16:40 Cheltenham

Wednesday 11 March 2026

All13:2014:0014:4015:2016:0016:4017:20

Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 3m 52.93s

Touch Me Not¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: James Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 155| BF| D

33/1

Likeable type who won a Grade 2 as a novice and plenty of good efforts in defeat since. However, his consistency means he's getting no respite from the handicapper.

Form: 54-4232

Calico^t,p³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 153| CD

28/1

Brilliantly primed to win 2 £100k handicaps over C&D and Ascot this autumn. Shaped as if needing the run back from 11 weeks off in Game Spirit at Newbury last month and should be spot on now.

Form: 432-114

Rubaud²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 148| D

10/1

Front runner who bagged a Grade 2 novice chase at Kempton last season. Won the Elite Hurdle for a third year running at Wincanton in November and good placed efforts in Grade 1 at Kempton/Grade 2 at Wincanton since. Potentially on a nice mark back over fences.

Form: 55-1132

Be Aware⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 147| BF| D

10/3

Useful hurdler who has improved switched to fences this season (has become a free-going front runner), winning Stratford handicap on return and even better form when runner-up in small-field graded novices next 3 starts, including over C&D on first of them. Got to be of interest back handicapping.

Form: 88-1222

Inthepocket³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 146| D

6/1

Very talented novice hurdler in 2022/23, fourth in the Supreme Hurdle at this meeting before winning Grade 1 at Aintree. Hasn't stood much racing switched to fences over the last 2 years but caught the eye in a very competitive Leopardstown handicap last month and better ground here will suit.

Form: 13-F555

Boothill^t⁷⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 145| DWS

50/1

Lightly raced in recent seasons and no longer the force of old. Has had another breathing operation.

Form: 2F4-P53

Addragoole^t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 145| D

20/1

Profile over fences is a progressive one, bagging a big-field handicap at Leopardstown on Boxing Day before good third off 10 lb higher there 5 weeks ago. However, his one disappointing run this season came over C&D in October.

Form: 321413

Jazzy Matty^p⁵²

8/1

Showed much improved form when winning this race last year off 8 lb lower, bagging himself another Cheltenham Festival handicap in the process (Fred Winter winner in 2023). The way he has been campaigned this season suggests this has been the target once again (headgear on/has had a breathing op).

Form: 16P-056

Vanderpoel⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 141| D

15/2

Took a big step forward on third chase start when winning at Ascot in December and confirmed that form when following up in another small-field handicap at Sandown. Seems very well suited by a soundly-run race and this unexposed sort is on the shortlist.

Form: 1P-3211

Western Diego^h³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| D

25/1

Mixed record over fences but is coming good at the right time, posting a career best when opening account in this sphere at Fairyhouse before backing that up with a fourth at Leopardstown off 8 lb higher 5 weeks ago despite things not panning out quite so well. Yard still seeking first win in this.

Form: 258-314

The Other Mozzie^t,p⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: L Morgan| OR: 141| D

80/1

Ended last season in top form, not seen to best effect when seventh in the Golden Miller at this meeting before winning Premier Handicap at Ayr. Respectable return in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here but well held next 2 starts and has since left Gavin Cromwell. Tongue tie back on.

Form: 710-770

Special Cadeau¹⁰²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Mike O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 141| D

80/1

Consistent rather than progressive over fences since making a winning debut in this sphere in maiden at Thurles over a year ago, though underperformed returned to softer ground in listed handicap at Fairyhouse when last seen in November.

Form: 5-25236

Martator^b³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 139

66/1

Most progressive when landing 5-timer in 2024. Has come back down weights and showed ability remains when second at Ascot in November but that very much a standout effort this season. Never involved when tenth in this last year off 8 lb higher. Change of headgear.

Form: 08-529U

Ballysax Hank³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 139

10/1

Versatile performer who just failed to land American Grand National at Far Hills (hurdle,21f) in October. Shaped better than bare result in listed handicaps at Leopardstown next 2 starts and this has likely been the target.

Form: 2-31286

Personal Ambition^b²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 138| D

20/1

Bounced back to form when winning 3-runner novice at Newbury (2m) 3 weeks ago, seeming to relish the combination of first-time blinkers and drop back in trip under a typically attacking ride. Will find this much harder to dominate, however.

Form: 3P-4P51

Jour D'Evasion^t⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 137| D

22/1

Winning hurdler who has quickly made up into an even better chaser this season, defying a further 10 lb rise when bringing up the hat-trick at Warwick 7 weeks ago, overcoming some slightly scruffy jumping. Progressing well, though it remains to be seen how he copes in a bigger field.

Form: 15-5111

Break My Soul^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽³⁾| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 136| D

20/1

Outran her odds when fourth in the Aintree Hurdle on second start for this yard last season. Mixed record switched to fences this term, though latest second in small-field novice at Punchestown was one of her better efforts. Opening mark in this sphere looks no more than fair.

Form: 44-1472

Relieved Of Duties^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| D

12/1

Failed to build on a promising start over hurdles and it's a similar story over fences so far, well held at Punchestown last 2 starts after a promising second in C&D novice in October. Opening mark in this sphere looks no more than fair.

Form: F51254

Jasko Des Dames^t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 136

33/1

Quickly proved himself a better chaser than hurdler last season (decent fifth in this off 5 lb lower). Resumed progress with good runner-up efforts at Listowel/Cheltenham in the autumn and shaped as if needing the run back from 3 months off at Leopardstown 5 weeks ago. Better expected now.

Form: 550-220

Release The Beast^h1,t⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Nolan| OR: 136| BF| D

10/1

Didn't go on as expected after winning a novice at Limerick last season but firmly back on track when runner-up in Wexford/Leopardstown handicaps this campaign. May ideally prefer further than this but respected all the same. Hood added.

Form: 3166-22

Forecasts

Be Aware (10/3), Inthepocket (6/1), Vanderpoel (15/2), Jazzy Matty (8/1), Release The Beast (10/1), Ballysax Hank (10/1), Rubaud (10/1), Relieved Of Duties (12/1), Break My Soul (20/1), Addragoole (20/1), Personal Ambition (20/1), Jour D'Evasion (22/1), Western Diego (25/1), Calico (28/1), Jasko Des Dames (33/1), Touch Me Not (33/1), Boothill (50/1), Martator (66/1), Special Cadeau (80/1), The Other Mozzie (80/1)

Plenty to consider in what is a typically-intriguing renewal. JAZZY MATTY won this decisively as a novice last season and has likely had this race as his long-term target again having been campaigned mainly over hurdles. First-season chasers could have a major say once more, with Be Aware and Vanderpoel prominent on the shortlist. Several of the Irish runners clashed in a Leopardstown handicap five weeks ago, with Inthepocket and Ballysax Hank shaping best.