13:50 Cheltenham

Friday 17 November 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

BetVictor Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:54 | Winning time: 4m 5.9s

Bright New Dawn²²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 143| D

12/1

Yet to win after six starts for current trainer, but ran creditably when seventh of 24 in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival. First run since April and might need the outing to bring him to his peak.

Form: 43437F-

Shanahan's Turn⁴⁷⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 141

13/2

Won three chases for Henry De Bromhead in Ireland, but lost his form when last seen over a year ago, Returns from a long break off a greatly-reduced mark so it will be interesting to see if the market speaks for him.

Form: 1740/70-

Festive Affair^p,t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 138| D

20/1

Has won three of his last six starts over fences, but has been well beaten in the others, including when behind Exitas at Ascot last time. Could win or be nowhere based on recent evidence.

Form: 17-1417

Doitforthevillage^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 135| D

13/2

Behind Sizing Platinum when sixth over C&D last time. Will do well to turn the tables on the same terms so others make more appeal.

Form: 32F1-96

Exitas¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 133| D

3/1

Good handicap hurdler in his prime who has been enjoying a new lease of life over fences and made it three wins from his last four starts at Ascot last time. Up 10lb, but is on a roll and has to be taken seriously.

Form: 521F11

Mick Thonic^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 132| CD

15/2

Won a novice chase at this course in April, but things have not gone his way since and he had to be pulled up in a hot contest last time when his rider lost his irons after the horse blundered. Could be well handicapped if he gets his act together,

Form: F01-3UP

Kapstadt²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 127| C| D

10/3

Useful hurdler who stepped up on his chasing debut to finish a close second at Ludlow last time. That does not look great form, though, and he has plenty to do in a handicap for the first time.

Form: 650-332

Un Beau Roman^h²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 126| CD

12/1

Landed this contest a year ago, but is without a win since. Well behind a couple of these rivals over C&D last time and has plenty to prove.

Form: 6P6-P50

Rock On Rocky^p,t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 123| D

14/1

Won three handicap chases in a row early this year, but shot up the weights and has not been the same force since. Back down to his last winning mark, though, so not totally dismissed.

Form: 111P-47

Forecasts

Exitas (3/1), Kapstadt (10/3), Doitforthevillage (13/2), Shanahan's Turn (13/2), Mick Thonic (15/2), Un Beau Roman (12/1), Bright New Dawn (12/1), Rock On Rocky (14/1), Festive Affair (20/1)

Exitas will be a popular choice after winning three of his last four starts over fences and has to go on the short list despite his rise up the weights. Better value may lie with MICK THONIC, however. He has shown enough to suggest he is nicely weighted and can put last time's bad experience behind him under his top-class jockey. It is hard to know what to expect from Festive Affair so the other one for the frame could be bottom-weight Rock On Rocky.