February 07 / 14.45 Newbury

14.45

Soft

William Hill Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £51255
  • 2m 0f 92y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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William Hill Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

8/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.37
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 12-111 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Seems versatile as regards ground; leading juvenile hurdler prior to a smooth transition to fences, most recently impressive in Grade 1 novice at Sandown (1m7f) when taking overall strike-rate to 5-6; exciting youngster who is favourite for the Arkle and has any amount of further progress in him; trainer landed this prize with similarly esteemed novice chasers in 2012 and 2017; strongly respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Lulamba

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Acts on any ground; ran creditably on the figures but was only third when favourite for the Arkle, in which a mistake two out cost him some ground when challenging; has otherwise been a rising force at about 2m and his record away from the Cheltenham Festival is 6-6, comfortably beating his elders in the Game Spirit for the most recent success; gives the firm impression he's ready for a crack at this new trip; sets the standard and retains the potential for rating higher still.

8/13

3rd

4

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Lulamba

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Leading juvenile hurdler last season, following narrow defeat in the Triumph with clearcut success at Punchestown, and he is 3-3 over fences; easily landed the odds in Grade 1 novice at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft) in December and he readily beat five older rivals in Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury (2m, heavy) last month; stellar stablemates Sprinter Sacre and Altior followed the Game Spirit path to Arkle success, and he's a very strong candidate.

13/8

1st

2

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:45 Newbury

Lulamba

11st 3lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Seems versatile as regards ground; leading juvenile hurdler prior to a smooth transition to fences, most recently impressive in Grade 1 novice at Sandown (1m7f) when taking overall strike-rate to 5-6; exciting youngster who is favourite for the Arkle and has any amount of further progress in him; trainer landed this prize with similarly esteemed novice chasers in 2012 and 2017; strongly respected.

8/11

7/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 1-1212 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 155

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft ground; has become a very consistent handicap chaser; form figures this term read 1212, the second-place finishes behind progressive Thistle Ask in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter and Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton; better than ever, has won at Newbury and looks sure to run his race; rock-solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

Saint Segal

11st 10lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Progressive front-runner who has won two handicaps this term (2m3f/2m1f, good to firm/soft) and came second in the Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury (2m, heavy) in February; a bad mistake at the first fence all but ended his race in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month; sent off 50-1 at the Festival and his form has to go to a new level if he's to pose a threat today.

50/1

10

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Saint Segal

11st 10lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Acts on any ground; has become a very consistent chaser; form figures this term read 12122, the second-place finishes in Grade 2 events, including handicaps; ran creditably behind a leading novice in the Game Spirit at Newbury most recently; even if he gives his running again, that won't be nearly enough to trouble the judge now that he is upped further in class; a lot to find.

50/1

2nd

7

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:45 Newbury

Saint Segal

11st 2lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Acts on soft ground; has become a very consistent handicap chaser; form figures this term read 1212, the second-place finishes behind progressive Thistle Ask in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter and Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton; better than ever, has won at Newbury and looks sure to run his race; rock-solid claims.

7/2

Form: 12F-U4 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
Acts on heavy ground; continued his progress with a good second to Master Chewy in this contest 12 months ago and he meets the winner on better terms in this rematch; subsequent form comprises two non-completions at Cheltenham and a remote fourth, albeit facing stiff assignment, in the Tingle Creek; return to this scenario puts him in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Libberty Hunter

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Evan Williams

In touch and still going okay when falling three out in this race last year but it's difficult to ascertain where he'd have finished with a clear round; overall record at Cheltenham is 121FU, both wins in handicaps on the New course; ran creditably, one place behind Saint Segal, in the Game Spirit most recently; at the age of ten he's unlikely to find the major improvement that's needed on ratings.

66/1

3rd

5

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:45 Newbury

Libberty Hunter

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Evan Williams

Acts on heavy ground; continued his progress with a good second to Master Chewy in this contest 12 months ago and he meets the winner on better terms in this rematch; subsequent form comprises two non-completions at Cheltenham and a remote fourth, albeit facing stiff assignment, in the Tingle Creek; return to this scenario puts him in calculations.

