The Grade 2 Cotswold Chase of 2026 over an extended three miles and a furlong has, let’s face it, a disappointing turnout. Just five horses entered in the Festival Trials Day feature steeplechase headed by Dan Skelton’s grey gelding Grey Dawning. Half of his rivals recently turned 11, so arrive at Cheltenham past their prime.
Among three potential Irish challengers, Flooring Porter has a fantastic course record around Prestbury Park. The problem with this Gavin Cromwell inmate is he hasn’t run for 486 days due to injury and since landing the 2024 Kerry National from the front at a canter. If taking his chance, then Flooring Porter receives 6lb from Grey Dawning, but obviously lacks race fitness and the yard hasn’t had the best of seasons.
Stellar Story is a past Cheltenham winner too for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud. Aged nine, the 2024 Albert Bartlett hero saw that form franked in spades when The Jukebox Man came out and just prevailed in the King George at Kempton over Christmas. With just one win in eight since for Stellar Story, he also has 14 lengths to find on Grey Dawning from their Betfair Chase meeting around Haydock.
Cotswold Chase race terms favour Spillane’s Tower in that he too receives 6lb from the Skelton runner. Adjusting official figures to reflect weight carried, Jimmy Mangan’s stable star comes out 4lb clear of Grey Dawning. JP McManus has been happy for Spillane’s Tower to spend the first half of the campaign hurdling, though, but as an eight-year-old he’s open to the most progress back over fences.
L’Homme Presse Bids to Retain Crown
Despite that and being youngest in the line-up, Spillane’s Tower has only ever won one race going left-handed. He lacks Cheltenham experience and all his best form is on clockwise tracks, albeit undulating and galloping ones like Fairyhouse and Punchestown. With a steeplechasing record of three wins and two seconds at the latter venue, it might be a different Gold Cup on the radar for Spillane’s Tower.
Venetia Williams hasn’t been able to replicate the success of recent seasons in the current campaign, saddling just a handful of winners. L’Homme Presse landed the Cotswold Chase 12 months ago and returns to Prestbury Park in search of a fourth career win at Cheltenham races here. He’s the other 11-year-old in the line-up, who shaped like he needs further at this late stage of career on reappearance.
Charlie Deutsch never gave up on L’Homme Presse despite the welter burden of 12 stone in a Premier Handicap over the Gold Cup course and distance in December. The pair faced an impossible task off topweight, but stayed into into second spot behind Blaze The Way. This form has been franked with the fourth, Herakles Westwood, and fifth, The Doyen Chief, coming out and winning races since.
L’Homme Presse has gone well fresh in the past, but also come forward for a run too. That is perhaps the reason why online Cheltenham bookies feel he’s the biggest threat to Grey Dawning, even though he again has joint-topweight. As with so many graded races in the UK during the core jumps season, a small field means a tactical race in the offing, but a crawl and sprint probably won’t suit L’Homme Presse.
Cotswold Chase 2026 Shortlist & Verdict
There are enough holes in the Haydock form to suggest Grey Dawning isn’t value at odds-on here, for all he won the Betfair Chase on the bridle. With course regulars Flooring Porter and L’Homme Presse both looking vulnerable to younger legs and the former without a run under his belt is 16 months, SPILLANE’S TOWER may be worth chancing on his Cheltenham debut.
WATCH: Grey Dawning Win the Betfair Chase
