February 07 / 14.10 Newbury

14.10

Soft

William Hill Denman Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £51255
  • 2m 7f 91y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
ITV
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William Hill Denman Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84

Form: 11-1P1 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
Superbly progressive novice last term, winning Cheltenham's NH Chase (3m6f, good to soft) and the Irish National (3m5f, soft to heavy); hurdles win here in November before something seemed amiss in a Grade 1 at Haydock 16 days later, but he bounced back from that with a sparkling display to dominate the Welsh National (3m6f) six weeks ago; that was another serious advance and he looks like earning his place in top Graded races after this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

6

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Haiti Couleurs

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

In the last 13 months he's won Cheltenham's NH Chase (3m6f), the Irish National (3m5f), a hurdle race, Welsh National (near 3m7f; 12lb higher today) and a Newbury Grade 2; no way can he be ruled out, particularly as he finished well on top in those four chases, but there have also been two major blips this season; latest was in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, for which he was just 6-1 and made most but went to nothing turning for home (writing on the wall four out); however, he's bounced back before, the likely tempo of this race can suit him better and the trip looks like doing so as well.

16/1

6

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Haiti Couleurs

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

Prominent-racer who won the NH Chase (Handicap) at this meeting 12 months ago (3m6f, good to soft) and bounced back from November's Betfair Chase flop to win the Welsh National (3m6f, good to soft) and also the Grade 2 Denman Chase (2m7f, heavy); this highly progressive 9yo is now 6-8 over fences and should prove well suited to the demands of today's race, all the more so if there's rain and stamina is at a premium; firmly in calculations.

5/1

1st

3

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 1

14:10 Newbury

Haiti Couleurs

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

Superbly progressive novice last term, winning Cheltenham's NH Chase (3m6f, good to soft) and the Irish National (3m5f, soft to heavy); hurdles win here in November before something seemed amiss in a Grade 1 at Haydock 16 days later, but he bounced back from that with a sparkling display to dominate the Welsh National (3m6f) six weeks ago; that was another serious advance and he looks like earning his place in top Graded races after this.

4/5

Form: 31P-22 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 8lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 164

Form & Verdict
Unraced here but a stalwart of the 3m+ chase division elsewhere; runner-up in contrasting styles in two Cheltenham races this season, rallying after losing his place at halfway in a Grade 3 handicap on reappearance, and leading until after the final fence in a four-runner Grade 2 two weeks ago; unraced on heavy but goes well on soft; should ensure that Haiti Couleurs does not have it all his own way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

LHomme Presse

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Won the Grade 1 Brown Advisory here in March 2022 and also the Cotswold Chase here last January; pushed Spillane's Tower close in that same 3m1f Grade 2 this season, when conceding 6lb to the winner, but no match for Haiti Couleurs since and this 11yo is up against it in today's company.

50/1

2nd

1

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 1

14:10 Newbury

LHomme Presse

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Unraced here but a stalwart of the 3m+ chase division elsewhere; runner-up in contrasting styles in two Cheltenham races this season, rallying after losing his place at halfway in a Grade 3 handicap on reappearance, and leading until after the final fence in a four-runner Grade 2 two weeks ago; unraced on heavy but goes well on soft; should ensure that Haiti Couleurs does not have it all his own way.

5/4

2nd

2

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

LHomme Presse

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Landed the odds in this race last year (soft ground) and showed a similar level of form when second under big weight in handicap here on reappearance, rallying after losing his place at halfway; should give his running again but has a bit to find on the figures with Grey Dawning.

9/2

Form: 21-1P2 CD

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced for his age and best form when pipped in a Grade 3 handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) on latest start; however, reportedly unsuited by the soft ground (his first race on it) when pulled up in a Listed novice chase at Cheltenham the time before and he has plenty to find against two of today's rivals on the ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

Leave Of Absence

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Good third to Lookaway in the bumper on this card four years ago; spoiled his chance with a couple of mistakes in the Cheltenham Festival handicap won by Grand National contender Johnnywho; however, he split that rival and Deep Cave for useful effort at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in December and may resume his progress when jumping errors are avoided.

11/1

5th

6

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Leave Of Absence

11st 3lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Second-season chaser who is enjoying another progressive campaign, winning a novice here (3m1f, good) in October and beaten a head in a handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in December; not disgraced in Grade 2 at Newbury (2m7f, heavy) last time; not ruled out each-way now back in a handicap.

16/1

3rd

4

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 1

14:10 Newbury

Leave Of Absence

11st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Lightly raced for his age and best form when pipped in a Grade 3 handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) on latest start; however, reportedly unsuited by the soft ground (his first race on it) when pulled up in a Listed novice chase at Cheltenham the time before and he has plenty to find against two of today's rivals on the ratings.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: -41960

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Won a 2m5f intermediate chase at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft) in October but well held since; soft ground (let alone heavy) and stamina leave him with plenty to prove and he's also clear bottom on ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:03 Uttoxeter

Riskintheground

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Good ground is the key to him; his form had nosedived but he was running much better when hampered late on at the Cheltenham Festival and then came good at Haydock (2m4f, good), prevailing only narrowly but under a confident ride in a strong race (he also won it the season before when staged at Cheltenham); a 4lb rise seems very generous.

11/8

1st

4

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Riskintheground

11st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won this race 12 months ago at Cheltenham when 1lb higher so he's dangerously handicapped for his defence; his form had nosedived after winning in a small field at Newton Abbot in October but the signs were more encouraging last time in the 2m4f Plate at the Festival as he was staying on when hampered by a faller at the last fence; has to be of interest, especially given the yard's form.

4/1

11th

13

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Riskintheground

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

He's run some of his better races at Cheltenham, including a New course win (about 2m4f, good; off this mark) from O'Moore Park last April; not much going for him on his form since beating three rivals at Newton Abbot in October but some sort of revival isn't beyond the imagination.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.80
Straight Forecast £3.07
Trifecta £3.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Haiti Couleurs

Daily Mail:

L'Homme Presse

RP RATINGS:

Haiti Couleurs

TOPSPEED:

Haiti Couleurs

POSTDATA:

Haiti Couleurs

The Times:

Haiti Couleurs

Telegraph:

Haiti Couleurs

The Guardian:

Haiti Couleurs

D Express:

Haiti Couleurs

Daily Mirror:

Haiti Couleurs

The Sun:

Haiti Couleurs

The Star:

Haiti Couleurs

Daily Record:

Haiti Couleurs