16:50 Cheltenham

Tuesday 13 March 2018

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 8m 50.30s

All Kings¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Joshua Newman| T: R H Buckler| OR: 109

100/1

Maiden after ten starts including three over fences. Well held off a mark of 111 on soft ground over an extended 3m6f at Exeter last time out and looks up against it today.

Form: 8-38266

Clondaw Cian^b1⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 131| C

25/1

Dual hurdles winner and placed on three of his five starts over fences. Well beaten in a handicap chase over an extended 3m4f at Plumpton (heavy) in January and more needed if he's to take this contest.

Form: 0-322P0

Duel At Dawn^p⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: A M Hales| OR: 141| BF

16/1

Consistent sort and followed up a soft ground Exeter win over 3m with places here and in a Listed contest at Warwick (3m, soft). Handles soft ground but likely needs to improve for the step up in trip if he's to take this.

Form: 31-2122

Impulsive Star^p⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 132

20/1

Yet to win in three starts over fences but ran well when finishing a head second at Catterick (3m1f, soft) on his penultimate outing. Wore cheekpieces when third of four last time and more needed here.

Form: 110-F23

Jury Duty^t1⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| OR: 148

7/2

Placed over hurdles at this meeting 12 months ago and successful in two of his five chase starts to date. Finished runner-up in a Grade 1 event on his penultimate outing and looks a leading player for shrewd connections.

Form: 6-12122

Keeper Hill³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: R Deegan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 143

8/1

Victorious twice from four chase starts most recently when taking a good ground Grade 2 novice over 3m at Doncaster in December. Still in front when falling at Musselburgh subsequently and one to note in this contest.

Form: 76-121F

Lofgren^t¹⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 126

100/1

Successful twice over fences over around 2m1f last May. Appeared to struggle with the trip when stepped up to 3m at Warwick (good) last October and others make more appeal in this contest.

Form: 124565

Mossback²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Ms Lisa O'Neill| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| BF

6/1

Sprung a surprise when seeing off some useful hurdlers on chasing debut at Naas (2m3f, soft-to-heavy) in November. Best effort since came when finishing runner-up in a Grade 2 contest last time out and he represents last years winning team.

Form: 1P-14F2

No Comment^h³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 145| BF

11/2

Made just the one appearance over fences with that coming when beaten 30L into third in a Grade 1 event at Sandown (2m4f, soft) last month. Grade 3 placed over an extended 3m over hurdles 11 months ago and is an interesting runner.

Form: 11722-3

Pylonthepressure³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Katie Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

12/1

Off the mark at the second time of asking when winning a 2m beginners chase at Thurles (soft) last time. Had finished fourth over 2m5f prior to that and this step up to 4m is not certain to suit.

Form: 22/21-41

Rathvinden³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150

13/2

Has gained plenty of experience over fences winning four of his 10 starts including a Grade 3 at Tipperary (2m4f, heavy) in October. In touch when coming down over 2m5f last time out and interesting for a stable who took this in 2013.

Form: 3112BU

Reigning Supreme³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr James King| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134| BF

20/1

Twice a winner over hurdles and put an unseat on chase debut behind him when finishing runner-up over an extended 2m7f at Newbury (soft) last time out. Represents a leading stable with a useful amateur booked to ride.

Form: 2/141-U2

Robin Of Locksley^p,t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr D Skehan| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 125

66/1

Placed twice from four starts over fences but was tailed off when refusing in a novice contest on soft ground at Chepstow last time out and needs to improve markedly to figure.

Form: P3418R

Shades Of Midnight³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr T Hamilton| T: A M Thomson| OR: 135

25/1

Successful twice over hurdles in 2016 and made a promising debut for this yard when finishing third in a Grade 2 novice chase at Wetherby (3m, heavy) last month. Step up in trip not certain to suit though.

Form: 43P-5R3

Sizing Tennessee⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 145| BF| C

10/1

Broke his duck over fences when winning on soft ground over an extended 3m here in December. Placed twice over 2m5f here since and the step up in trip should suit. Represents a stable who are going well at present (six winners from last 20 runners).

Form: 2FU123

Ms Parfois^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr William Biddick| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 146| C

7/1

Progressive mare and the winner of three of her last four starts over fences including two Listed novice chase contests. Beaten 8L in a Grade 2 novice at Ascot (3m, soft) last time out and has a leading amateur in the saddle.

Form: 1-31112

Forecasts

Jury Duty (7/2), No Comment (11/2), Mossback (6/1), Rathvinden (13/2), Ms Parfois (7/1), Keeper Hill (8/1), Sizing Tennessee (10/1), Pylonthepressure (12/1), Duel At Dawn (16/1), Impulsive Star (20/1), Reigning Supreme (20/1), Shades Of Midnight (25/1), Clondaw Cian (25/1), Robin Of Locksley (66/1), All Kings (100/1), Lofgren (100/1)

Trainer Gordon Elliott took this contest last year and he looks to have a strong hand this time around. MOSSBACK has shaped as if this step up in trip would suit in his chase starts so far and with last years winning jockey Lisa O'Neill in the saddle he can take this at the chief expense of stablemate Jury Duty whose jockey rode the winner of this race three years ago. No Comment lacks the chasing experience of some of his rivals today but looks likely to appreciate this test and can claim third while Rathvinden is another to consider for a yard who have won this in the past.