The 2026 Classic Handicap Chase

[Ian_Davies]

Silver Lining 20/1 best now.

 

[Outsider]

I've taken 14s on Destroytheevidence at Powers. He's much shorter at Hills and shaped as if he needed a step up in trip last time.

Sure to get in whatever

 

[Outsider]

L'Homme Presse, Mr Vango and Resplendent Grey all need to come out for My Silver Lining to get in, I think - without that trio she's certainly not 25/1.

I think it's only L'homme that needs to come out.

 

[Ian_Davies]

I think it's only L'homme that needs to come out.

You're right - I'd been looking at how many needed to come out for My Silver Lining to run off her correct mark which is entirely separate.

I blame Walsworth - I sent him to Venezuela end of last week to do some food shopping and he's still not come back.

I can't focus without Latin American food!

 

[Ian_Davies]

Myretown looks a bet-to-nothing at 7/2.
If L’Homme Presse runs, he carries 10-06 and three come out. Myretown goes off shorter.

If L’Homme Presse doesn’t run, a high-class rival disappears. His chance improves.

Either way, there’s more upside than downside.

Myretown is also entered at Kelso on Sunday.

 

[Slim]

Myretown is also entered at Kelso on Sunday.

I'm surprised at that. Not jocked up for either. The Kelso race makes some sense in ways.

 

[Ian_Davies]

I'm surprised at that. Not jocked up for either. The Kels. race makes some sense in ways.

I was surprised too - I didn't even look at the Kelso entries until literally a minute before I posted the double entry.

 

[barjon]

I'm surprised at that. Not jocked up for either. The Kelso race makes some sense in ways.

Can’t see it, myself. They expect big things from Myretown and I’d have thought there’s no benefit in going to Kelso unless a bit worried about any after effects of the fall last time. Even then, they wouldn’t want to destroy his mark for a relatively tiny pot.

 

[Ian_Davies]

Can’t see it, myself. They expect big things from Myretown and I’d have thought there’s no benefit in going to Kelso unless a bit worried about any after effects of the fall last time. Even then, they wouldn’t want to destroy his mark for a relatively tiny pot.

Yes, you'd think, having gone direct for the Coral Gold Cup first time out, they'd target a £57,000 race over an £8,000 race - hopefully he's just in at Kelso as a weather precaution, but it would be enough to stop me backing him ante-post at Warwick just in case he's actually not declared Thursday morning.

 

[reet hard]

Yes, you'd think, having gone direct for the Coral Gold Cup first time out, they'd target a £57,000 race over an £8,000 race - hopefully he's just in at Kelso as a weather precaution, but it would be enough to stop me backing him ante-post at Warwick just in case he's actually not declared Thursday morning.

But the Warwick race is for 57K,and a simpler target?

 

[Ian_Davies]

I'm very risk averse, reet - I can wait for Thursday for the decs even though I'd agree logic dictates he ought to go to Warwick.

 

[Slim]

The 4/1 is all gone.

 

[luckyme]

The Classic Chase is a 3m5f gruelling Grade 3 handicap that is run at Warwick racecourse every season in January and provides punters with another chance to see some potential Aintree Grand National hopefuls on show – in 2017 the Lucinda Russell-trained One For Arthur won the Classic Chase before going onto land the Grand National at Aintree in April.

The former Welsh Grand National winner Iwilldoit won the race for trainer Sam Thomas in 2023, while in 2024 the Emma Lavelle camp fired in their third in the race with the good-looking grey mare My Silver Lining.

Did you know? 17 of the last 19 Classic Chase winners raced in the last 6 weeks.

We take a look back at recent winners of the Classic Chase and give you the key betting trends, plus our free horse racing tip in the Classic Chase 2026. This year run on Saturday 10th January.

Recent Classic Chase Winners​

2025 - NO RACE
2024 - MY SILVER LINING (17/2)
2023 - IWILLDOIT (12/1)
2022 – ÉCLAIR SURF (11/1)
2021 - NOTACHANCE (7/2 jfav)
2020 – KIMBERLITE CANDY (9/2)
2019 – IMPULSIVE STAR (8/1)
2018 – MILANSBAR (12/1)
2017 – ONE FOR ARTHUR (14/1)
2016 – RUSSE BLANC (20/1)
2015 – HAWKES POINT (15/2)
2014 – SHOTGUN PADDY (9/1)
2013 - RIGADIN DE BEAUCHENE (5/1)
2012 – HEY BIG SPENDER (14/1)
2011 – WEST END ROCKER (10/1)
2010 – No Race
2009 – No Race
2008 – D’ARGENT (18/1)
2007 – LADALKO (9/2 fav)
2006 – EUROTREK (6/1)
2005 – BARON WINDRUSH (11/1)
2004 – SOUTHERN STAR (15/2)

