17:20 Cheltenham

Thursday 13 March 2025

All13:2014:0014:4015:2016:0016:4017:20

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:22 | Winning time: 6m 56.29s

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Selected odds by:

Fantastic Lady^p1⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J W Hendrick⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144

22/1

Better than ever when landing Grade 2 Oaksey Chase at Sandown (22.8f, good) on final start last season. Campaigned in listed company this term, finishing placed in a couple of small-field events but this may place too much emphasis in stamina. Cheekpieces on for the first time.

Form: P61-423

Yeah Man^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D G Lavery| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 144

11/1

Won the 2024 Grand National Trial at Haydock and took his form to a new level when third on the Troytown on November's reappearance (3m). Hampered early and shaped as though still in good heart when fourth at Gowran before unseating rider before the race took shape back at Haydock last month.

Form: 219-34U

Sa Majeste³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142

8/1

Pretty useful winner over hurdle at up to 20f (well backed for 2024 Coral Cup) and wasted little time surpassing that form over fences at up to 3m. Helped by a bad blunder from the runner-up for latest win in 5-runner minor event at Fairyhouse but he commands plenty of respect given connections.

Form: 06-2151

Johnnywho^t⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 140

9/2

Ended hurdling campaign with good fourth on handicap debut at Aintree and bettered that form when taking 3-runner novice at Carlisle on return/debut over fences. Hasn't really carried on the good work since, his jumping an issue, but feeling is that he has a bigger performance in him,

Form: 84-1333

Gelino Bello⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss Olive Nicholls⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138

50/1

Smart form when winning 2 novice chases at the end of 2022 but very lightly raced since. Had wind op/off 23 months before a fair sixth of 10 in 3m Wincanton handicap hurdle in December but he recoiled from that effort returned to fences at Sandown.

Form: 11FP/6P

Mint Boy²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 138

8/1

Useful dual-winning hurdler at up to 3m in Ireland and ran his most encouraging race yet over fences when third of 8 in a maiden chase at Punchestown (22.7f). Looks the type to flourish in handicaps as his stamina is drawn out so he makes the shortlist.

Form: 17-3703

Weveallbeencaught^t,v1¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽³⁾| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 136| C

28/1

Following a relatively short stint for Christian Williams, he belatedly opened his chase account on first run since rejoining Nigel Twiston-Davies at Doncaster in January (3m). Seemed to find 8 lb rise in a better race beyond him in the Grimthorpe a fortnight ago. New headgear employed.

Form: 32P515

Cleatus Poolaw^p1²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Harry Swan| T: G Elliott| OR: 135

33/1

Sole success under Rules came in a maiden hurdle at Naas in January 2024. Plenty of pretty useful effort in defeat and he took a step back in the right direction when mid-field at Punchestown last month. Expensive point winner may have more to offer with cheekpieces employed.

Form: 9-4F476

Manothepeople^p³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: F O'Brien| OR: 135| CD

40/1

Signed off last term in the perfect fashion with a C&D win in April and resumed with a good third at Chepstow. Wasn't on a "going" day returned to this venue next time but shaped a lot better than end result would suggest in the Edinburgh National last month, finishing tired.

Form: 821-3P5

Sine Nomine⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr John Dawson| T: Fiona Needham| OR: 133| CD

40/1

Confirmed herself one of the best hunters around when landing the Festival Challenge Cup at Cheltenham Festival (26.3f, heavy) a year ago. Let down by jumping both starts this term and this race will test her in that regard.

Form: 1211-UF

Git Maker^p1²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr William Biddick| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 133

14/1

Tough chaser who ended last season with an excellent effort in Scottish National (third) at Ayr. Sound-enough effort from out of the weights when fourth in Grand National Trial at Haydock last month and stamina his forte, but he'll need to jump better this time to be a factor in first-time headgear.

Form: 1623-04

Nine Graces^t⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr F Maguire| T: B Connell| OR: 133

11/1

Progressive hurdler and now getting his act together over fences, runner-up at Fairyhouse in December before going one place better at Punchestown a month later. Unexposed as a staying chaser.

Form: 05-3021

Midnight Our Fred^t⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr N McParlan| T: J P Flavin| OR: 132

8/1

Huge career best when a 14-length winner of 6-runner handicap at Gowran in October and 2 months later, he backed that up from revised mark when second in good-quality contest at Leopardstown. Stays well and a reliable proposition. Jockey won this in 2018.

