Kelso Race 8 - Bet365 Cyril Alexander Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Gbb Race)
AL KALILA (3) wasn't at his best going right-handed at Down Royal last time however the Irish-trained raider had twice run well at this venue prior. The form of his good second in a handicap chase here in November looks solid and could be suited by this slight drop in distance. OLD GREGORIAN (2) was the only one to complete when making a winning chasing debut at Wetherby in October. Might still have plenty more to offer. PUSH THE BUTTON (1) has to give plenty of weight away. Clearly would be a major threat based on his runner-up effort in the G2 Howden Noel Novices Chase at Ascot two starts ago. SCARLET JET (4) rounds out the shortlist.

Jockey: Jamie Hamilton
Weight: 74.5kgs
Stats
Comments
Resumes off a 35 day letup. Last run ran on from midfield; finished seventh of 9 runners at Cheltenham on January 24 over 4100m, on slow going 11 len behind Jordans Cross with 76kg at $7. The start before that; finished second in a small field at Ascot in the G2 Noel Novices' Chase on December 19 over 3800m, slow track; 9 len behind Steel Ally carrying 71.5kg at $13. Will not find this easy. Not sure he is up to this.
Last Starts 35 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/9 | 24/01/2026 | 36 | STPLE HCP 5U | $72,600.00 | Cheltenham | 4123m | Soft | Jamie Hamilton | 76kg | 5:22.09 | 5-7-7 | 0 |
| 11.0L | $7.00 |
| 2/5 | 19/12/2025 | 34 | G2 OPEN 4U | $93,090.00 | Ascot Uk | 3822m | Soft | Jamie Hamilton | 71.5kg | 4:48.10 | 4-2-2 | 0 |
| 9.0L | $13.00 |
| 2/5 | 15/11/2025 | 30 | STPLE HCP 4U | $21,780.00 | Wetherby | 3017m | Soft | Jamie Hamilton | 74.5kg | 3:55.46 | 1-1-2 | 0 |
| 0.5L | $5.00 |
| 1/4 | 16/10/2025 | 173 | CHSE 4U | $32,370.00 | Carlisle | 3218m | Good | Jamie Hamilton | 72kg | 3:58.13 | 2-2-1 | 0 |
| 1.5L | $5.50 |
| 8/10 | 26/04/2025 | 21 | HCP HDLE 4U | $63,520.00 | Sandown Park Uk | 4023m | Good | Sam Twiston-Davies | 75kg | 4:52.97 | 2-9-8 | 0 |
| 12.3L | $19.00 |
| 6/17 | 05/04/2025 | 22 | HCP HDLE 4U | $150,880.00 | Aintree | 4928m | Good | Sam Twiston-Davies | 73.5kg | 6:10.05 | 5-6-6 | 0 |
| 5.3L | $17.00 |
| 6/24 | 14/03/2025 | 33 | HCP HDLE 4U | $136,120.00 | Cheltenham | 4123m | Good Soft | Finn Lambert | 71kg | 4:59.42 | 22-14-6 | 0 |
| 12.3L | $81.00 |
| 10/12 | 09/02/2025 | 21 | HCP HDLE 5U | $62,730.00 | Exeter | 4649m | Good Soft | Sam Twiston-Davies | 76kg | 6:03.97 | 5-9-10 | 0 |
| 19.8L | $10.00 |
| 2/12 | 19/01/2025 | 57 | HCP HDLE 4U | $119,930.00 | Windsor | 4828m | Soft | Sam Twiston-Davies | 72kg | 6:15.43 | 1-2-2 | 0 |
| 0.2L | $17.00 |
| 0/15 | 23/11/2024 | 29 | HCP HDLE 4U | $181,490.00 | Haydock Park | 4928m | Soft | Sam Twiston-Davies | 71kg | 6:36.10 | - | 0 |
| 99.0L | $9.50 |
| 5/13 | 25/10/2024 | 338 | HDLE HCP 3U | $34,480.00 | Cheltenham | 4023m | Good | Sam Twiston-Davies | 74.5kg | 4:46.99 | 2-5-5 | 0 |
| 5.5L | $6.00 |

Jockey: D R Fox
Weight: 68.5kgs
Stats
Comments
Resumes from a spell after having had just one run last campaign won by a 0.0 len Wetherby on October 15 over 3900m defeating with 72kg at $2.80 in a steeplechase. When resuming last campaign finished sixth of 7 starters at Perth on September 25 2024 over 3200m, 33 len behind Bowling Buddy carrying 70.5kg at $15. Sure to make his presence felt.
