14:00 Cheltenham

Saturday 27 October 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

'Matchbook Betting Exchange' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 6m 20.4s

Perfect Candidate¹⁹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 152| C| D

33/1

Down the field in this last year but bounced back next to win over 3m3½f here on soft ground. Struggled in next two starts and fell at first in the National. Same mark as that course win now but quicker ground likely.

Form: P/0105F-

Laurium³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| D

20/1

Bounced back from a hat-trick of pulled-up runs to win at Warwick last time out over 3m1½f (good). Raised 7lb for that and faces a stiffer task here now but if issues are behind him there could yet be improvement.

Form: 51P/P-P1

Shantou Village^p⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 144| C

7/1

Four-time novice chase winner gained first success since when stepped up to 2m7f at Worcester in August before latest fifth of 18 in Kerry National on softer ground. Stamina to prove here over longest trip he's faced but progressive sort.

Form: 0-84315

West Approach^b¹⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 143

9/1

Dual novice chase winner last season then struggled in a hat-trick of Grade One chases before bowing out when pulled up in marathon Scottish National over 4m. Possibility there is more to come over fences and not ruled out here.

Form: 31356P-

Dell' Arca^b,t⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 142| C

14/1

Versatile sort scored over hurdles and on the flat this summer before returning to fences in the Kerry National where he stayed on well for fourth over 3m. 4lb higher now but trip, course and ground all suit so respected.

Form: 603-414

Calett Mad^t⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 142| BF| C

7/1

Dual chase winner went hurdling last season, winning four times. Returned to fences recently at Market Rasen over an inadequate 2m5f, finishing midfield. This much more his sort of trip and is an interesting contender for last year's winning yard.

Form: 541P1-9

Captain Chaos¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| D

18/1

Three-time novice chase winner last season, all on soft ground at 3m plus. Only beat on home on return to action in a Chepstow novice chase but bounced back from a flop first time out last year so better expected but ground a worry.

Form: 11415-0

Domesday Book^b¹⁸²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: S Edmunds| OR: 137| C

25/1

2017 Kim Muir winner at the Cheltenham Festival returned from 408 day absence when pulled up at Sandown in only start last season in the bet365 Gold Cup. Hopefully issues are behind him now but plenty to take on trust before recommending him.

Form: 56831/P-

Braqueur D'Or¹⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135WS

8/1

Three novice wins last season all came on ground rated good or faster. Won first handicap at Ludlow and not disgraced next three times before a laboured finish to the season at Ayr. Open to improvement and had wind-op over the summer.

Form: 213420-

Doing Fine^p,t¹⁸⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: L P Aspell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 135| C

14/1

Course winner over 3m4f finished third in this race last year behind Cogry. Fourth in next two starts at Sandown (3m5f) and Scottish National (4m) staying on well in each. 2lb lower than a year ago so mark very appealing but trip sharp enough.

Form: 15/4344-

Cogry¹⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135| CD

7/1

Won this last year and quite convincingly too but was then rather inconsistent and failed to complete three times. Only 2lb higher than a year ago now and with ground looking likely to be very similar he will make a bold bid for the repeat.

Form: P2U30P-

Relentless Dreamer^p,t¹¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 134

16/1

Finished last season with a remote fourth in the bet365 Gold Cup but returned with a solid third of 18 at Uttoxeter in July. Same mark here but a little more depth to this contest so probably more a place proposition overall.

Form: 16364-3

Rightdownthemiddle^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 133

50/1

Over three years since his lone chase success (16 starts) although not disgraced last time over fences when second at Perth before disappointing over hurdles at Gowran. Irish trainer has a 46 per cent strike rate with raiders this season.

Form: P0-1720

Above Board⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 133

17/2

Lightly raced but won four of his nine starts and since winning first handicap chase at Uttoxeter (3m) he has been third at Bangor and Second at Worcester latest behind Shantou Village. Improving and could go well if jumping holds up.

Form: P/1P-132

Swingbridge^b,t³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: James Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 132| D

33/1

Well placed to score twice at Perth this summer over 3m including last time out. Raised 7lb for that success and this considerably tougher but runners from this yard can never be ruled out altogether.

Form: 041361

For Good Measure²⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 132

7/1

Useful hurdler at up to 3m but just the two starts so far over fences. Never involved on debut but ran on for fourth over inadequate 2m before similar story next when third in 2m4f Grade Two. Open to improvement over this trip and very interesting.

Form: 5290/43-

Non-Runners

Minella Rocco²⁶⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: J & A O'Neill J: B J Geraghty

Forecasts

Cogry (7/1), Calett Mad (7/1), For Good Measure (7/1), Shantou Village (7/1), Braqueur D'Or (8/1), Above Board (17/2), West Approach (9/1), Minella Rocco (12/1), Dell' Arca (14/1), Doing Fine (14/1), Relentless Dreamer (16/1), Captain Chaos (18/1), Laurium (20/1), Domesday Book (25/1), Swingbridge (33/1), Perfect Candidate (33/1), Rightdownthemiddle (50/1)

A chance is taken on FOR GOOD MEASURE who is almost certain to improve dramatically now upped to this sort of trip. He must jump soundly in such a competitive contest but seems to have done so in his two starts so far albeit in smaller fields. Dangers aplenty include last year's winner Cogry with Nigel Twiston-Davies always respected at this meeting. Dell' Arca, West Approach and Doing Fine are also on the shortlist in that order of preference.