Stuart Williams provides a full horse-by-horse guide to the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham this weekend as Coole Cody bids for a big double at the track.
1.50 Cheltenham - Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
MASTER TOMMYTUCKER
Master Tommytucker is a smart performer on his day but clearly comes with significant risks, as his record of three victories and three falls from just seven starts over fences indicates.
A facile 15 length winner at Haydock last month, Paul Nicholls' nine-year-old is lightly raced for his age and could easily develop into a graded performer in the fullness of time. However, he will need to be such to defy a mark of 157, and his tendency to make a mistake rather tempers enthusiasm.
CEPAGE
Cepage chased home Frodon in this race in 2018 and again ran well well placing fourth as a 5/1 favourite 12 months ago. The latter effort came from a mark of 155, and Venetia Williams' tough-as-teak eight-year-old defied a rating of 154 when landing a competitive course and distance handicap on Cheltenham Trials day in January.
Indeed, he goes particularly well in the Cotswolds and ran a massive race to place seventh in the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap Chase in March, when turning for home seemingly travelling best of all and only giving way when the petrol tank emptied approaching the final fence.
Cepage will appreciate returning to this intermediate trip and he also possesses the ability go well when fresh having followed home Frodon and subsequent Grade 1 winner Riders Onthe Storm on his seasonal reappearance in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Rain would be a bonus.
MISTER FISHER
Last season's Marsh Novices' Chase fourth Mister Fisher was pulled-up on his seasonal reappearance in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month when failing to handle the soft ground, therefore his participation in this contest may be dependant on how much rain falls on Prestbury Park between now and Saturday.
Always held in the highest regard, Nicky Henderson's six-year-old enjoyed a good novice campaign that included a smooth course and distance success at this meeting last year, and a Grade 2 victory in the Lightning Novices' Chase at Doncaster in January.
A mark of 154 arguably factors in his potential, but he could yet prove to be a graded horse down the line. The quicker the ground, the better his chance.
CLONDAW CASTLE
Clondaw Castle hasn't looked back since placing ninth in this race 12 months ago, recording victories at Warwick and Newbury either side of a gallant second in the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October.
Tom George's eight-year-old received a 4lbs rise for winning a competitive contest in Berkshire last month, which will see him compete from a career high mark of 155 this weekend. However, he is clearly thriving at present and remains open to improvement over this two-and-a-half-mile trip, therefore he holds place claims at least.
SKY PIRATE
Sky Pirate looked set to play a major role in the finish of last month's Paddy Power Gold Cup when travelling powerfully to the penultimate fence under a patient ride. However, Jonjo O'Neill's seven-year-old often flatters to deceive, and he again found little off the bridle.
The Midnight Legend gelding will line up off the same mark of 134 on Saturday and he could easily run well from the foot of the weights. However, he makes little appeal from a win perspective.
AL DANCER
Al Dancer was the subject of strong late support for the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month and he gave his backers a run for their money when third behind the front-running Coole Cody and the ultra-consistent Spiritofthegames.
The 2019 Betfair Hurdle winner clearly goes well in competitive handicap company and he is open to further improvement over intermediate trips.
Nigel Twiston-Davies' seven-year-old successfully conceded 6lbs to fellow candidate Master Tommytucker on his seasonal reappearance at Newton Abbot, and he will compete off the same mark from which he ran so well last month. His claims are obvious.
HUNTSMAN SON
Huntsman Son was declared to run in the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree on Saturday before the deluge of rain forced his withdrawal. However, this would certainly be some sizeable compensation should he win.
A five-and-a-half length winner from Kim Bailey's smart performer Two For Gold at Wetherby in October, Alex Hales' ten-year-old will compete off a 9lbs higher mark this weekend and will naturally face sterner opposition. However, he was far from disgraced when ninth in the 2019 novices' handicap at the Festival, and he could easily run well if encountering decent ground.
WINDSOR AVENUE
Windsor Avenue looked hugely promising when winning his first two starts as a novice last season, but he faded quickly when stepping into Grade 2 company at Doncaster last December, and he also looked beaten when falling at the penultimate fence in the same grade at Haydock in January.
