14:25 Cheltenham

Saturday 27 January 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 6m 55.2s

Bristol De Mai³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 167

7/4

Fine effort to make all, running his rivals into submission in the Betfair Chase at Haydock but unsuited by quicker ground and a faster pace in King George last time. Possibly better suited to a flatter track but he'll be hard to beat down in class.

Form: 375-116

Definitly Red⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 159| C| D

7/1

Unlucky when badly hampered in the National and similar story at Wetherby in the Charlie Hall on seasonal return. No such issues last time in a Grade 2 at Aintree and we may not have seen the best of him yet; interesting runner.

Form: 1U1P-31

Tea For Two³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Lizzie Kelly| T: Nick Williams| OR: 164| D

17/2

Won the Betway Bowl at Aintree last season and fair effort in the King George last time when third behind Might Bite. Probably a little flattered by that run and has failed to finish the course on two previous runs here.

Form: 1U1-943

Perfect Candidate^b1²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 156| C| D

33/1

Career best when beating Vicente by a neck here in November but ran no sort of race at Sandown last time out. Can be hit and miss and has a fair amount to find on these terms. Wears first-time blinkers.

Form: P1P-010

Theatre Guide^b,t⁷⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 153| CWS

33/1

Latest win came here in 2016 and while he's been running well in defeat since, his better efforts have come on faster ground. Could struggle against some of these and needs the recent wind op to spark a fair amount of improvement.

Form: 17383-3

American⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 157

9/2

Won three in a row last season but gives the impression he's not the easiest to train (five runs in two years). Worth a crack at this level but his comeback run at Newbury was disappointing and plenty has to be taken on trust.

Form: 16/111-P

Singlefarmpayment^h³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 145| BF| CD

15/2

Course and distance winner in 2016 and has largely held his form well since but he looks a little out his depth at this level.

Form: 1B2-2F5

The Last Samuri⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 159| D

9/2

Excellent effort in 2016's Grand National when only run down late on and has run some excellent races in defeat since. Stays and jumps particularly well and chance will hinge on how well he takes to this course.

Form: 5320-22

Forecasts

Bristol De Mai (7/4), American (9/2), The Last Samuri (9/2), Definitly Red (7/1), Singlefarmpayment (15/2), Tea For Two (17/2), Perfect Candidate (33/1), Theatre Guide (33/1)

BRISTOL DE MAI was unsuited by the pace at which the King George was run at last time out but he will take some beating against these rivals, particularly if there's any overnight rain. The Last Samuri is worth giving a chance to getting weight from the majority of the field while Definitly Red was impressive last time out in Grade 2 company and there's a suspicion we are yet to see the best of him