12:50 Cheltenham

Sunday 1 January 2017

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:40

Watch Live Racing On BetBright.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:51 | Winning time: 7m 4.9s

Aubusson³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 145

12/1

Has shown some useful form over fences in his three starts so far winning a novice at Uttoxeter. Has been highly tried in his other two chase starts and based on his hurdles form isn't harshly treated here off a mark of 149 in this lower grade.

Form: 1P-5449

Sizing Codelco¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 142

25/1

This will be his fourth outing for his current stable after his move from Ireland and he showed his best form over fences for this yard last time out. That run saw him finish second at Ascot to Top Notch and a repeat would see him go close although there are some stamina reservations as he goes beyond 3m for the first time.

Form: 8P2401

Vyta Du Roc^t1³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141

4/1

Has some smart hurdling form to his name and on ratings he is matching that over fences. The best of his two efforts this year saw him finish sixth in the Hennessy last time out to Native River and his profile looks ideal for stamina tests such as this.

Form: 55-36P5

Arpege D'alene^b,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140

7/2

This will be just his fourth start over fences but he is progressing well and being by Dom Alco should really appreciate a stamina test such as this. He showed his best form over fences in a smart novice chase here at Cheltenham last time out when second to Singlefarmpayment. He makes his handicap chase debut here from what looks to be a fairly favourable mark.

Form: 129-512

Lamb Or Cod^t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138

8/1

Scored on his second run back from a long absence when taking a Chepstow handicap chase off a mark that lenient on his old form. Raised 8lb for that win and that makes life a little tougher here in a better class affair.

Form: P7P1/01

Any Currency^p⁵⁰

Age: 14| Weight: 11-5| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: M Keighley| OR: 138

40/1

More usually seen over the Cross Country course at this track but did manage to win over the more conventional fences in April at this track off a very favourable mark. Now in the veteran stages of his career and it's to be expected that he'll prove vulnerable to his younger rivals here off an increased mark.

Form: 428D1-0

A Good Skin^p1²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 137

10/1

Has some useful form over fences but not won since April 2015 and the handicapper doesn't appear to want to cut him any slack for plenty of consistent efforts. Looks sure to go well here but as usual likely to find one or two better treated.

Form: P-36490

Kingswell Theatre²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Benjamin Poste⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 137

18/1

Started last season in good form with wins at Market Rasen and Chepstow but found that level hard to maintain and gradually lost his way. Reappearance this year promised more though and he looked rejuvenated, although his mark still appears a little high for now.

Form: 16P3P-3

Samingarry^t,v²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N J Hawke| OR: 136

66/1

Has shown some useful form in his time but is lightly-raced of late. Showed up relatively well on his return at Doncaster in December after 18 months off (needed run) and would have a chance if he could build on that run here.

Form: 6F1/2P-7

Racing Pulse⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 136

20/1

Since landing a Chepstow handicap at around this time last year off a 6lb lower mark his form reads P0PUB. The last of those two efforts have come at Cheltenham and there must be about his suitability for the course and this looks a race where he will be tested fully again.

Form: P/UB6P0-

Doctor Harper⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 136

14/1

Since his Leicester chase win in January 2016 he's shown promise in a couple of tough handicaps; one at the Festival when he started favourite. He ran far better than his final finishing position when ninth at this track in November travelling well and subsequently found to have lost two shoes in the race. Still in the process of putting all the ingredients to be a smart chaser together but one to keep in mind here.

Form: 221U-P9

Warrantor^t⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Geraghty| T: W Greatrex| OR: 136

8/1

Finished in front of a few of these last time out and that was his best effort over fences after his form rather fell apart after an initial chasing win last year. He needs to show that he can build on his last effort and a 4lb rise demands more but given the way he travelled and jumped last time he could getting his act together.

Form: P2-2573

Tour Des Champs²⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 134

50/1

A five-time chase winner but now with a new stable and it remains to be seen how he goes here after a long break and off what is a tough mark in the context of his previous form.

Form: P4414P-

Chase The Spud⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 133

14/1

Ran one of his best races over fences when second at Haydock last time out off a mark of 130. He's still unexposed over marathon trips and tests such as this should really suit him although this is a better race and he might just need to show a little more improvement to win this.

Form: 2P13-72

Belmount²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 131

33/1

Won back-to-back handicap chases at Newton Abbot and Hereford in September/October in a lesser grade and has been held off higher mark in better company since. Could well be the same story here although he still looks in good heart and deserves to take his chance.

Form: 660P52-

Capard King²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 131

20/1

Overall profile has a very up and down feel to it and he's not really built on his Southwell win in April. Posted a respectable effort last time out when behind Lamb Or Cod last time out but would need to improve on that to figure here in a tough heat.

Form: 3P1-847

Non-Runners

Troika Steppes²⁹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 9

T: F O'Brien J: Miss A Stirling

Forecasts

Arpege D'alene (7/2), Vyta Du Roc (4/1), Warrantor (8/1), Lamb Or Cod (8/1), A Good Skin (10/1), Aubusson (12/1), Doctor Harper (14/1), Chase The Spud (14/1), Troika Steppes (16/1), Kingswell Theatre (18/1), Racing Pulse (20/1), Capard King (20/1), Sizing Codelco (25/1), Belmount (33/1), Any Currency (40/1), Tour Des Champs (50/1), Samingarry (66/1)

A competitive handicap chase as the size of the field would suggest and there are plenty with chances in this. Warrantor must enter the equation on his second here last time out although he didn’t build on his early promise last year and that could be a worry again here. Chase The Spud takes a rise in grade but looks an improving type if he can cope with the rise in class, and Doctor Harper would be of a similar ilk having shown up well last time out in a race he ended on just two shoes. Lamb Or Cod has risen back up the handicap but he might still be competitive off this mark having shown form off higher ratings in the past over fences. Vyta Du Roc has been dropped 2lb for his good and solid sixth in the Hennessy and with the tongue tie on for the first time this looks a race that gives him a good chance of regaining the winning thread. However, none of the field have shown the form that ARPEGE D’ALENE has over hurdles (second in a Pertemps Final at the Festival) and that run came off a mark 6lb higher than he runs off today. He makes his chasing handicap debut today but has plenty of potential and his trainer is talking of him as a future Scottish National prospect and a big run is expected here with conditions and trip to suit. 1. Arpege D'alene 2. Vyta Du Roc 3. Warrantor