On a more positive note, the well regarded eight-year-old returned to action with a solid second behind subsequent Ascot Grade 2 scorer Imperial Aura in Listed company at Carlisle, and his trainer Brian Ellison spoke very positively about his prospects when discussing this race last week.
A mark of 148 may underestimate his ability and soft ground would be in his favour.
MIDNIGHT SHADOW
Midnight Shadow benefitted from the final fence fall of subsequent RSA Chase hero Champ when landing the Grade 2 Dipper Novices' Chase over this course and distance in January. However, he was far from disgraced when sixth in a solid renewal of the Marsh Novices' Chase at the Festival in March, and he could have more to offer in his second season over fences.
Sue Smith's seven-year-old often improves for his seasonal reappearance, and he will certainly need to do so on this occasion given that he was the last of ten to complete the course in the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October.
Beaten just three-and-a-half-lengths in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown in February, a mark of 148 may not be beyond him if he has improved markedly for his outing on Merseyside.
SAINT SONNET
Seventh in the Grade 1 Marsh Novices' Chase over this course and distance in March, Saint Sonnet was the subject of an antepost plunge for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, and his supporters would have been fairy hopeful prior to a mistake at the third from home, after which he began to struggle and ultimately fell at the last.
The gelding has shaped well in his races since arriving from France and is entitled to come on from his seasonal reappearance. Paul Nicholls has often won this race with promising young horses, and this five-year-old could add to his tally if none the worse for his fall.
That said, it should be noted that he has twice travelled well at Cheltenham before finding little when asked for his effort, which could be due to many reasons such as inexperience and a lack of fitness. However, it could also indicate that he isn't ideally suited to the undulations of Prestbury Park and the punishing final climb to the line.
GOOD BOY BOBBY
Good Boy Bobby was well supported prior to chasing home Master Tommytucker at Haydock last month, and he ran a fine race when second behind Mister Fisher, who received 5lbs, over this course and distance at this meeting last year.
The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned seven-year-old has always been held in high regard and he may well be suited by the demands of a big field handicap. A mark of 146 doesn't look too harsh based on what he has achieved and he won't be inconvenienced by the weather.
DRUMCONNOR LAD
Drumconnor Lad landed back-to-back victories at Leopardstown and Ayr last season before placing second in competitive handicap company at Kempton in February.
Adrian Keatley's progressive ten-year-old ran out a comfortable winner at Ayr in October before being well held off this mark at Ascot last month, and this race represents another rise in class. He will need to bounce back and produce a career best effort in order to be competitive.
SOUTHFIELD STONE
Southfield Stone was no match for the fluent fencing Protektorat here last month, but he did record a one-and-a-half-length success over subsequent Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Coole Cody at the Showcase Meeting in October, which does make him an interesting contender on Saturday.
Paul Nicholls' grey was touched off by subsequent Royal Ascot scorer Who Dares Wins in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton in February, and he doesn't appear to he harshly treated off a mark of 145.
That said, good ground is important to the seven-year-old as all six of his previous career victories have been achieved on a decent terrain. Rain an obvious concern then.
COOLE CODY
Coole Cody made every yard of the running when landing the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his handicap debut last month, and Evan Williams' nine-year-old will attempt to follow up off a 6lbs higher mark.
The progressive son of Dubai Destination also ran well in competitive novice company at Cheltenham in October, in addition to landing a competitive handicap hurdle at the track in November 2017. He is clearly well suited to the demands of Prestbury Park and another bold bid seems likely.
ANNIE MC
Annie Mc won her first three starts as a novice last season before finishing ninth in the Grade 1 Marsh Novices' Chase over this course and distance in March.
A Grade 2 winner against her own sex over hurdles, Jonjo O'Neill's smart mare returned to action with a respectable seventh in the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October, and she is naturally entitled to strip fitter for that outing. However, she will need to as this contest will demand much more.
BENATAR
Benatar boasts form over this course and distance having been third in the Grade 1 Marsh Novices' Chase in March 2018.
Gary Moore's charge looked set to develop into a solid handicap chaser in the autumn of that year, but injury struck and the once promising eight-year-old will now reappear following an absence of 693 days, which makes him hard to support on this occasion, especially in a contest of this nature.
