17:30 Cheltenham

Thursday 16 March 2017

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:33 | Winning time: 6m 48.40s

Pendra^b1³⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 145

16/1

Wears blinkers for the first time as he makes his first appearance since finishing 13th in the Grand National at Aintree 11 months ago. Finished fifth in the 3m1f Handicap Chase at this meeting off a 4lb lower mark in 2015 and has the assistance of a top amateur on seasonal reappearance.

Form: 045/150-

Mall Dini^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Katie Walsh| T: P G Kelly| OR: 143

11/2

Winner of the Pertemps Network Final at this meeting in 2016 and made the frame on each of his five outings in beginners' chases this term. Has been a beaten favourite for the four most recent of those efforts including when 11L third to Bachasson over 2m4f at Gowran Park last month. A leading contender as he makes his handicap debut over fences.

Form: 1-33323

Forgotten Gold^p¹⁰⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 143

50/1

Winner of a three-runner contest on fast ground at Leicester last time out when wearing first time cheekpieces. Only previous outing this season came when disappointing over 3m1f at Ascot in October and more needed here.

Form: 4612-81

La Vaticane^b,t⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D Edwards| T: D Pipe| OR: 143

50/1

Winner of a 3m handicap chase at Doncaster in December but well beaten when sent off favourite for a Listed event at Leicester last time out nearly two months ago. Trainer won this in 2015 and a lively outsider here.

Form: 2515P0-

Doctor Harper^p1,t1⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Ms Lisa O'Neill| T: D Pipe| OR: 141

14/1

Sent off favourite for this event in 2016 but weakening when unseating his rider two from home. Races off the same mark here having been narrowly beaten at this track in a 16-runner event on his penultimate outing in January. Has disappointed over 3m5f at Warwick since and may find things tough off this mark. First time cheekpieces and tongue tie for jockey who rode a winner here on the opening day.

Form: 221U-P9

Local Show⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 141

50/1

Winner twice last season for previous yard and contested the 4m novice chase at this meeting last year (finishing seventh). Disappointed in three outings this season including in a Listed handicap hurdle over 2m5f at Kempton last time out. Makes his first start for latest trainer here.

Form: 2/117-P8

Southfield Royale^p⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr James King| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 141

7/1

Winner of a Grade 2 novice chase last season and also finished runner-up in Grade 1 company at Kempton in December 2015. Finished fourth over 4m at this meeting last year also but sole start this year came when beaten 98L under today's jockey at Doncaster in January. Interesting if returning to form here.

Form: 1124-70

Unioniste⁷⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141

33/1

Most recent success came over 3m2f at Kelso in February 2016. Well beaten in all starts this season including in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow last time out, he finds himself on a mark 7lb lower than when last victorious in a handicap. Would appreciate any overnight rain.

Form: 20-0009

Hadrian's Approach^p¹¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr William Biddick| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140

16/1

Lightly raced since winning a valuable 3m5f Grade 3 contest off a 6lb higher mark at Sandown in April 2014. Ran well on his most recent outing when fourth in the Hennessy at Newbury in November and likely to go well with a top jockey booked to ride for a yard who have won this three times before.

Form: 16P/7U6-

Potters Legend⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr M Legg| T: L Wadham| OR: 139

10/1

Winner of two novice chases when sent off favourite earlier this season and acquitted himself well in novice handicap company the last twice. Most recent of those outings came when finishing runner-up to previous Grade 1 winner Royal Vacation over 2m5f here in January having been hampered three out. One for the shortlist.

Form: 223-112

Potters Cross⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 139

50/1

Winner over 3m2f at Newbury on his penultimate start but pulled up in a Listed handicap at Doncaster last time out. Has also won at Chepstow this season and worth a second look with a leading Irish amateur booked to ride.

Form: U1-61P2

Lamb Or Cod^t⁷⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138

28/1

Five-time winner over fences including at Chepstow on his penultimate outing in early December. Probably found the ground too soft when pulled up here at the start of 2017 and could surprise a few if the rain stays away.

Form: P7P1/01

Premier Bond^p⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137

9/1

Winner of his last two outings in novice company including when successful by a neck over 3m at Doncaster last time out. Cheekpieces worn for previous victory left off on that occasion and an interesting contender for a yard who have won this three times in the past.

