William Hill Game Spirit Chase |
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| Grade 2 Handicap, Newbury 14:45 £90,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 92yds, Class 1 |
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There is a familiar air of quality about the early entries, and it is Nicky Henderson’s exciting novice Lulamba who immediately catches the eye among the nine currently under consideration.
Lovely from Lulamba
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 6, 2025
🏇 Six runs
🏆 Five wins
🥇 G1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase
🥇 G1 Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle
🥈 G1 Triumph Hurdle
🚀 Different gravy pic.twitter.com/vm9IHoz4JR
Still only five, Lulamba has created a striking impression since switching to fences, winning both of his starts in that discipline with a blend of pace, fluency and authority that marks him down as a chaser of serious promise. Although officially a novice, connections are clearly tempted by the prospect of testing him in deeper waters in a race that has so often served as a stepping stone to the very top.
Henderson, of course, knows exactly what is required to win this contest. His roll of honour includes victories with French Opera in 2011, the brilliant Sprinter Sacre the following year, and a remarkable treble courtesy of Altior in 2017, 2018 and again in 2020. That lineage alone underlines the esteem in which the race is held and offers a tantalising clue as to how highly Lulamba is regarded at Seven Barrows.
Last year’s winner Master Chewy is another with the option of returning, representing the Twiston-Davies team and bringing proven course-and-distance form to the table should he line up. His success twelve months ago ensures he will not be underestimated, particularly if conditions again play to his strengths over the sharp two miles.
There is also notable novice talent elsewhere in the entries. Sam Thomas has included Steel Ally, a young chaser who has generated plenty of excitement with his early efforts and looks the type to benefit from being thrown into a race of this nature. Meanwhile, Calico could carry the colours of the Skelton operation, arriving on the back of successive victories in valuable handicaps that have showcased both resilience and a progressive profile.
Taken together, the entries suggest a renewal that could blend established form with emerging talent, and if the leading contenders stand their ground, the William Hill Game Spirit Chase promises to be a compelling mid-season examination for some of the most interesting two-mile chasers currently in training.
Wiliam Hill Game Spirit Chase
(Grade 2) £90,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus, 2m 92y, Class 1
9 entries
Going: Soft
NO. FORM HORSE AGE TRAINER JOCKEY
1 12-43P Brookie 9 - Anthony Honeyball Ben Godfrey
2 432-11 Calico 10 - Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
3 12F-U4 Libberty Hunter 10 - Evan Williams
4 12-111 Lulamba 5 - Nicky Henderson
5 8-529U Martator 9 - Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch
6 6-2472 Master Chewy 9 - Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
7 113-11 Meetmebythesea 6 - Ben Pauling
8 1-1212 Saint Segal 8 - Jane Williams Ciaran Gethings
9 P2P-11 Steel Ally 8 - Sam Thomas
Betfair Exchange Chase – Roll of Honour
YEAR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY AGE/WEIGHT SP RAN
2025 MASTER CHEWY Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 8 11-5 11/1 6
2024 EDWARDSTONE Alan King Tom Cannon 10 11-8 11/10F 4
2023 FUNAMBULE SIVAOLA Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 8 11-8 7/1 4
2022 FUNAMBULE SIVAOLA Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 7 11-00 9/4 4
2021 SCEAU ROYAL Alan King Daryl Jacob 9-11-00 3/1F 6
2020 ALTIOR Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 10-11-06 1/3F 6
2019 Abandoned - Equine Flu scare
2018 ALTIOR NJ Henderson Nico de Boinville 08-11-06 1/3F 3
2017 ALTIOR NJ Henderson Nico de Boinville 07-11-05 30/100F 4
2016 TOP GAMBLE Kerry Lee Richard Johnson 08-11-05 10/11F 4
2015 MR MOLE Paul Nicholls A P McCoy 07-11-06 7/2 5
2014 MODULE Tom George Paddy Brennan 07-11-02 11/8F 4
2013 WISHFULL THINKING Philip Hobbs Richard Johnson 10-11-06 4/1 6
2012 SPRINTER SACRE Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty 06-11-05 2/5F 6
2011 FRENCH OPERA Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty 08-11-05 7/2 7
2010 MASTER MINDED Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 07-11-10 8/13F 5
2009 Abandoned - Snow
2008 MASTER MINDED Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 05-11-04 7/4 6
2007 WELL CHIEF David Pipe Timmy Murphy 08-11-00 5/2 8
*2006 DON’T BE SHY Martin Pipe Timmy Murphy 05-10-11 5/4F 4
2005 AZERTYUIOP Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 08-11-10 11/10F 6
2004 AZERTYUIOP Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 07-11-05 4/11F 6
2003 KADARANN Paul Nicholls Joe Tizzard 06-11-04 5/1 5
2002 LADY CRICKET Martin Pipe A P McCoy 08-11-01 15/8 7
2001 FUNCTION DREAM Mary Reveley Anthony Ross 09-11-03 7/4 6
2000 FLAGSHIP UBERALLES Paul Nicholls Joe Tizzard 06-11-13 1/4F 3
1999 CELIBATE Charlie Mann Mick Fitzgerald 08-11-03 7/2 6
1998 ASK TOM Tom Tate Russ Garritty 09-11-10 13/8F 4
1997 DOUBLE SYMPHONY Charlie Brooks Jamie Osborne 09-10-12 4/5F 3
1996 VIKING FLAGSHIP David Nicholson Adrian Maguire 09-11-10 5/2 6
1995 NAKIR Simon Christian Jamie Osborne 07-11-10 5/2 3
1994 VIKING FLAGSHIP David Nicholson Adrian Maguire 07-11-10 3/1 5
1993 WATERLOO BOY David Nicholson Richard Dunwoody 10-11-07 9/4 5
1992 WATERLOO BOY David Nicholson Richard Dunwoody 09-11-10 10/11F 6
*Run at Lingfield Park after Newbury was abandoned because of frost










