14:00 Cheltenham

Monday 1 January 2018

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

BetBright Best For Festival Betting Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 37.1s

Top Gamble^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 154| D

7/2

Contesting Grade 1 contests for much of 2017 including when finishing a good fourth in the Champion Chase at the Festival. Returning to handicap company today and should make his presence felt at this level with a talented conditional in the saddle.

Form: 3346-P2

Shantou Flyer^p1,t⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 152| CD

8/1

Jumping has let him down in recent times and he's shown very little since switched to this yard in the summer, pulled up on his two latest outings. Down in class but handicap mark looks a little stiff. First-time cheekpieces accompany a tongue-tie.

Form: 42P-5PP

Viconte Du Noyer^t⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Cooper| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 148| C| D

18/1

Grade 3 winner here at the back end of 2016 but has been a little hit and miss since. Probably needs a step up in trip to be seen at his best and better on quicker ground.

Form: 0PP2-70

Quite By Chance³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 146| D

14/1

Ended last season by pulling up over the Grand National fences at Aintree in April. Made the frame on both appearances this season, most recently when beaten 2L at Ascot over 2m1f last month and he races off the same mark today.

Form: 6F0P-23

Sametegal^t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144| C

5/1

Grade 3 winner at Newbury in March 2016 but only seen twice since. Placed on both of those efforts and remains on the same mark. Could take another step forward here and proven in these conditions; should go well.

Form: U221/23

Theinval^p³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| BF| D

11/1

Has become a little frustrating to follow over the past 12 months, placing on five of his eight starts without winning. No match for the winner when third of 10 at Newbury last time but handicapper dropped him 2lb for that and place claims again.

Form: 227-4F3

Burtons Well⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 140

7/2

Fell on final start of last season in Listed company at the Festival but made an encouraging start to this campaign when narrowly defeated at Stratford. Entitled to come on for that run and won't mind conditions here.

Form: 2/214F-2

Splash of Ginge¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Tom Humphries⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139| CD

6/1

Recorded his biggest win to date when successful in a Grade 3 contest here in December but took a hike in the weights for that and not as good here last time. Will need another career best off this mark.

Form: 500-417

Ballyhill²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 133| D

9/1

Yet to win over fences and disappointing when falling at Aintree last time out. Has a fair bit to prove at present but useful conditional taking off 3lb will help.

Form: 00-235F

Forecasts

Top Gamble (7/2), Burtons Well (7/2), Sametegal (5/1), Splash of Ginge (6/1), Shantou Flyer (8/1), Ballyhill (9/1), Theinval (11/1), Quite By Chance (14/1), Viconte Du Noyer (18/1)

BURTONS WELL made an encouraging start to the campaign with a good second at Stratford and he should be bang there if he comes on for that run. Sametegal has returned in good form and can't be ruled out if he takes a step forward but Top Gamble could be the main threat down in class.