13:50 Cheltenham

Saturday 17 November 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

BetVictor.com Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 6m 49.10s

Coneygree^t1³⁵⁰

14/1

2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner has only raced five times since having been besieged by problems. Pulled up in both races last season and injured again after latest of them. Long layoff since and has to be considered a risky proposition now.

Form: 1123/PP-

Virgilio^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 157

12/1

Five-time winner over fences including twice this summer at Aintree and Uttoxeter. Not disgraced latest behind high class Definitly Red in Charlie Hall at Wetherby but suspect handicap mark high enough now.

Form: 8PF-113

Perfect Candidate²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 150| CD

14/1

Winner of this last year but couldn't land a blow in three subsequent starts with season culminating in a fall at the first in the Grand National. Well beaten on return here last month and looks up against it now in repeat bid.

Form: 0105F-0

Vicente^h²¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| C

10/1

Dual Scottish National hero came up short in his bid for an unprecedented hat-trick (fifth) when last seen. Second in this last year and 1lb lower now on arguably more suitable ground. Compelling each way claims.

Form: F1/2UP5-

Rock The Kasbah^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 147| BF

8/1

Second although well beaten in valuable bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (3m5f) to end last season before shade disappointing in recent return at Chepstow when sixth of 12. Could come on plenty for that and handicap mark very workable.

Form: 26/1P2-6

Singlefarmpayment^h²¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: N D Fehily| T: T R George| OR: 146| BF| C

6/1

Always threatened to land a big handicap and beaten a short-head on final start of last season. Beaten same margin in 2017 festival handicap too. Relishes big fields and quick ground so big chance once again if delivered very late.

Form: 2F5P52-

Royal Vacation²⁰³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 143| C

20/1

Pulled up in four of his last seven starts including when last seen in bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (Rock The Kasbah second). Back to last winning mark but has to be rated a very risky proposition.

Form: P/3P50P-

Calett Mad^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 141| BF| C

8/1

Dual chase winner campaigned over hurdles last season, winning four times. Not disgraced on return here when fourth of 16 latest beaten 16L. Won previously longest career race (3m2f) so trip here could be right up his street; respected.

Form: 41P1-94

Daklondike^p,t²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 140| BF

14/1

Won three times last season in testing conditions but ended season in disappointment when pulled-up at Punchestown. Stays well and seems an improving sort but the ground here is a worry.

Form: 41411P-

Cogry²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139| BF| C

8/1

Not the most prolific over fences but twice won here and again showed liking for the course when second beaten a neck on reappearance last month. Ground in his favour but often saved best form for first time out in the past.

Form: 2U30P-2

Mysteree^p1²⁷³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: J E Moore| T: M Scudamore| OR: 136

25/1

Career highlight came when winning 2017 Eider Chase over an extended 4m at Newcastle. Ran just twice last season finishing pulled up before third (of three finishers) beaten over 100L at Haydock. Plenty to prove now.

Form: 1P12/P3-

The Young Master^p³⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 135| C| D

13/2

Ended an over two-year losing run when successful at Chepstow last month. Form backed up with runner-up winning since. Won here on Friday so very doubtful participant but would have a huge chance if doing so.

Form: 3P6U8-1

Looking Well¹⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 135

16/1

Failed to complete in two of his three starts last season but ran well enough when last seen at Perth in the summer as he stayed on into third over 3m. This trip probably close to ideal so has each-way potential off low weight.

Form: 26/7UP-3

Sharp Response²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 135

12/1

Lightly raced over fences but registered a career best at Carlisle last month when cruising to success over 3m2f. Upped 11lb for that success but looks one to stay on the right side of at present so rates a leading contender here.

Form: 7321-41

Pure Vision^t²¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 132

14/1

Won just once over fences and that on heavy ground but finished second over 3m1½f on good ground to end last season. Should stay this longer trip so claims if ready first time out.

Form: 1/F14P2-

Doing Fine^t,v1²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 132| C

16/1

Stamina very much his forte as shown when he plugged on into fourth in the Scottish National to end last season. Beaten out of sight here on return in a race Cogry was second in so big turnaround now needed.

Form: 5/4344-0

Forecasts

Singlefarmpayment (6/1), The Young Master (13/2), Rock The Kasbah (8/1), Calett Mad (8/1), Cogry (8/1), Vicente (10/1), Sharp Response (12/1), Virgilio (12/1), Coneygree (14/1), Pure Vision (14/1), Perfect Candidate (14/1), Daklondike (14/1), Doing Fine (16/1), Looking Well (16/1), Royal Vacation (20/1), Mysteree (25/1)

SINGLEFARMPAYMENT is always a big player when getting his favoured quick ground and having been just touched off to end last season in similar conditions here he can finally land a big payday after several good efforts in the past. Improving seven-year-old Sharp Response was very impressive last time out and rates the biggest threat now. Vicente went close in this last term and is another with solid claims for Paul Nicholls.