16:40 Cheltenham

Thursday 13 March 2025

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

TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 5m 15.5s

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Selected odds by:

Conflated^p⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 157

40/1

Very classy at best, finishing third in the Gold Cup and Ryanair at the last 2 Festivals. However, he has looked a shadow of his former self so far this season, including last of 10 in Irish Gold Cup latest. The drop in class could be liberating but a leap of faith still required.

Form: 6U5870

Ginny's Destiny⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| BF| CD

8/1

Excellent first campaign over fences last term, winning 3 times on the bounce here prior to a fine effort in defeat in the Turners at this meeting 12 months ago. Hard to fathom why he's performed so badly in 3 starts so far this season and now finds himself with a bit to prove.

Form: 122-P30

Jordans^h⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 148

9/1

French recruit who won Grade 3 Punchestown novice chase in October. Didn't get far at the same course next time but back on track when a fine second to Impaire Et Passe in a Limerick Grade 1 in December. Mark has suffered as a result of that, though, and more needed on handicap bow in this sphere.

Form: 65-21U2

Fugitif^p,t³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: R Hobson| OR: 148| CD

20/1

Has produced several very good efforts here, not least when chasing Seddon home in the 2023 running of this and winning the December Gold Cup last season. Not at his very best in 3 runs so far this term but has edged down to an attractive mark as a result and he's dangerous to discount.

Form: 3PP-536

Path D'oroux^t⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: K M Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 145| C

12/1

Belatedly opened chase account on the Old Course here in October, narrowly prevailing in that 4-runner 2m novice. Safely held at Carlisle next time but returned to form with a good second in a valuable Grade 3 Fairyhouse handicap (17f, soft) and this step up in trip may well work in his favour.

Form: 33-5132

Shakem Up'arry^p1,t³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 145| CD

20/1

Very good C&D record, including a third in this in 2023 and a win last year. Things haven't gone to plan so far this term but he's just 2 lb higher compared to 12 months ago and this will have been the target all along. Also has first-time cheekpieces added to his regular tongue tie.

Form: 6110-F5

Il Ridoto^b1,t⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145| CD

25/1

Has come up short in the last 2 renewals of this but he has landed 2 valuable handicaps at this course, including the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November. Not in same form since but the drying ground will aid his cause. First-time blinkers (in place of cheekpieces) could give also him a lift.

Form: 8P-5168

La Malmason²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: S W Flanagan| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 144| BF| CD

28/1

Has returned an improved model this season, winning 9-runner Fairyhouse handicap chase before an excellent second in listed handicap at Limerick over Christmas. Stamina seemingly stretched over 3m on deep ground at Exeter since and should show herself in a better light back down in trip here.

Form: 44P-123

Masaccio^p1⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 144| D

11/1

Successful twice over hurdles last season and justified support when making winning chase debut in 2½m Newbury handicap in November. Solid 3¾ lengths third to Jagwar over C&D last time and a reproduction of that effort would put him firmly in the picture. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 0-21233

Gemirande⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 142| CD

28/1

Respectable fifth in the Grand Annual at this meeting 12 months ago and positive start to this season, winning handicaps at Ascot and over this C&D in November/December. Better than bare result here on latest start in January (bad mistake 3 out cost him any chance) but others preferred all the same.

Form: 50-1167

Seddon⁷¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: A Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 141| CD

28/1

2023 winner of this. Two Flat wins at the end of last summer and a pair of respectable efforts over C&D this winter show there's still plenty of life in his legs but still a suspicion this veteran will prove vulnerable to younger rivals.

Form: 23-8P53

Tahmuras^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141

80/1

Winner of 3 of his 5 starts over hurdles, including the Grade 1 Tolworth. Conversely, just the one win since switched to fences and his antics off the bridle were a cause for concern when fourth at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Worse still at Kempton since and he needs to get back on track.

Form: 122-54P

Jagwar^t⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 139| CD

3/1

Good-looking sort who has taken really well to fences, taking record in this sphere to 3-4 when landing a C&D novice handicap (soft) in decisive fashion. 7 lb rise to contend but there could easily be more to come from this 6-y-o and he's an appealing candidate.

Form: 45-1131

Thecompanysergeant⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: C Stone-Walsh⁽³⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 139| BF

4/1

Consistent over hurdles and has proven himself to be equally reliable in this sphere, creditable fourth in a Grade 3 novice on final start for Denis Hogan in November. Solid start for new yard when third in a big-field Navan handicap hurdle and makes handicap debut over fences on a workable mark.

Form: 213643

Personal Ambition^p1⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 137

9/1

Useful novice hurdler last term, winning 3 times, and looked set to make it third time lucky over fences in a Grade 2 at Ascot in December before a final-fence mistake caused him to lose all momentum. Below par at Windsor since but could bounce back in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 16-2423

Riaan^p³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: D J Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 136

66/1

Good second in a big Leopardstown handicap last February and finished fourth of 16 in first-time cheekpieces in the same race this time round. However, his overall profile is not the most convincing and he was pulled up in this 12 months ago.

Form: 42P-004

Mars Harper^p,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 136

100/1

Has posted some creditable efforts in defeat in some pretty valuable handicaps this season, including when fourth of 13 at Leopardstown (21.5f, good to soft) recently. On the downside, he hasn't got his head in front since September 2023 and was well held in this race 12 months ago.

Form: P52004

An Peann Dearg^h,t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: P Nolan| OR: 134

18/1

Has raised his game since returning from a break in October, going close at Wexford prior to winning back-to-back 17f Leopardstown handicaps, latterly taking a valuable listed event in good style. Stepping back up in trip unlikely to be an issue but this 12 lb higher mark could prove problematic.

Form: 634211

Demnat²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Ned Fox⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 127| BF

20/1

Made light of a 32-month absence on his yard debut when easily landing 5-runner handicap chase at Ludlow last February. Struggled in the Kim Muir here and at the big Aintree meeting last spring, though, and others make more appeal, for all that he has performed with credit both starts this season.

Form: 139P-32

Individualiste⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: P M O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 122| D

100/1

Produced a career-best when winning 12-runner handicap chase at Navan (20.5f, good to soft) in December but came unstuck when bidding for the hat-trick at Naas last time and others look stronger from 9 lb out of the handicap.

Form: P-04114

Non-Runners

Lord Of Thunder³³

Weight: 10-5| Age: 7

T: J Tizzard J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Jagwar (3/1), Thecompanysergeant (4/1), Ginny's Destiny (8/1), Jordans (9/1), Personal Ambition (9/1), Masaccio (11/1), Path D'oroux (12/1), Lord Of Thunder (16/1), An Peann Dearg (18/1), Demnat (20/1), Shakem Up'arry (20/1), Fugitif (20/1), Il Ridoto (25/1), Seddon (28/1), La Malmason (28/1), Gemirande (28/1), Conflated (40/1), Riaan (66/1), Tahmuras (80/1), Mars Harper (100/1), Individualiste (100/1)

JAGWAR won what is traditionally a very strong C&D novice handicap in January and a 7 lb rise doesn't look enough to stop him up against largely older and more exposed opposition. Thecompanysergeant started out for Gavin Cromwell with a good third over hurdles and could have more to offer for his good new stable so he's second choice. Masaccio ran well for third behind the selection here last time and also makes the shortlist along with Path D'Oroux and last year's winner Shakem Up'arry.