OLBG 'Chasing Excellence' Novices' Chase (GBB Race)

Newbury

14:15

Date 2026-02-17

Distance 2m92y

Class Class 3

Going Soft

Type Chase

Surface Turf

Age Band 5yo+

Prize £9,242

Weather Clear

Temp 3.5°C

Wind 14mph NW

Winning Time 4m 10.93s (slow by 13.93s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	Personal Ambition (IRE) Ben Jones · Ben Pauling	9/4	Won
2nd	Quebecois (FR) Harry Cobden · Paul Nicholls	2/5F	17
3rd	Leading Choice (IRE) Sean Houlihan · Nicky Martin	25/1	9.5

Runners (4)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
4	Quebecois Chestnut J:Harry Cobden T:Paul Nicholls	J:Harry Cobden T:Paul Nicholls	156	t	21-242	139	154	147	24d	—	—	-19	42.3	—	4/11 73%
Big run last time; surprising to see him back at 2m but the ground will be testing
3	Personal Ambition Brown J:Ben Jones T:Ben Pauling	J:Ben Jones T:Ben Pauling	156	b	3P-4P5	133	149	108	60d	—	—	+4	28	—	5/2 29%
Flashes of good form over fences; poor last time but now goes in new blinkers
2	Leading Choice Bay J:Sean Houlihan T:Nicky Martin	J:Sean Houlihan T:Nicky Martin	156	—	36/49-	110	-	-	395d	—	—	+12	16	—	28/1 3%
Bumper and 2m4f maiden hurdle winner; has a long absence to overcome on his chasing debut
NR	Old Cowboy Bay J:Freddie Mitchell(3) T:Gary & Josh Moore	J:Freddie Mitchell(3) T:Gary & Josh Moore	163	—	32-31F	130	140	125	38d	—	—	—	20	—	—
Up 4lb for his Kempton fall but he was threatening when coming down

Horse	bet365	Coral	Virgin Bet
Quebecois	4/11	1/3	4/11
Personal Ambition	5/2	9/4	5/2
Leading Choice	28/1	22/1	28/1
Old Cowboy	-	-	-

Predictor

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

1st

Quebecois

42.3

OR: 22.3 Form: 0 Odds: 20

4/11

2nd

Personal Ambition

OR: 20.8 Form: 0 Odds: 7.3

5/2

3rd

Old Cowboy

OR: 20 Form: 0 Odds: 0

—

Leading Choice

OR: 15 Form: 0 Odds: 1

28/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Quebecois	139	154	147
Personal Ambition	133	149	108
Old Cowboy	130	140	125
Leading Choice	110	—	—

Last Run