GRAND ANNUAL HANDICAP CHASE

Start with the round of jumping

This is the short-distance handicap chase on Wednesday’s Old Course card. Look for a technique that works when the horse is travelling at a strong pace and surrounded by rivals. A clean completion in a small field tells you something, but it does not answer every question.

Repeated small errors can be as damaging as one spectacular mistake. Watch whether a runner loses its position, needs time to regain balance or becomes less fluent when it cannot see a fence early. Those are useful details when comparing otherwise similar form.

Do the weights support the story?

A falling mark makes a horse cheaper in handicap terms, but there should be some sign that its ability remains. Recent finishing positions may conceal encouraging efforts, or they may accurately describe a decline. The replay and the quality of the opposition help you decide.

An improving novice has the opposite question to answer. How much of the latest performance is already reflected in the new rating, and how much development is still plausible? Do not assume that youth or a fashionable stable automatically supplies the missing pounds.

Map the pressure before choosing a runner

Identify the horses likely to want the lead and the ones comfortable taking a position behind them. You are not trying to predict every move. You are checking whether your selection’s preferred way of racing is likely to be available.

Ground conditions also matter to rhythm. The same horse can find it easier to hold a position when the pace is softened by testing ground, while another needs a sounder surface to use its speed. Match the evidence to the day rather than treating an old course result as a permanent verdict.

Previous renewals

The 2027 runners

No live prices or confirmed 2027 runner list are presented in this guide. Reviewed 11 November 2026.