Last Starts 136 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 15/10/2025 | 194 | CHSE 4U | $17,610.00 | Wetherby | 3922m | Good | Derek Fox | 72kg | 4:53.90 | - | 0 |
| 0.0L | $2.75 |
| 17/17 | 04/04/2025 | 34 | HCP APP HDLE 4U | $92,250.00 | Aintree | 3312m | Good | Conner Mccann | 65.5kg | 3:58.02 | 12-14-17 | 0 |
| 68.3L | $21.00 |
| 3/18 | 01/03/2025 | 28 | HCP HDLE 4U | $215,340.00 | Kelso | 3218m | Good Soft | Conner Mccann | 64.5kg | 3:53.91 | 14-5-3 | 0 |
| 2.5L | $13.00 |
| 6/12 | 01/02/2025 | 55 | HCP HDLE 4U | $54,450.00 | Musselburgh | 3118m | Good Soft | Alan Doyle | 68kg | 3:40.49 | 10-6-6 | 0 |
| 3.5L | $9.50 |
| 2/9 | 08/12/2024 | 22 | HCP HDLE 3U | $32,290.00 | Kelso | 3265m | Soft | Derek Fox | 70.5kg | 4:11.05 | 3-4-2 | 0 |
| 4.0L | $3.50 |
| 1/6 | 16/11/2024 | 21 | HCP HDLE 3U | $18,150.00 | Wetherby | 3218m | Good | Alan Doyle | 64.5kg | 3:49.30 | 2-1-1 | 0 |
| 9.0L | $2.63 |
| 1/15 | 26/10/2024 | 31 | HDLE HCP 3U | $16,340.00 | Kelso | 3218m | Good Soft | Derek Fox | 74.5kg | 4:00.43 | 2-1-1 | 0 |
| 3.8L | $21.00 |
| 6/7 | 25/09/2024 | 152 | HDLE HCP 3U | $18,150.00 | Perth Uk | 3218m | Good | Derek Fox | 70.5kg | 4:08.60 | 5-7-6 | 0 |
| 33.0L | $15.00 |
| 99/11 | 26/04/2024 | 81 | HDLE HCP 4U | $27,220.00 | Perth Uk | 3218m | Soft | Derek Fox | 71kg | 4:02.30 | - | 0 |
| 99.0L | $5.00 |
| 3/12 | 05/02/2024 | 58 | WFA APP NOVHDLE 4U | $13,840.00 | Carlisle | 3419m | Soft | Derek Fox | 75.5kg | 4:31.87 | 4-2-3 | 0 |
| 8.8L | $8.00 |
| 99/11 | 09/12/2023 | 42 | NHDLE 4U | $21,780.00 | Aintree | 3419m | Heavy | P Wadge | 71kg | 4:42.84 | - | 0 |
| 99.0L | $8.50 |

Jockey: S Bowen
Weight: 68kgs
Stats
Comments
Impressive in recent runs. Freshened for 39 days. Last start finished third of 8 runners at Down Royal on January 20 over 4828m, 26 len behind Lucky Lyreen carrying 75.5kg at $4.50. The start before that; finished third in a small field at this track on December 7 over 4700m, on slow going 8 len behind King Of Answers carrying 73kg at $2.10. Impressed last start. Best jumps form stacks up.
