14:30 Cheltenham

Friday 14 December 2018

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

CF Roberts 25 Years Of Sponsorship Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 34.4s

Rock The Kasbah^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 153| C

4/1

Very smart stayer who was impressive when winning here at the Open Meeting last month. Slightly surprising he's not trying to preserve his mark for a bid at the Grand National but expected to go well with just 6lb more here.

Form: 6/1P2-61

Coo Star Sivola³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 147| C

7/1

Won at Exeter last year before landing the Ultima Grade 3 contest here at the Festival. Has disappointed on his two starts this campaign and probably wants the ground softer than what he will get here.

Form: 411P-83

Singlefarmpayment^h²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: T R George| OR: 146| BF| C

5/1

Produced a good fourth here on seasonal return and unlucky not to have won a race since landing a novice chase at this meeting in 2016, placed at the Festival in 2017. Expected to go well again with the chance he will come on for his latest run.

Form: F5P52-4

Rolling Dylan^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 140

16/1

Looked progressive last season and returned with a respectable effort when fourth of 12 at Bangor last month. Has his first career start at this course and on a workable mark but Johnson prefers Rock The Kasbah.

Form: P2312-4

El Bandit³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139| BF| C| D

9/1

Highly promising individual who has won seven of his 13 starts including a win on the hurdles course here. Entitled to have needed the run on return at Wincanton having missed all of last season and not ruled out here.

Form: 1710/1-P

Cogry^p²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139| C| D

9/1

Course winner who was only narrowly denied on his return to action at this course in October. Tends to struggle a little off this mark though, as seen when sixth of 15 here last month, and others preferred this time.

Form: U30P-26

Kerrow³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 135

10/1

Enjoyed a productive 2016/17 season before eventually finishing a fair six of 18 at the 2017 Festival. Fell on his first run since that start at Bangor last month and perhaps best watched for now.

Form: 16126/F

Theatre Territory^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen⁽³⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 132

7/2

Game mare who has just one win from 16 races but she's finished in the first three on all seven of her chase starts and she probably went a shade too quick on return here last time. Leading claims off the same mark.

Form: 23233-2

Doing Fine^p,t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 132| C

12/1

Hasn't won since winning here in April 2017 and well beaten in two starts here this year. Still above his last winning mark and opposable at present.

Form: 4344-07

Forecasts

Theatre Territory (7/2), Rock The Kasbah (4/1), Singlefarmpayment (5/1), Coo Star Sivola (7/1), Cogry (9/1), El Bandit (9/1), Kerrow (10/1), Doing Fine (12/1), Rolling Dylan (16/1)

Phillip Hobbs has a strong hand in this race with Rolling Dylan and ROCK THE KASBAH and it's the top-weight who gets the vote of Champion Jockey Richard Johnson. He was mightily impressive here last time out and a 6lb rise for that success may not be enough to stop him going in again. Theatre Territory has taken well to fences and always gives her running while El Bandit can't be ruled out having been likely to have needed the run at Wincanton on return. Singlefarmpayment completes the shortlist.