William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novice Chase (Grade 2)

Navan

15:45

Date 2025-02-09

Distance 2m7f175y

Class Class 1

Going Soft To Heavy

Type Chase

Surface Turf

Age Band 5yo+

Prize €22,125

Winning Time 6m 47.00s (slow by 36.00s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	Better Days Ahead (IRE) Sam Ewing · Gordon Elliott	1/2F	Won
2nd	Stellar Story (IRE) Danny Gilligan · Gordon Elliott	13/2	0.3
3rd	Three Card Brag (IRE) Jordan Gainford · Gordon Elliott	7/2	4.75
4th	Arctic Skua (IRE) Phillip Enright · Vincent Laurence Halley	300/1	64

Non-Runners / Other

Status	Horse	SP
U.R.	Chosen Witness (IRE) Paul Townend · W P Mullins	10/1

Runners (5)

EW Terms: 2 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
3	Better Days Ahead Bay J:Sam Ewing T:Gordon Elliott	J:Sam Ewing T:Gordon Elliott	157	t	213-12	152	163	130	45d	—	—	-16	45.5	0.10/1	2/5 71%
Martin Pipe winner, went close against the smart Croke Park last time, sets the standard
5	Three Card Brag Bay J:Jordan Gainford T:Gordon Elliott	J:Jordan Gainford T:Gordon Elliott	157	p	23-371	147	157	122	22d	—	—	+12	29.3	1.00/1	4/1 20%
Smart second-season novice, C&D winner last month, Better Days Ahead appears superior
1	Stellar Story Bay J:Danny Gilligan T:Gordon Elliott	J:Danny Gilligan T:Gordon Elliott	162	p	414-14	-	146	87	45d	—	—	-7	2.9	2.50/1	10/1 9%
Albert Bartlett winner, tailed off in Leopardstown race when Better Days Ahead was second
4	Chosen Witness Bay J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins	J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins	157	ht	410-73	-	135	109	39d	—	—	-5	1.7	3.50/1	14/1 7%
Useful hurdler, can win races over fences, not a likely threat to the Elliott trio here
2	Arctic Skua Bay J:Phillip Enright T:Vincent Laurence Halley	J:Phillip Enright T:Vincent Laurence Halley	157	tp	31P7-5	-	47	-	7d	—	—	0	0.2	125.00/1	500/1 0%
Well exposed point-to-pointer, lost touch from halfway in Grade 1 event at Leopardstown

Horse	bet365	Coral	Virgin Bet
Better Days Ahead	4/11	1/3	2/5
Three Card Brag	4/1	4/1	4/1
Stellar Story	10/1	8/1	8/1
Chosen Witness	14/1	12/1	12/1
Arctic Skua	500/1	125/1	300/1

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Better Days Ahead

45.5

OR: 25.5 Form: 0 Odds: 20

2/5

2nd

Three Card Brag

29.3

OR: 24.3 Form: 0 Odds: 5

4/1

3rd

Stellar Story

2.9

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 2.9

10/1

Chosen Witness

1.7

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 1.7

14/1

Arctic Skua

0.2

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.2

500/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Better Days Ahead	152	163	130
Three Card Brag	147	157	122
Stellar Story	—	146	87
Chosen Witness	—	135	109
Arctic Skua	—	47	—

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Arctic Skua	7d ago	Quick return
Three Card Brag	22d ago	Fit
Chosen Witness	39d ago	Fit
Better Days Ahead	45d ago	Fit
Stellar Story	45d ago	Fit