22.01
SoftVirgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £13202.5
- 3m 0f 42y
- Class 3
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: 2/P-22 D BF
Last run: 33 days
W: 11st 10lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 135
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13 |
18th Apr 2026 Soft 3m 7f 176y Class 1 |
11st 1lb |
Missed 2024 and came up a bit short in his six races since, sent chasing for his five starts this term; shaped as if he stayed when third of five on the step up to 3m4f at Haydock last time but he needs much better than that; perhaps the subsequent wind surgery (his second) will help his cause. |
25/1 |
|
3rd 2 |
5th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 4f 97y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
A useful winning novice hurdler back in 2022/23; lightly raced since and has failed to win in four small-field events over fences this term, just a fair third of six in 23f Kelso handicap 20 days ago; has his first run beyond 3m here and needs it to spark improvement. |
4/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
13th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 7f 96y Class 2 |
11st 7lb |
Runner-up in Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree (3m, soft) in April 2023 prior to very long absence; this 10yo has been runner-up in beginners'/novice chases on his three starts this season (2m5f/3m), bumping into the classy Wendigo last time, and he could be a contender now tackling a handicap. |
9/2 |
Form: /71-01 C
Last run: 50 days
W: 11st 8lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 133
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
25th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 1f 77y Class 3 |
11st 4lb |
Ran rather flat in a good Sandown handicap last time but won a Class 2 the time before at Cheltenham (3m, good to soft), his fourth win over hurdles; once had the pace for this trip but may need further now ideally, so will do well to lower the colours of Mirabad. |
2/1 |
|
3 |
31st Jan 2026 Heavy 2m 7f 103y Class 1 |
11st 6lb |
Second and first in handicaps in 2024 on his only two starts at this track, with the win on soft ground (runner-up early on in a heavy-ground bumper); won his second start (3m, soft) last season and the same happened this term, when he battled on well at Cheltenham (3m, good to soft) in December despite wandering; up 5lb but respected. |
8/1 |
Form: 33-312 D BF
Last run: 16 days
W: 11st 7lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 132
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
18th Apr 2026 Soft 3m 7f 176y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Made a bad mistake on penultimate outing but he won starts either side and latest was the 4m2f Midlands National at Uttoxeter (soft) in which he was always prominent and asserted by 8l on run-in, with Git Maker in third; up 7lb but his only attempt at a marathon trip brought a clear career best. |
9/1 |
|
1st 5 |
14th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 8y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Beat none other than Haiti Couleurs over hurdles; their respective careers have headed in very different directions and this 8yo is only 1-7 over fences, the win coming in a small field at Exeter two runs back (3m, heavy); since then he lost his position after a bad mistake at Wincanton (3m2f); may yet have more to offer over an extreme distance such as this but he certainly needs it. |
11/1 |
Form: 14812P D
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 4lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 129
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
23 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
10st 10lb |
Won hunter chase here (4m, good) last May and added a handicap here (3m1f, heavy) in November, before finishing second at Sandown (3m4f, good to soft); pulled up in Welsh National next time and tailed off over hurdles latest, but this 11yo has an each-way squeak if returning to form back here. |
50/1 |
|
16th 3 |
14th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 7f 123y Class 3 |
11st 13lb |
Thorough stayer who won amateur riders' chase at Cheltenham (3m1f, heavy) in November and was second in London National at Sandown (3m4f, good to soft) on next outing; didn't fire in Welsh National last time, though, and his hurdling ability is tricky to gauge. |
20/1 |
Form: P-335F
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 2lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 127
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 13 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 5f 201y Class 2 |
11st 3lb |
Pulled up at 50-1 in last year's 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle here; ran well in three of his five chases this term, notably with his easy win in a 2m5f beginners' event at Carlisle (good to soft) last time, but Cheltenham in December was one of the exceptions and he didn't jump well that day, before falling at Exeter on his next start; work to do on a few counts. |
25/1 |
|
1st 1 |
3rd Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 198y Class 3 |
11st 5lb |
The only one of these with chasing experience; didn't jump well when soundly beaten at Cheltenham in December and fell at Exeter latest; however, before those he ran well to finish third over C&D (good to soft) and at Kempton (3m, good) in his first two chases; major player if he's on song. |
6/4 |
Form: 224-42 BF
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 0lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
24th Apr 2026 Good 3m 6f 121y Class 3 |
11st 13lb |
Dual hurdle winner who is 0-5 over fences but three times runner-up in this discipline and latest Warwick conqueror (3m5f, good to soft) was completing a hat-trick; likely to run well off an untouched mark. |
7/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
8th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 5f 54y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
Ran poorly dropped back to 2m4f at Sandown last time but consistent otherwise and has shown clear signs that he's capable of winning a chase; possibly open to improvement at this new trip and one to consider. |
7/1 |
Form: P2-623
Last run: 15 days
W: 10st 5lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 5 |
2nd Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 0y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Bettered low-key seasonal/chase debut when close second at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) in December and was very respectable third at Windsor (2m6f, soft) last month; up in trip again here; can make bold bid from the front. |
9/2 |
|
3rd 7 |
16th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 6f 50y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
2m4f novice hurdle winner (good) who kept on well for a close second at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) four weeks ago on his second chase start; today's extra yardage could prove to be a positive and he's a possible player provided he handles the ground (all starts on good/good to soft). |
5/1 |
Form: 319-2F C
Last run: 17 days
W: 10st 4lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 1 |
28th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 10y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Point and hurdle winner who has shown promise at different trips (2m-2m7f) in his three chase runs since December; finished last of three at Leicester last time but he wasn't beaten far and he should have more to offer in this sphere; not ruled out with cheekpieces added. |
9/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
6th Mar 2026 Soft 2m 6f 151y Class 3 |
10st 12lb |
2m4f handicap hurdle (soft) winner who shaped encouragingly on chase debut at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) in December when set a stiff task at the weights, and would have been placed returned to a more suitable trip at Newbury (2m7f) latest but for falling late; on a fair mark and remains open to progress in this sphere, so worth considering. |
4/1 |
Betting Forcast
Maximilian, Titan Discovery, Isaac Des Obeaux, Hung Jury, First Confession, El Granjero, Aviation, Taita Hills