CHATHAM STREET LAD
Chatham Street Lad didn't take to fences when first tried in the summer of 2018 but he has won two of his three starts on his second stint this autumn and connections clearly feel he is well handicapped enough to contest a race such as this.
Indeed, Michael Winters doesn't send many a across the Irish Sea and those who he does warrant respect. An easy winner at Cork last month, this progressive eight-year-old could outperform market expectations if the ground is suitably testing.
CHAMPAGNE MYSTERY
Champagne Mystery managed just one success from four outings as a novice last season and was pulled-up behind Imperial Aura in the Northern Trust Company Novices' Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Rated 4lbs lower on his return to action, Trevor Hemmings' Shantou gelding possesses the ability to go well when fresh and is naturally open to progression in his second season over fences.
However, this is a deep contest in which to make his seasonal reappearance, and he may lack the required experience to make his presence felt.
ROMAIN DE SENAM
Romain De Senam is without a win since May 2019, but his fourth placed effort at Aintree last month hinted that he may be coming back to the boil, and he is now rated 3lbs lower than his last winning mark.
Dan and Harry Skelton are enjoying a purple patch at present and they have earned a reputation for plundering decent handicap prizes. However, Romain De Senam's form figures at Cheltenham read 550UP over fences, therefore he makes little appeal in a contest of this type.
MILITARIAN
Militarian was fifth over this course and distance on Cheltenham Trials Day in January, and he looked as good as ever when returning to action with a solid third in the Grade 3 Sodexo Gold Cup as Ascot in October.
Andrew Martin's experienced ten-year-old will compete from a 4lbs lower mark than when fifth in the aforementioned course and distance contest, which clearly makes him of interest in spite of his generous double-digit price. However, these are deep waters and he will need to be at the top of his game in order to feature in the finish.
TEMPLEPARK
Templepark has been in rude health since the resumption of racing achieving form figures of 2112133, with the latter three efforts coming over fences.
Held off this mark on his last two outings, Fergal O'Brien's seven-year-old will undertake a sizeable jump in class if facing the starter on Saturday, therefore he would need to take a giant leap forwards in order to be competitive.
MUSICAL SLAVE
Musical Slave returned to action with a solid fifth behind Clondaw Castle at Newbury, and he will line up off the same mark of 137 on Saturday.
The JP McManus owned seven-year-old has always been held in high regard and could prove better than his current rating this winter. However, this will be his first trip to Cheltenham and it comes in hugely competitive company, therefore he may be best watched on this occasion.
WHATSWRONGWITHYOU
Whatswrongwithyou has rather lost his way following a promising start to his chasing career in early 2019, and he failed to make it past the first fence on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury last month.
Well held in all three of his outings last season, Nicky Henderson's nine-year-old is only 2lbs lower than when seventh at Kempton in March, and he may be in need of this outing given his early departure in Berkshire.
IBIS DU RHEU
Ibis Du Rheu will return from a 609 day absence if taking up this engagement, and he will also be making his stable debut for Richard Hobson after departing the Ditcheat base of Paul Nicholls.
The experienced nine-year-old landed a three-mile novice chase at Prestbury Park in November 2018, and he will compete off a 7lbs lower mark than when last sighted on a racecourse. However, he returns to action over a trip short of his best and makes little appeal in a contest of this nature
Verdict
Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Coole Cody should make another bold bid for success off just a 6lbs higher mark, but may not be granted such an easy lead this time around, while Master Tommytucker has the ability to run well but comes with obvious risks attached.
It may pay to focus on Al Dancer and CEPAGE, who are proven performers off their current ratings and clearly go well in the Cotswolds. The former will try to emulate last year's winner Warthog in placing third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup before going two places better off the same mark in this contest. The latter goes well when fresh and landed a competitive course and distance handicap off a 1lb lower mark in January.
Marginal preference would be for Cepage, who ran a huge race at the Festival in March before his stamina gave way in the closing stages. He will appreciate returning to this intermediate trip and will not be inconvenienced by whatever the weather may do. He makes rock solid each-way appeal.
Good Boy Bobby and Midnight Shadow were above-average novice chasers last season and make the most appeal of those at bigger prices.