For some National Hunt horses, Grade 2 contests are their level and two such runners catch the eye in the Peterborough Chase of 2025 at Huntingdon in a field of five on Sunday, 7 December. We’re talking about last year’s winner Djelo and Irish raider Saint Sam, who meet Bombawn, the veteran Edwardstone and Hitman in this corner of Cambridgeshire.
Despite its relative proximity to the King George VI Chase 19 days after, this £80,000 contest over almost two-and-a-half miles is a prep race for the Boxing Day feature from Kempton Park. This is because the tracks have striking similarities. Huntingdon is a flat, right-handed course too that suits prominent runners. Sound familiar?
Wayward Lad and Edredon Bleu are just famous examples of horses who doubled up from the Peterborough Chase to the King George. Bidding to follow in those hoofprints now is Djelo, who ran out an easy six-length winner 12 months ago. Venetia Williams’ gelding by Montmartre enters his prime now a seven-year-old rising eight.
Djelo has since doubled his tally of career Grade 2 victories by adding Newbury’s Denman Chase and the Charlie Hall up at Wetherby to his CV. He’s a force to be reckoned with at this level after four successes from five completed starts in such company. Unlike last year, Djelo carries a full 6lb penalty and has since demonstrated his stamina.
Williams’ Herefordshire yard in the Welsh Marches has been somewhat slower out of the blocks for the core National Hunt season now than last term. Djelo is an exception to that, however, as he outstayed Pic D’Orhy for a length success on reappearance in West Yorkshire. He’s 3lb and upwards clear of his four rivals on official ratings and adjusted figures here, so looks the one to beat.
Saint Sam Brings Good Record Fresh to Table
Whether Djelo should be an odds-on favourite with leading horse racing betting sites in the UK is another matter. That is down to the presence of main market rival Saint Sam. Trained by Willie Mullins, this eight-year-old by Saint Des Saints goes well fresh. Small-field conditions races like this seem to suit Saint Sam down to the ground.
He’s won on all types of going and his CV includes victories in the Red Mills Chase and Clonmel Oil Chase in this grade. Often keen and taking a fierce hold, Saint Sam isn’t easy to settle. Regular riders Paul Townend and Danny Mullins have mounts at Cork on the same day, so another jockey deputises in his Peterborough Chase bid.
Whether Saint Sam has too much speed for Djelo or ends up burning out is the dilemma punters must wrestle with. There’s talent and ability there, while his Fairyhouse form from Easter has been franked by Found A Fifty coming out and landing the Fortria Chase at Navan last month. Catching Saint Sam first time out may be best.
Bar the top two with online bookmakers, Hitman comes next for Paul Nicholls. Just one victory in two years and a couple since March 2021 suggest he’s anything but straightforward. Hitman is nine, rising 10, and the Falco gelding made it fourth time lucky in Aintree’s Old Roan Chase in this grade when last in action. That is a limited handicap, however, and he now shares topweight with Djelo and Saint Sam.
Hitman must find more, but now meets Boombawn off 3lb worse terms than on Merseyside. Dan Skelton’s charge has most to find on official ratings under a half-penalty for a novice win in this grade last season. Alan King’s Edwardstone completes the line-up aged almost 12.
Peterborough Chase Shortlist & Verdict
It could be worth chancing SAINT SAM against Djelo on his reappearance. His excellent record fresh suggests this is the right time to catch him. Djelo has the King George as his ultimate aim and, while dropping back in trip isn’t necessarily a negative, he has looked better over longer distances in subsequent wins to last year. If both are on song, then the others are playing for third place.
