15:00 Ascot

Saturday 14 February 2026

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Betfair Swinley Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 58.55s

Sam Brown^t,b⁹⁰

Age: 14| Weight: 12-0| J: Chad Bament⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 154| CD

28/1

Likeable veteran who ran to a smart level when winning a veterans' event at Newbury last season. Not discredited when sixth of 10 in premier handicap at Cheltenham on return in November, though has been off again since. Blinkers reapplied.

Form: 02416-6

Threeunderthrufive^t,p⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147| CD

12/1

Smart handicap chaser at best, winner of this race in 2024 and only narrowly denied in last year's renewal. However, has been pulled up 3 of his last 4 starts, including back at this C&D for the Silver Cup in December.

Form: 32PP-4P

Your Darling³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 139| C

15/2

Often finds less than looks likely but is a 4-time winner over fences. Absent 18 months prior to this season and stepped forward from his reappearance when second at Kempton 5 weeks ago, denied after a mistake at the last. Task is now to build on latest effort.

Form: 91P/1-42

Nocte Volatus^t⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 137| D

11/1

Fell in the Grand Sefton at Aintree on return but has proved as good as ever in 2 veterans' events since, making it back-to-back wins when scoring at Sandown 6 weeks ago. However, faces a tougher ask here taking on younger rivals again.

Form: 224-F11

Jipcot^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 133

11/4

Tried again over fences this season and, with reappearance run behind him, responded well to a positive ride when opening his chase account in handicap at Leicester 25 days ago. Could have more to offer in this sphere now that he's up and running.

Form: 340P-31

Joyeux Machin^t,p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 133| D

5/1

Some good efforts in defeat over hurdles upon joining current yard last term, including when runner-up on this card. Has gone back over fences last 2 starts, racing clear in refitted cheekpieces/tongue strap before falling 5 out at Doncaster last time. Major player from current mark.

Form: 22-784F

Credo^b,t⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 130| D

40/1

Won 2 veteran events last season and acquitted herself well on first 2 starts this term, fourth of 12 in Berkshire National here in November. Probably in need of more testing conditions when down the field at Sandown (good) last time, so she could fare better with blinkers back on.

Form: 415-347

Hunter Legend¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 126

12/1

Five-time winner over fences who soon bounced back from a lesser run when third of 6 at Ludlow in December. However, he hasn't been able to build on that effort in 2 subsequent outings, no match for the winner when second at Sandown 2 weeks ago.

Form: 1-68332

Montregard^v²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: J J Burke| T: T Lacey| OR: 125| CD

10/3

Reacted well to first-time visor when getting back to winning ways at Worcester in May and returned with a decisive success at this C&D in November. Soon left behind a below-par effort when runner-up back here last month, so he enters calculations despite being out of the weights.

Form: PP-11P2

Invincible Nao²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 124

14/1

Recorded back-to-back wins at Plumpton early last year and made a successful return at Sandown in November. Creditable efforts the last twice, third of 14 in Surrey National at Lingfield 26 days ago, and he can give his running once more.

Form: 11P-143

Gericault Roque^t,p1²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 124

18/1

Placed several times in valuable handicap company but very lightly raced in recent seasons, returning from another 10 months off when tailed off at Windsor in January. Cheekpieces now added, though others are more persuasive at present.

Form: 253/30-8

Forecasts

Jipcot (11/4), Montregard (10/3), Joyeux Machin (5/1), Your Darling (15/2), Nocte Volatus (11/1), Hunter Legend (12/1), Threeunderthrufive (12/1), Invincible Nao (14/1), Gericault Roque (18/1), Sam Brown (28/1), Credo (40/1)

JOYEUX MACHIN went with more zest in refitted cheekpieces/tongue strap in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster on his latest outing, in a clear lead when falling 5 out, and he could be working his way back to winning ways this season. He is preferred to Montregard, who has put up 2 good efforts over C&D this season, with Jipcot also considered.