William Hill Extra Places With Bog 'Chasing Excellence' Novices' Chase (GBB Race)

Cheltenham

16:05

Date 2025-10-25

Distance 3m1f

Class Class 2

Going Good

Type Chase

Surface Turf

Age Band 5yo+

Prize £21,784

Runners (7)

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
4	Intense Approach Chestnut J:Alex Harvey T:John C McConnell	J:Alex Harvey T:John C McConnell	161	—	11P8-1	137	144	93	85d	—	—	+11	41.1	0.50/1	2/1 33%
Did well over hurdles and won a competitive beginners' chase at Galway in August
7	Welcom To Cartries Bay J:Harry Cobden T:Paul Nicholls	J:Harry Cobden T:Paul Nicholls	156	tp	8/442-	133	147	120	218d	—	—	+9	25.8	1.00/1	4/1 20%
Useful hurdler but a well-built gelding who should do even better over fences
5	Leave Of Absence Chestnut J:Rex Dingle T:Anthony Honeyball	J:Rex Dingle T:Anthony Honeyball	161	t	1/221-	132	144	124	218d	—	—	+17	31.9	1.25/1	5/1 17%
Impressed at Newbury in March; sound jumper who should give this a good go from the front
2	Anyway Bay J:Darragh O'Keeffe T:David Kenneth Budds	J:Darragh O'Keeffe T:David Kenneth Budds	161	p	52-1U8	141	151	131	31d	—	—	+13	26.8	1.50/1	6/1 14%
Failed to fire over 3m in Kerry National but the trip is worth another go; smart at 2m4f
1	Pied Piper Chestnut J:Jack Kennedy T:Gordon Elliott	J:Jack Kennedy T:Gordon Elliott	164	tp	-110F3	150	151	117	20d	—	—	+25	34.8	1.75/1	7/1 13%
Below best of late but would be a strong contender on these terms if back on song
6	Sporting Glory Bay J:Danny Gilligan T:Gordon Elliott	J:Danny Gilligan T:Gordon Elliott	156	—	13P0-4	133	141	112	24d	—	—	+15	22.9	2.75/1	11/1 8%
Ran okay on chase debut at Sligo but no more than that and his jumping was a bit scruffy
3	Baltic Bird Bay J:Patrick M O'Brien T:William Durkan	J:Patrick M O'Brien T:William Durkan	161	t	3-1403	129	129	109	23d	—	—	+20	22.6	10.00/1	40/1 2%
Has won all sorts during his career; 1-3 over fences; bit on his plate at these weights

Horse	bet365	William Hill	Boyle Sports	Ladbrokes	Unibet
Intense Approach	2/1	2/1	2/1	2/1	15/8
Welcom To Cartries	4/1	4/1	4/1	4/1	4/1
Leave Of Absence	4/1	4/1	4/1	4/1	5/1
Anyway	6/1	11/2	11/2	6/1	11/2
Pied Piper	7/1	7/1	7/1	13/2	13/2
Sporting Glory	11/1	10/1	10/1	10/1	11/1
Baltic Bird	40/1	33/1	33/1	28/1	40/1

Predictor

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

1st

Intense Approach

41.1

OR: 21.8 Form: 10 Odds: 9.4

2/1

2nd

Pied Piper

34.8

OR: 25 Form: 7 Odds: 2.9

7/1

3rd

Leave Of Absence

31.9

OR: 20.5 Form: 7 Odds: 4.4

5/1

Anyway

26.8

OR: 22.8 Form: 0 Odds: 4

6/1

Welcom To Cartries

25.8

OR: 20.8 Form: 0 Odds: 5

4/1

Sporting Glory

22.9

OR: 20.8 Form: 0 Odds: 2.1

11/1

Baltic Bird

22.6

OR: 19.8 Form: 2.1 Odds: 0.8

40/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Pied Piper	150	151	117
Anyway	141	151	131
Intense Approach	137	144	93
Welcom To Cartries	133	147	120
Sporting Glory	133	141	112
Leave Of Absence	132	144	124
Baltic Bird	129	129	109

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Pied Piper	20d ago	Fit
Baltic Bird	23d ago	Fit
Sporting Glory	24d ago	Fit
Anyway	31d ago	Fit
Intense Approach	85d ago	Fresh
Welcom To Cartries	218d ago	Long break
Leave Of Absence	218d ago	Long break