17:00 Cheltenham

Wednesday 18 April 2018

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:30

Weatherite Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 6m 44.40s

Double Treasure^t¹⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 150| CWS

20/1

Was on a five-timer when well and truly found out at Grade 3 level last time out. Has previous course form, though, and has now had wind surgery.

Form: 51-1117

Smooth Stepper¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 146| D

16/1

Won well over this trip at Kelso last time when winning by eight lengths, but has been hit with an 8lb rise for that victory. May have left his race behind there but arrives in better form than most.

Form: 502161

Singlefarmpayment^h³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: T R George| OR: 142| C

11/4

Has been unlucky not to win a nice handicap chase over the past couple of seasons and having run well again in the Ultima here in March this could finally be his chance to return to winning ways.

Form: 2-2F5P5

Delusionofgrandeur⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 141

20/1

Pulled-up in Saturday's Grand National, but was running to a fair level in handicap chases prior to that. The worry is that running such a tough race may have taken its toll, even if he only made it halfway round.

Form: 31353P

Some Invitation^p1,t¹¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138WS

16/1

Ran as his 40/1 odds suggested he would when pulled-up in the Grade 1 Kauto Star over Christmas, but has had a wind op since and showed plenty of potential prior to that.

Form: 1816-1P

Lovely Job¹³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: N D Fehily| T: F O'Brien| OR: 138

7/1

Never out of the front two in his five starts since returning from a break last June. Up 5lb for his most recent victory, and this is a much tougher affair.

Form: F/12121

Dell' Arca^b,t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 137| C

12/1

Only chase win came back in May 2015, and recent efforts both over fences and over hurdles have seen him show very little.

Form: 1P7560

Vic De Touzaine³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 137

25/1

Won at Carlisle in October but pulled-up four times since and impossible to recommend off the back of so many poor performances.

Form: U-1PPPP

Another Hero³⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 131

8/1

Hasn't run since finishing down the field in last season's Scottish Grand National, and though this is easier it still represents a tough task with his form and after the break.

Form: F/64300-

Scotchtown³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 129| BF

25/1

Yet to get off the mark over fences, and despite some good efforts in defeat this will surely demand too much of him.

Form: 7-42542

Coologue²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: S Bowen| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 129| C

10/1

More letters than numbers in his recent form, and the fact he has had a wind op isn't enough to overlook that fact.

Form: 8P3-PPP

More Buck's^t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 125

12/1

Good form over fences last season eventually tailed off, and he was well-beaten on his sole start of this season so far last month.

Form: 14FP3-7

What Happens Now³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 125| C

8/1

Just 3lb higher than when winning well at this course back in October. The ground should suit and having run well in second last time there's every chance he can go very well here.

Form: 231732

Non-Runners

Alvarado¹²⁴

Weight: 10-6| Age: 13

T: F O'Brien J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Singlefarmpayment (11/4), Lovely Job (7/1), Another Hero (8/1), What Happens Now (8/1), Alvarado (10/1), Coologue (10/1), Dell' Arca (12/1), More Buck's (12/1), Some Invitation (16/1), Smooth Stepper (16/1), Delusionofgrandeur (20/1), Double Treasure (20/1), Vic De Touzaine (25/1), Scotchtown (25/1)

What Happens Now is just 3lb higher than when he won here back in October and though not quite at that level since should be able to run a big race here, but preference is for SINGLEFARMPAYMENT. Tom George's charge has been truly unlucky not to yet win a handicap chase and down 3lb for another great effort here during the Festival he can finally return to winning ways. Smooth Stepper has a rise up the weights to overcome but has shown good form lately.