13:20 Cheltenham

Saturday 16 December 2017

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Junior Jumpers Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 4m 10.80s

Sire De Grugy²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 159| CD

10/1

Former top two-miler but held in two completed starts since finishing 1L second in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek at Sandown (good to soft) 12 months ago. More needed if he's to register an 18th career success today.

Form: 712U-38

Gino Trail^p¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 145| D

7/2

Front-runner who was outclassed in Haldon Gold Cup last month at Exeter but landed smooth win next time at Wetherby. Gives Harry Skelton a chance to register on a much-deserved ride outside of brother Dan's string.

Form: 2216-31

Knockgraffon^p1,t1⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy| OR: 144| D

5/1

Looked a promising novice over fences at times last season, scoring at Newbury in good style over this sort of trip in November. Lost his way a bit and was poor on reappearance at Newcastle (2m5f, good) in October. New headgear and new trainer.

Form: 1/3125-4

Bun Doran²⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: T R George| OR: 139| BF| D

3/1

Useful novice last season and ended term with fine effort in a Grade 3 at Aintree (2m, good) when beaten just under 5L. Likely has plenty more to offer this term and market check called for on reappearance.

Form: 3/31P63-

Bentelimar²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 137| D

11/2

Irish import with record of 1-10 over fences, found things too hot last month here in BetVictor Gold Cup, drops in distance this time but again looks to have plenty work to do.

Form: 13U260

Theo^h⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: H Cobden| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 134| D

6/1

Rapid improver since joining this yard, winning five on the spin including first two chase starts. Wide margin winner over 2m½f (good) at Newcastle in September before early unseat at Ayr next time out. Runs from same mark now and respected.

Form: 11111U

Pearls Legend¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Brennan| T: J L Spearing| OR: 127| CD

10/1

Winner at Plumpton on final start last season and has run well enough in all three starts since return from summer break without scoring. Should go well again but stiff ask from 6lb out of the handicap.

Form: 471-252

Non-Runners

Grey Gold⁵⁶

Weight: 10-9| Age: 12

T: Kerry Lee J: R Patrick

Forecasts

Bun Doran (3/1), Gino Trail (7/2), Knockgraffon (5/1), Bentelimar (11/2), Theo (6/1), Sire De Grugy (10/1), Grey Gold (10/1), Pearls Legend (10/1)

THEO's winning sequence came to an abrupt halt when he unseated his rider early doors at Ayr in September but he'd been improving in rapid fashion previously and, having had a short break, may not be done climbing yet. He was an easy winner at Newcastle over this sort of trip previous to his Ayr mishap and should be a danger here from a low weight. Gino Trail won impressively at Wetherby last time and while facing a tougher task here, he's expected to give Harry Skelton a nice spin around. Bun Doran is worth tracking in the betting on his reappearance ahead of what should be a promising season while Knockgraffon could get back on track for his new handler.