Shloer Chase (Grade 2) (Registered As The Cheltenham Chase)

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 4m 5.90s

Fox Norton^h²⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Cooper| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 169| CD

4/5

Dual-Grade 1 winner last season who came within a head of winning the Champion Chase over this C&D. That form gives him an outstanding chance in this weaker race, though Festival winner Special Tiara reopposes.

Form: 112211-

Special Tiara²⁰⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: N D Fehily| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 165| CD

8/1

Beat Fox Norton by a head to claim the Champion Chase over C&D in March (odds-on favourite was disappointing), but subsequently well-held by Altior in the Celebration Chase. Getting on and may have to settle for second place behind Fox Norton now.

Form: 631512-

Vaniteux^p,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 158| D

20/1

Dual Listed winner last season who has since moved from Nicky Henderson to his current trainer. Behind Special Tiara in the Celebration Chase in April and looks set to come up short once again.

Form: 31814-7

Cloudy Dream²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson| OR: 159| D

9/4

Only runs here having been accidentally left out of the BetVictor Gold Cup yesterday but still holds claims having run a good race behind Altior in the Arkle over C&D. Grade 2 winner since and should be thereabouts.

Form: 22221-2

Simply Ned⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: N G Richards| OR: 153| BF| D

14/1

Placed in several Grade 1/2s but has never won a Class 1 race. Not getting any younger and vulnerable once again to some of the slightly more classy performers in the field.

Form: 22397-2

Non-Runners

Sir Valentino¹²

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: T R George J: Adrian Heskin

Forecasts

Fox Norton (4/5), Cloudy Dream (9/4), Special Tiara (8/1), Simply Ned (14/1), Sir Valentino (14/1), Vaniteux (20/1)

This looks a good opportunity for FOX NORTON to make amends for his defeat in the Champion Chase. He looked the likely winner coming up the hill but was just touched off by Special Tiara who re-opposes here but isn't getting any younger and was in all honesty slightly lucky to win that Championship race where the long odds-on favourite disappointed. Instead, Cloudy Dream, who has been rerouted here following a declaration error, may provide the main danger given the way he progressed last year.