7/1

5

12th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Libberty Hunter

11st 10lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Has form figures of 112312 in completed chase starts and 121 (three handicaps) at Cheltenham; good second in the Grand Annual on this card 12 months ago and filled the same position in the Game Spirit at Newbury most recently; progressive but has the lowest rating of the field.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 6-2472 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 155

Form & Verdict
Landed this prize last year but incurs a bigger penalty this time, making him worse off with runner-up Libberty Hunter, and concedes weight to some other notable rivals that include a very promising 5yo; outgunned by 12yo Edwardstone at Kempton most recently; chance of doing the Game Spirit double partly depends on how well he responds to first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Master Chewy

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Finished a creditable close second of three finishers in a Grade 2 at Kempton (about 2m4f, good) in January but he's an infrequent winner and it's two years since he ran well in a Grade 1 (not far away when falling two out in the Arkle here, then touched off at Aintree); well adrift in this race last year and there's no reason to expect much better today.

100/1

5th

1

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:45 Newbury

Master Chewy

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Landed this prize last year but incurs a bigger penalty this time, making him worse off with runner-up Libberty Hunter, and concedes weight to some other notable rivals that include a very promising 5yo; outgunned by 12yo Edwardstone at Kempton most recently; chance of doing the Game Spirit double partly depends on how well he responds to first-time headgear.

11/1

2

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Master Chewy

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Unproven at this trip but kept on well to win Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury (2m, soft) in February and his two subsequent defeats came in Grade 1s; likes it here, with course form figures of 122, and he's fine on good ground; from in-form yard and can play leading role if seeing out the trip.

4/1

Form: 113-11 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Good effort in notable novice handicap on last hurdles attempt; unbeaten otherwise under rules and has taken well to fences, last time defying a penalty at Ayr (2m, heavy); has the worst chance at the weights upped in class but current rating isn't necessarily his ceiling; progressive and could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

11

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Meetmebythesea

10st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Has the same strike-rate as Jordans Cross, being 5-8 overall; struggled in the Game Spirit when bidding to take chase record to 3-3; faces a more suitable assignment in this contest and although he has raced mainly at about 2m, the return to 2m4f promises to suit; good third in major novice handicap hurdle at Sandown (good to soft) in sole attempt over this distance; major contender, with further improvement still plausible.

13/2

6th

6

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:45 Newbury

Meetmebythesea

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Ben Pauling

Good effort in notable novice handicap on last hurdles attempt; unbeaten otherwise under rules and has taken well to fences, last time defying a penalty at Ayr (2m, heavy); has the worst chance at the weights upped in class but current rating isn't necessarily his ceiling; progressive and could go well.

16/1

3rd

2

8th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Meetmebythesea

11st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Ben Pauling

Promising sort who is 3-3 under rules, all in 2m events over hurdles, and beat The Kemble Brewery at Ludlow on penultimate occasion; likely to be as effective at this longer distance, being a 3m point runner-up, and represents last year's winning yard; respected.

7/2

Form: 432-11 D

Last run: 77 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Filly

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

2

16th Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 50y

12:50 Navan

Calico

11st 12lb

J: Finn Brickley

T: Gordon Elliott

Five-time winner including over hurdles in America 12 months ago, not long after opening her chase account at Galway; has been chasing lately; trainer appears to have stronger candidates.

12/1

15th

2

16th Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 50y

12:50 Navan

Calico

11st 12lb

J: Finn Brickley

T: Gordon Elliott

Five-time winner including over hurdles in America 12 months ago, not long after opening her chase account at Galway; has been chasing lately; trainer appears to have stronger candidates.

12/1

6th

1

1st Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 100y

14:40 Down Royal

Calico

12st 0lb

J: Carl Millar

T: Gordon Elliott

Five-time winner including over hurdles in America 12 months ago, not long after opening her chase account at Galway; out of her depth in a Grade 2 chase at Punchestown festival; had a run over hurdles before 12l second to The Banger Doyle on handicap debut at Cork.

7/2

Non-runners

Brookie

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.60
Straight Forecast £3.37
Trifecta £7.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lulamba

Daily Mail:

Meetmebythesea

The Star:

Saint Segal

POSTDATA:

Master Chewy

RP RATINGS:

Lulamba

TOPSPEED:

Lulamba

LAMBOURN:

Lulamba

The Times:

Lulamba

Telegraph:

Lulamba

The Guardian:

Lulamba

D Express:

Lulamba

Daily Mirror:

Lulamba

The Sun:

Lulamba

Daily Record:

Lulamba