Last Starts 39 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/8 | 20/01/2026 | 44 | STPLE HCP 5U | $27,430.00 | Down Royal | 4828m | Y | J J Slevin | 75.5kg | 6:39.00 | - | 0 |
| 26.3L | $4.50 |
| 3/5 | 07/12/2025 | 29 | STPLE HCP 4U | $59,620.00 | Kelso | 4727m | Soft | Sean Bowen | 73kg | 6:13.87 | 5-2-3 | 0 |
| 8.3L | $2.10 |
| 2/7 | 08/11/2025 | 200 | STPLE HCP 4U | $36,300.00 | Kelso | 4727m | Good Soft | J J Slevin | 71kg | 6:02.21 | 5-3-2 | 0 |
| 3.8L | $4.00 |
| 4/18 | 22/04/2025 | 110 | LR OPEN 5U | $86,720.00 | Fairyhouse | 4626m | YS | Danny Gilligan | 69.5kg | 5:52.30 | - | 0 |
| 2.8L | $15.00 |
| 1/11 | 02/01/2025 | 247 | HDLE MDN 4U | $15,410.00 | Ayr | 4114m | Soft | J J Slevin | 72.5kg | 5:23.06 | 2-1-1 | 0 |
| 4.3L | $1.67 |
| 7/24 | 30/04/2024 | 33 | HDLE HCP 4U | $138,750.00 | Punchestown | 3922m | Y | J J Slevin | 66kg | 4:52.50 | - | 0 |
| 22.0L | $15.00 |
| 3/11 | 28/03/2024 | 19 | HDLE HCP 4U | $13,610.00 | Wetherby | 4325m | Soft | Ben Bromley | 69kg | 5:14.44 | - | 0 |
| 1.5L | $10.00 |
| 2/6 | 09/03/2024 | 74 | NHDLE 4U | $14,520.00 | Ayr | 4123m | Good Soft | Daryl Jacob | 70kg | 5:11.05 | 1-1-2 | 0 |
| 3.3L | $7.50 |
| 5/12 | 26/12/2023 | 17 | MHDLE 4U | $22,550.00 | Down Royal | 4023m | Soft | Ben Bromley | 69.5kg | 5:07.70 | - | 0 |
| 8.3L | $51.00 |
| 9/26 | 09/12/2023 | 28 | MHDLE 4 | $21,680.00 | Navan | 3218m | Heavy | Brian Hayes | 73kg | 4:32.60 | - | 0 |
| 37.0L | $51.00 |
| 4/13 | 11/11/2023 | 101 | HUNT FLAT 45 | $9,070.00 | Kelso | 3218m | Good Soft | Daryl Jacob | 71kg | 4:13.63 | 8-5-4 | 0 |
| 4.3L | $4.50 |

Jockey: Bruce Lynn
Weight: 66kgs
Stats
Comments
Racing second-up today. Fresh up after two months ran last in a small field at Carlisle on February 3 over 4200m, 30 len behind First Confession carrying 72kg at $13. Previously second-up ran last at Newcastle on November 29 over 4400m, 31 len behind Zanndabad carrying 72kg at $34. Requires further improvement.
Last Starts 25 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/4 | 03/02/2026 | 66 | CHSE 5U | $27,990.00 | Carlisle | 4224m | Good Soft | Bruce Lynn | 72kg | 5:38.17 | 4-4-4 | 0 |
| 30.5L | $13.00 |
| 8/8 | 29/11/2025 | 21 | HDLE 4U | $36,300.00 | Newcastle Uk | 4425m | Good Soft | Jamie Hamilton | 72kg | 5:24.41 | 1-8-8 | 0 |
| 31.8L | $34.00 |
| 4/7 | 08/11/2025 | 199 | HDLE 4U | $14,520.00 | Kelso | 4526m | Good Soft | Bruce Lynn | 73kg | 5:40.85 | 3-4-4 | 0 |
| 16.8L | $4.00 |
| 1/10 | 23/04/2025 | 71 | HDLE MDN 4U | $14,520.00 | Perth Uk | 4023m | Good Soft | Bruce Lynn | 72.5kg | 5:05.11 | 3-1-1 | 0 |
| 9.5L | $13.00 |
| 3/12 | 11/02/2025 | 84 | HDLE MDN 4U | $14,760.00 | Ayr | 4114m | Soft | Bruce Lynn | 74kg | 5:23.33 | 5-4-3 | 0 |
| 7.8L | $15.00 |
| 4/10 | 19/11/2024 | 22 | HDLE MDN 4U | $11,800.00 | Carlisle | 4023m | Soft | Bruce Lynn | 71kg | 5:21.34 | 7-5-4 | 0 |
| 15.3L | $67.00 |
| 6/7 | 28/10/2024 | 154 | HDLE 4U | $16,330.00 | Ayr | 3218m | Good Soft | Bruce Lynn | 68kg | 4:01.26 | 3-4-6 | 0 |
| 17.0L | $17.00 |
| 1/10 | 27/05/2024 | - | P2P MDN | $0.00 | Chaddesley Corbett P2p | 4828m | Good Soft | Charlie Case | 71.5kg | 6:31.10 | - | 0 |
| 0.5L | $9.00 |