Cheltenham Club Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 4m 5.30s

Ozzie The Oscar²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 153| D

11/4

Capable chaser who probably wasn't at his best when fifth of 13 at Ascot last time. Reunited with the champion jockey and can do better off 1lb lower.

Form: 21-1325

Theinval^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 150| D

8/1

Consistent handicapper who is usually on the premises but may have needed his reappearance run at Ascot where he was behind Ozzie The Oscar. Career record suggests he is at his best in the spring.

Form: 64241-9

Bun Doran²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 148| CD

5/4

Back from a break when a comfortable winner over C&D last month. Much more to do off 10lb higher, but has conditions to suit and should be thereabouts.

Form: 3/2335-1

Top Gamble^p,t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 146| D

5/1

First run since April when fourth of 10 to an unexposed handicapper at Newbury at the start of this month. Likes give in the ground so connections will be hoping for rain. Stable won this last year.

Form: 24438-4

Yorkist^t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| D

6/1

Having his first run since May, 2017, when scoring in good style at Aintree last month. Up 8lb and must avoid the "bounce" factor, but has to enter calculations.

Form: 344/23-1

Non-Runners

Hell's Kitchen³⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: H Fry J: B J Geraghty

Forecasts

Bun Doran (5/4), Ozzie The Oscar (11/4), Top Gamble (5/1), Yorkist (6/1), Theinval (8/1), Hell's Kitchen (8/1)

A tricky handicap chase in which each of the runners has questions to answer. Yorkist will take some beating if in the same mood as when winning last time at Aintree, but he is up in the weights and has to prove he is as effective on his second run following a long absence. Theinval may be better in the spring and Top Gamble needs rain, so this could be fought out by top-weight Ozzie The Oscar and BUN DORAN, with narrow preference for the latter who can defy his rise in the weights. Hell's Kitchen may need a longer trip to be seen to best effect.