12:05 Cheltenham

Saturday 24 January 2026

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:05 | Winning time: 5m 22.09s

Push The Button³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 137| D

6/1

Useful winning hurdler for Nigel Twiston-Davies who made winning start to chase career for new connections in maiden at Carlisle in October. Better form in defeat twice since (second in 19f Ascot Grade 2 latterly) and looks on a workable mark now going over 2½m+ for the first time over fences.

Form: 668-122

Califet En Vol²³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137| D

4/1

Dual winner as a novice over hurdles, including a listed contest at Huntingdon. Has bettered that form in defeat in a couple of C&D novice chases this winter and capable of more again now moving into his first handicap.

Form: 1216-23

Quebecois^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Freddie Gingell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135

12/1

Dispatched pair of subsequent winners in 3m novice handicap hurdle at Ayr last spring. Returned with promising second on Exeter chase debut in November and something possibly not right when well held in 3m Sandown Grade 2 novice since. Drops in trip for yard with good recent record in this.

Form: 2321-24

Jordans Cross^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 134

7/1

Might be unbeaten over fences but for a last-fence fall here in November. Gained compensation for that when landing 19f Doncaster handicap 6 weeks ago. Looks capable of even better.

Form: 212-1F1

Kdeux Saint Fray^t⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 128| BF| C

7/2

Bumper/hurdle winner who was struggling when coming down on his course chase debut/reappearance but proved a different proposition back here next time, finding in front when left clear by the last-fence fall of reopposing stablemate Jordans Cross. Creditable second at Aintree since and respected.

Form: 152-F12

Barlovento²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 125| D

4/1

Bumper/hurdle winner who has taken well to fences, chasing home a next-time-out winner at Exeter in November before going one better in a 20.5f novice handicap at Kempton on Boxing Day. Open to further improvement.

Form: 1/122-21

Secret Des Dieux²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: James Owen| OR: 123

9/1

Dual hurdle winner who struck at the first time of asking over fences in 4-runner Fakenham novice handicap (2m, good to soft) in October. Has bettered that in defeat since, latterly finishing 1½ lengths fourth of 10 to reopposing Barlovento at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Form: 354-134

Scorsese^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120

16/1

Dual hurdle winner who has gone the right way over fences, although this is considerably tougher than the 19f Sedgefield Class 4 handicap he dominated on Boxing Day.

Form: 11-8F21

Kaline Des Boullat²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Bryony Frost| T: M Seror| OR: 114

28/1

Fair winning chaser in France who was successful in a mares' hurdle at Pau on her latest start at the end of December. Not obviously well handicapped.

Form: 315471

Forecasts

Kdeux Saint Fray (7/2), Califet En Vol (4/1), Barlovento (4/1), Push The Button (6/1), Jordans Cross (7/1), Secret Des Dieux (9/1), Quebecois (12/1), Scorsese (16/1), Kaline Des Boullat (28/1)

The last 5 winners of the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase have gone on to finish first or second at the Festival in March. BARLOVENTO would have been a more convincing winner at Kempton on Boxing Day but for fluffing the last so a 4 lb rise may not stop him with further progress likely. The prospect of a stronger pace now moving into a handicap could bring about improvement from Califet En Vol and he can fill the forecast spot ahead of Jordans Cross.