Form: 1/2147-2

Domesday Book^b²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: S Edmunds| OR: 137

40/1

Sporting first time blinkers when finishing third over 2m4f at Leicester on first start for this stable. Has run well in a number of valuable handicaps in Ireland prior to changing yards, the most notable being his sixth in the Troytown in November. Interesting with a decent jockey booked to ride.

Form: 130-456

Whats Happening^t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr R O Harding| T: T R George| OR: 137

12/1

Winner twice at this course in autumn 2015 including over 3m1f off a 1lb lower mark than he races off here. Absent for over 15 months prior to finishing a good second off this mark in a veterans event at Exeter and interesting with a leading Irish amateur booked.

Form: P31/1-20

Another Hero^t1⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr J J O'Neill⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 136

9/1

Finished third in a 3m Listed handicap chase at Doncaster in January on his most recent outing. Had previously finished fourth in a similar event at Ascot. Comes into this off a mark 5lb higher than for his most recent success but has chance with a good young jockey in the saddle.

Form: 82/11F-6

Sugar Baron⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Joshua Newman⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135

25/1

Finished third in a 3m handicap chase at Ludlow in December when last seen in action. That was just his second run since winning a novice chase at Warwick in May 2016 and while he remains unexposed over fences he may find two or three too good here.

Form: 0-1F36F

Venitien De Mai²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: J T R Dreaper| OR: 135

25/1

Faller in a valuable contest at Leopardstown back in December and well beaten sixth over hurdles subsequently. Currently rated 8lb higher than for his latest handicap success and best form has come with plenty of cut in the ground.

Form: 119-465

Lessons In Milan^p³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr H Hunt⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135

33/1

Wearing first time cheekpieces (retained here) when finishing runner-up at Newbury last month. Two victories under rules have both come over hurdles and not always convinced with his jumping when tackling the larger obstacles.

Form: 11/23U-3

Squouateur^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| OR: 135

5/1

All three career wins have come over hurdles but put in a career best effort over fences when finishing runner-up at Naas in a 2m handicap chase last month. Ran respectably on his only try at over 3m when hurdling and interesting for 2016's winning stable.

Form: 6-578P2

Kilfinichen Bay^t¹²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 135

66/1

Yet to be asked for an effort when coming down in an amateur riders contest over 3m1f here in November and currently rated 3lb higher than when successful at Warwick in September. Promising young jockey takes the ride here but yard has been out of form of late.

Form: 2214F0-

Balbir Du Mathan^t⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr S Clements| T: A Fleming| OR: 134

50/1

Finished well beaten when contesting a handicap chase at Navan on his first outing in nearly 12 months back in December. Hasn't been seen out since but of interest on his beginners chase runs behind some useful rivals and yard had a winner here on the opening day.

Form: F25/26-8

Father Edward^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 134

66/1

Winner at Cartmel off a 7lb lower mark on debut for this yard back in August but well beaten in three outings since including at Taunton earlier this month. Appears to have plenty on his plate here.

Form: P4509P-

Alvarado⁴⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Zac Baker⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 133

33/1

Twice finished fourth in the Grand National for this yard and also finished runner-up in the Scottish equivalent in April 2016. Below par in the main this season including when a beaten favourite over 4m1f at Musselburgh last month and may find one or two of these have a bit too much pace for him.

Form: 454/82-6

Forecasts

Squouateur (5/1), Mall Dini (11/2), Southfield Royale (7/1), Premier Bond (9/1), Another Hero (9/1), Potters Legend (10/1), Whats Happening (12/1), Doctor Harper (14/1), Pendra (16/1), Hadrian's Approach (16/1), Sugar Baron (25/1), Venitien De Mai (25/1), Lamb Or Cod (28/1), Lessons In Milan (33/1), Unioniste (33/1), Alvarado (33/1), Domesday Book (40/1), Forgotten Gold (50/1), La Vaticane (50/1), Local Show (50/1), Balbir Du Mathan (50/1), Potters Cross (50/1), Father Edward (66/1), Kilfinichen Bay (66/1)

POTTERS LEGEND contested a decent novice handicap chase over 2m5f here last time out and acquitted himself well having been hampered at a crucial stage. The selection was a useful novice hurdler over 3m last year and shapes as if this step up in trip over fences will suit. Mall Dini was victorious over hurdles at this meeting in 2016 and is another who looks likely to appreciate the extra distance here, with a good jockey in the saddle he is taken to finish second while Squouateur is another to be respected from a yard that had three winners on the opening day of this meeting.