April 09 / 14.20 Aintree

14.20

Good To Soft

William Hill Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £67524
  • 2m 3f 200y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV
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William Hill Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 4-2216 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Non-stayer (shaped better than the bare result) in the 3m1f Brown Advisory at Cheltenham having surprisingly swerved the 2m4f Jack Richards option; broadly progressive otherwise and scored by a wide margin at Leopardstown (2m5f, yielding) the time before, recording a very useful RPR; ran well in the Mersey over hurdles at this meeting 12 months ago; remains of major interest, back down in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Koktail Divin

11st 7lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Non-stayer (shaped better than the bare result) in the 3m1f Brown Advisory at Cheltenham having surprisingly swerved the 2m4f Jack Richards option; broadly progressive otherwise and scored by a wide margin at Leopardstown (2m5f, yielding) the time before, recording a very useful RPR; ran well in the Mersey over hurdles at this meeting 12 months ago; remains of major interest, back down in distance.

5/2

6th

6

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Koktail Divin

11st 7lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Second to Romeo Coolio and Oscars Brother on first two chase starts before impressing when winning an often-indicative race at Leopardstown over Christmas (extended 2m5f, yielding) by 21l; looked a leading contender for a handicap this week but yard instead opts to tackle this Grade 1.

15/2

2nd

2

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 192y

15:47 Down Royal

Koktail Divin

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

French bumper winner much improved on third attempt hurdling last term when readily landing 2m4f Leopardstown maiden in March (yielding); followed that up with good fourth in Grade 1 Aintree novices' at same trip (rated 137); potentially smart novice chaser and likely major player.

5/2

OUR TIP

25/1

  • Place: £4.20

Form: 1-2152 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Useful 2m4f novice chaser but he won a substandard edition of the Rising Stars at Wincanton and his close second at Kempton (with cheekpieces fitted) last time was achieved in a handicap; faces a stiffer task at this level in the retained headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Blueking DOroux

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful 2m4f novice chaser but he won a substandard edition of the Rising Stars at Wincanton and his close second at Kempton (with cheekpieces fitted) last time was achieved in a handicap; faces a stiffer task at this level in the retained headgear.

25/1

2nd

2

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:18 Kempton

Blueking DOroux

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Won two Grade 2 hurdles; still learning his trade over fences, safe enough apart from one blunder when winning at Wincanton (2m4f, good), albeit he made a meal of beating a lower-rated rival; out of depth in Grade 1 here since but he's 10lb lower than his hurdle mark now handicapping and still has potential; cheekpieces on; yard has won two of the last three runnings.

9/2

2nd

5

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

16:55 Newton Abbot

Blueking DOroux

10st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Smart staying hurdling who looked as good as ever when ending last season with Grade 2 win from the front at Sandown (2m5f, good); will be very hard to beat on these terms if he jumps adequately on his chasing debut.

1/5

Form: 7-1113 C

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Comes here fresh having bypassed the Cheltenham Festival and been absent since a Kingmaker defeat that is perhaps best forgiven due to the heavy ground; 3-3 over fences otherwise, including 2m wins at Aintree (handicap) and Kempton (Grade 2, readily); may resume improvement, provided he stays the new trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Mambonumberfive

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Comes here fresh having bypassed the Cheltenham Festival and been absent since a Kingmaker defeat that is perhaps best forgiven due to the heavy ground; 3-3 over fences otherwise, including 2m wins at Aintree (handicap) and Kempton (Grade 2, readily); may resume improvement, provided he stays the new trip.

14/1

3rd

2

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 1

13:50 Warwick

Mambonumberfive

11st 5lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Rapidly progressive 5yo who won Grade 2 novice at Kempton (2m, good) over Christmas, having made stylish headway from the rear, and is now 3-3 over fences; had placed form over hurdles on heavy ground when based in France and could still be anything.

6/4

Form: 214114 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Finished 18l behind Lulamba in the Arkle but may fare better in this rematch, with the return to further a likely plus; readily bagged Grade 2 honours at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) the time before, enhancing his good strike-rate when racing beyond 2m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Jax Junior

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Finished 18l behind Lulamba in the Arkle but may fare better in this rematch, with the return to further a likely plus; readily bagged Grade 2 honours at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) the time before, enhancing his good strike-rate when racing beyond 2m.

9/1

4th

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Jax Junior

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bled from nose when well held behind Steel Ally at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning a handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) and Grade 2 novice at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) on last two starts; needs a chunk of improvement to trouble the principals but he's straightforward, tactically versatile and a sound jumper.

20/1

1st

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 1

14:25 Kempton

Jax Junior

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bled from the nose at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) three weeks ago in clearcut style; just as effective at 2m4f and sets the standard for the others to aim at.

4/6

Form: -11113 BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 162

Form & Verdict
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.
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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £45.60
Straight Forecast £38.54
Trifecta £127.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Lulamba

SPOTLIGHT:

Koktail Divin

The Guardian:

Koktail Divin

Daily Mail:

Koktail Divin

Daily Mirror:

Koktail Divin

TOPSPEED:

Lulamba

POSTDATA:

Lulamba

LAMBOURN:

Lulamba

The Times:

Lulamba

Telegraph:

Lulamba

D Express:

Lulamba

The Sun:

Lulamba

The Star:

Lulamba

Daily Record:

Lulamba