Classic Chase Betting Trends and Stats​

17/19 – Raced within the last 6 weeks
17/19 – Had won a chase race over at least 3m
15/19 – Raced within the last 5 weeks
14/19 – Carried 11-3 or less in weight
14/19 – Aged between 7-9 years-old
13/19 – Officially rated between 129-140
13/19 – Winners that came from outside the top 3 in the betting market
13/19 – Won between 2-5 times over fences before
13/19 – Placed in the top 3 in their last race
12/19 – Won by an Irish bred horse
12/19 – Winning distance – 4 lengths or less
11/19 – Favourites placed
9/19 – Returned a double-figure price
8/19 – Had raced at Warwick (hurdles, chase, NH Flat) previously
6/19 – Ran at either Cheltenham (3) or Newbury (3) in their last race
5/19 – Won their last race
3/19 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
3/19 – Trained by Alan King
3/19 – Trained by Emma Lavelle (3 of the last 11)
11 of the last 14 Classic Chase winners aged 9 or younger
Just two winning favourites in the last 19 runnings
The average winning SP in the last 19 runnings is 10/1

 

[luckyme]

I like the look of MAKINGYOURMINDUP 2nd run off a wind op, out of KAYF TARA, Nicholls won 3/19 meets a couple of the other stats and out to 14s or 16s with some
trainers comments..........

8g Kayf Tara - SubtiltyOwners Group 090442112/RPR 147c OR 142cHe’s back after a season off. Judged by his two novice chase wins over threemiles on heavy ground, he clearly stays well and is suited by testingconditions, so the Welsh National is an obvious target. I’d like to run him firstin Chepstow’s trial for that race in early December.

 

[Slim]

"Did you know? 17 of the last 19 Classic Chase winners raced in the last 6 weeks"

Hardly surprising that a jumps horse running in January will have had a run in the previous 6 weeks.

 

[Ian_Davies]

I know that, back in my youth, this race seemed to hardly ever take place - it was abandoned due to snow and frost seven times in 11 years 1978-1988 and I only ever saw it live once (Bonum Omen, 1983) while at Warwick University.

I really hope I'm wrong, obviously, but Storm Goretti may put paid to it.

 

[Slim]

I know that, back in my youth, this race seemed to hardly ever take place - it was abandoned due to snow and frost seven times in 11 years 1978-1988 and I only ever saw it live once (Bonum Omen, 1983) while at Warwick University.

I really hope I'm wrong, obviously, but Storm Goretti may put paid to it.

I was looking forward to the fight with Hills.

 

[Slim]

Why has Mr Vango been cut everywhere today?

 

[Ian_Davies]

Why has Mr Vango been cut everywhere today?

Unless they've increased the race distance to five miles and transferred it to The Somme in the event of Warwick being abandoned, I'm unsure myself.

 

[Desert Orchid]

I wouldn't mind having Myretown onside for the National ahead of this race, assuming it goes ahead.

Currently rated 142 it will need to go up at least 5lbs to have any chance of getting in at Aintree so will probably need to win between now and mid-February.

It holds an entry in the Gold Cup so is presumably thought to be a 160+ horse and I think the yard won this with One For Arthur en route to the big one.

The problem is only Hills and 888 are going 33/1. The former don't let me bet with them and I closed my 888 account over the fuss they made of my trying to withdraw winnings from them.

Just as I was typing that I remembered they don't know me in the local WH shop so I might pop down there in the morning to see if I can get something on. (Maybe my friend Stan the postman, a regular there, can help me get on if necessary. Failing that I might ask the brother to try and get it on in his local shop but his nosebleed at the thought of putting on the bet might raise a flag.)

 

[Euronymous]

Do you bet over the counter only at this Hills?

 

[Slim]

I wouldn't mind having Myretown onside for the National ahead of this race, assuming it goes ahead.

Currently rated 142 it will need to go up at least 5lbs to have any chance of getting in at Aintree so will probably need to win between now and mid-February.

It holds an entry in the Gold Cup so is presumably thought to be a 160+ horse and I think the yard won this with One For Arthur en route to the big one.

The problem is only Hills and 888 are going 33/1. The former don't let me bet with them and I closed my 888 account over the fuss they made of my trying to withdraw winnings from them.

Just as I was typing that I remembered they don't know me in the local WH shop so I might pop down there in the morning to see if I can get something on. (Maybe my friend Stan the postman, a regular there, can help me get on if necessary. Failing that I might ask the brother to try and get it on in his local shop but his nosebleed at the thought of putting on the bet might raise a flag.)

33/1 sounds like a very good price to me. I'd still take the 3/1 on the day and just back a winner mind.

 

[Desert Orchid]

Yes, Slim. My thinking is that if it wins it will be cut to 14s and if I get the chance to look at Saturday's race I can see me fancying it.

 

[Desert Orchid]

Do you bet over the counter only at this Hills?

My abortive bet on Tommie Beau for the WGN was the only time I've bet over the counter for as long as I can remember. Hills opened in our village and pretty much killed the local independent chap (but he was 78 at the time and looking to retire - Hills just forced his hand. Stan visits him regularly and reports him in deteriorating health but still sharp as a tack.)

I'd need to travel into Hamilton or East Kilbride to find any other bookie and I can't be arsed to do that.

 

[The Fortune Teller]

In terms of the Grand National, would you not be concerned he's fell twice in the last 12 months?