Koktail Divin
Another horse to take out of Wednesday's Brown Advisory Chase is Koktail Divin. It was significant that connections decided to allow him take his chance in the Brown Advisory Chase, a Grade 1 race run over three miles and one furlong, when he could have run in the Jack Richards Handicap Chase over the intermediate trip off a handicap rating of 150, just 1lb higher than his Irish mark. It shows how highly they regard the Masked Marvel gelding. And it looked like they might be rewarded for their bravery when he made nice ground on the run down the hill, Darragh O'Keeffe motionless on his back. He moved well into second place behind Kitzbuhel over the third last fence, still travelling well, but he came under a ride around the home turn, and he had no more to give up the home straight.
He came home without one of his shoes, so that can't have helped, but it is probable too that this three-mile-one-furlong trip just found him out. He was probably out-stayed by Oscars Brother in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Chase at Punchestown in November on soft to heavy ground over three miles, when he still finished in front of Bossofthebrownies, who enhanced the form at Naas next time, and Rocky's Diamond. Henry de Bromhead's horse was very good then next time at Leopardstown at Christmas, over two miles and five and a half furlongs, when he led from flagfall, jumped superbly and came home 21 lengths clear of Kiss Will, who has run well twice since, with C'Est Ta Chance back in fourth. C'Est Ta Chance has won his two races since, a Grade 3 chase at Thurles most recently. Koktail Divin will probably be seen to best effect when he is ridden positively over the intermediate trip. He is another six-year-old from whom there could be much more to come. He could be a Ryanair Chase horse for next season.
Cheltenham, 11th March 2026
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