13:55 Cheltenham

Saturday 16 December 2017

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

Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 5m 19.20s

Clan Des Obeaux²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155

3/1

Ran well behind subsequent Ladbrokes Trophy runner-up Whisper on reappearance in a match at Kempton, form that reads better still now, while he's also scored impressively at Newbury (2m5f, heavy) in graduation chase since. Huge player.

Form: 2514-21

Le Prezien^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B J Geraghty| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 152| C

9/2

Around 3L behind Splash Of Ginge here last month in similar contest, gets a 3lb pull at the weights with that rival and record this time of year ensures he is much respected.

Form: 138P-23

Starchitect^b,t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 148

13/2

Winning reappearance at Stratford last month and then ran a stormer behind Splash Of Ginge here. Would perhaps have claimed the spoils there if jumping more fluently at the business end and solid claims once more.

Form: 1535-12

Foxtail Hill²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 147| CD

12/1

Front-running sort who just held off Le Prezien over 2m here in October on reappearance. Didn't get his own way next time over this trip in race won by stablemate Splash Of Ginge and again may find himself hassled on the front end.

Form: 1F92-18

Romain De Senam^h,t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N D Fehily| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145| D

14/1

Decent chaser, won his first two starts this winter at Chepstow and Stratford before finding things tougher around here last month (behind four of these re-opposing rivals). Can get involved but perhaps playing for minor money.

Form: 752-115

Ballyalton^p²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 143| C

15/2

Won a novices' handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2016, but has had a few problems since. Around 6L fourth behind Splash Of Ginge here last month and not ruled out with any certainty now.

Form: 2F15/64

King's Odyssey³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 140| CD

9/1

Promising novice chaser in the 2015/16 season but endured a tough time of it last term, albeit often in above-average company. More like it last month on return from summer break at Carlisle (2m, soft) and can get involved here if stepping up again.

Form: 1/3F30-3

Splash of Ginge²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139| CD

11/1

Held off the likes of Starchitect and Le Prezien (amongst others) when taking the BetVictor Gold Cup here last month, isn't the most consistent and no certainty he'll arrive in a similar mood now but capable of going well again.

Form: 2500-41

Deauville Dancer^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: David Dennis| OR: 137

28/1

Improving at a rate of knots during autumn/early winter and comes here seeking a four-timer as a result. Up 7lb for win in three-runner Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) contest last time and this field is clearly much tougher.

Form: 424111

Guitar Pete²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 134

9/1

Has done well since arriving from Ireland with this yard, winning Listed Wetherby contest (2m3½f, good to soft) early last month with a bit to spare. Badly hampered early on in BetVictor Gold Cup here since, can be forgiven that effort.

Form: 022219

Non-Runners

Long House Hall⁵¹⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 9

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Clan Des Obeaux (3/1), Le Prezien (9/2), Starchitect (13/2), Ballyalton (15/2), Guitar Pete (9/1), King's Odyssey (9/1), Splash of Ginge (11/1), Foxtail Hill (12/1), Long House Hall (12/1), Romain De Senam (14/1), Deauville Dancer (28/1)

Paul Nicholls has farmed this race recently and he has super claims of a fifth win in nine years with top-weight CLAN DES OBEAUX. He ran Whisper close in a match at Kempton on his reappearance and was a good winner of a graduation chase next time at Newbury. He jumps and travels smoothly and really should relish this next step up the ladder. Splash of Ginge, Starchitect, Le Prezien and Ballyalton filled the first four places in the BetVictor Gold Cup here last month and a bold bid from any of the quartet would come as no shock, while Guitar Pete is forgiven a poor run in the same race and merits a second glance from the foot of the weights. Long House Hall has been absent a long while but his old form puts him in the mix if ready while King's Odyssey took a good step in the right direction last time at Carlisle and may build on it.