Form: 222-312

Music Of Tara^p,t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr R James⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 132

20/1

Left Henry De Bromhead but joined another top yard and was better than ever when winning 19-runner handicap hurdle at Navan (20f, soft) in January. Matched that form when third returned to fences at Punchestown (22f) last month but has never really shaped as though wanting this far.

Form: 434413

Westerninthepark⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr James King| T: O Murphy| OR: 132

16/1

Bumper/dual-hurdles winner who made a successful start in this sphere at Stratford (20.9f) in October and has remained in form since, placed in small fields next 3 starts. Shapes as though worth a try over this stiffer test of stamina.

Form: 15-1232

Wiseguy²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Joshua Newman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130

28/1

Ended 2023/24 in tame fashion but well prepared by leading stable to make a winning reappearance/return to chasing in 11-runner contest at Newbury in November. Way he shaped over 23.8f at Ascot last time suggests he's ready for this trip.

Form: 466P-16

Daily Present^b,t⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Barry Thomas Stone⁽⁷⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 130| BF

12/1

Lightly raced for his age but having opened his chase account at Down Royal in January 2024, he shaped as though still in top form when fifth in this race 12 months ago. Couple of solid third-place finishes in handicaps since returning, latterly in blinkers, but he's 3 lb higher this year.

Form: 715P-33

Galop De Chasse³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Lucy Turner| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 130

80/1

Won his only start of last season at Newbury (19.9f) and resumed from 12 months off with respectable placed efforts at Wetherby/Newbury. Reportedly bled when pulled up at Ascot and latest Kempton run hardly brimming with promise. Upped markedly in trip with lots to prove.

Form: 3/1-23P4

Now Where Or When^p,t⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Stephen Connor⁽³⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 130

80/1

All the better for reappearance tackling a more suitable distance (3m) when cashing in on a falling mark at Down Royal in January. Revised British mark to contend with and he's more exposed than some of these.

Form: 7496-71

Pats Fancy⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Jack Andrews| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 130

125/1

Developed into a useful chaser in 2021/22 but fleeting appearances since and he looks on the downgrade.

Form: 1250/6-6

Grozni^b1⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Alex Chadwick| T: James Owen| OR: 129

33/1

Change of headgear when gaining his first win for his current yard in handicap hurdle at Wetherby (21.2f) in December. Sound-enough effort since kept to timber and he was sixth from 2 lb higher in this race a year ago. Change of headgear.

Form: 665-P15

Walking On Air^t⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Alan O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Brown| OR: 129

7/1

Dual-winning hurdler for Nicky Henderson and posted a career best when runner-up on chase debut at Newbury in December 2023 off much higher mark. Low-key start for current connections but in the process of reviving when falling last at Doncaster (may well have won). Suddenly of major interest.

Form: 2P-P63F

Dom Of Mary^p³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr T Hutsby⁽⁷⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 127

50/1

Looked rusty after 8 months off/wind op when pulled up in handicap chase at Ascot (29.4f) but enhanced good record in the Sussex National when runner-up last month. Eighth in this race from the same mark a year ago.

Form: 6138-P2

Non-Runners

Where It All Began²¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 9

T: G Elliott J: Mr J L Scallan

Forecasts

Johnnywho (9/2), Walking On Air (7/1), Sa Majeste (8/1), Midnight Our Fred (8/1), Mint Boy (8/1), Yeah Man (11/1), Nine Graces (11/1), Daily Present (12/1), Git Maker (14/1), Westerninthepark (16/1), Music Of Tara (20/1), Fantastic Lady (22/1), Weveallbeencaught (28/1), Wiseguy (28/1), Grozni (33/1), Cleatus Poolaw (33/1), Manothepeople (40/1), Sine Nomine (40/1), Dom Of Mary (50/1), Where It All Began (50/1), Gelino Bello (50/1), Now Where Or When (80/1), Galop De Chasse (80/1), Pats Fancy (125/1)

Gavin Cromwell landed an almighty punt in this race a year ago and has a couple of very live chances in MINT BOY and Yeah Man. There's slightly more substance to the latter's form but the former could take off over this sort of trip, so is marginally preferred. Johnnywho certainly won't lack for assistance from the saddle so he's feared, with Manofthepeople one to consider at longer odds with her rider having won this race before.