7th

8

2nd Aug 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 160y

13:50 Galway

Cloonainra

11st 4lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: John C McConnell

Two hurdle wins at 2m2f but has lost her way since Listowel novice chase win in September; others in better form.

25/1

10th

5

14th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 165y

15:20 Downpatrick

Cloonainra

11st 1lb

J: Dylan Kidd

T: John C McConnell

Lost way since Listowel novice chase win in September; soundly beaten in Punchestown handicap hurdle on latest and just 2lb lower now; others arrive in better form.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 111121 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Highly progressive over fences, making it five handicap wins for the campaign (2m, good/good to soft) when making all in three-runner race at Newton Abbot last time; further progress is possible but necessary in this warm contest; can jump to the right.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

27th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 75y

Class 2

18:12 Newton Abbot

Centara

11st 12lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Paul Nicholls

Free-going front-runner who won four times over C&D early last season including this race; now 4lb lower than for his last success but he's struggled since returning from a break in May and was a long way behind Breaking Cover at Stratford last time; has some questions to answer and he needs to get back on track.

7/1

5th

1

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 2

15:58 Stratford

Centara

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Free-going front-runner who won five 2m chases in early part of last season; comfortably reeled in on both outings since returning from a break this spring, though, and comes here with a point to prove.

5/1

4th

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

Centara

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

Highly progressive over fences in the first half of last season, winning here four times (2m, good to soft/good); 2m5f here appeared to stretch him last month following some time off; has a lower mark to work with back over hurdles and he could play a leading role back down in trip.

7/2

Form: 4-1131 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Won two in a row this summer when back over fences (2m2f/2m1f, good) and landed a Grade 3 novice at Punchestown (2m2f, good to yielding) last week; seems versatile ground-wise and he's a key player today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

17

29th Jul 2026

Good

2m 6f 111y

18:40 Galway

King Of Kingsfield

10st 13lb

J: Joshua Halford

T: Gordon Elliott

One-time smart hurdler; three chase wins in the space of four runs last year included a beginners chase at this meeting and a 2m2f Grade 3 at Punchestown; hasn't kicked on at all from that sequence and he'd be a surprise winner.

50/1

5th

4

2nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

17:20 Limerick

King Of Kingsfield

11st 1lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Useful chasing campaign last season returned three wins from seven starts; not at his best in a Newbury Grade 2 last November or in Aintree Grade 1 in April; 140 hurdles rating puts him 8lb behind Bowensfire. might be more effective than his stablemate on this ground.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.30
Straight Forecast £27.49
Trifecta £77.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Alnilam

SPOTLIGHT:

Country Mile

The Times:

King Of Kingsfield

TOPSPEED:

Centara

Daily Record:

Relieved Of Duties

Telegraph:

Country Mile

Daily Mail:

Country Mile

WEST COUNTRY:

Centara

D Express:

King Of Kingsfield

POSTDATA:

Alnilam

The Guardian:

Alnilam

Daily Mirror:

Alnilam

The Star:

Alnilam