14:00 Cheltenham

Tuesday 1 January 2019

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:50

Download The BetBright App Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 11.30s

Aso³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 158| D

3/1

Impressive winner on return from a 397-day absence at Newbury last time out. Career high mark to cope with but he ran well when third in the Ryanair here back in 2017 and he's a consistent sort.

Form: 8434/5-1

Ballyhill²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 144| CD

7/1

Won this race last year and while his form tailed off last season, he returned to form with a bang at Aintree last time out. 11lb higher for this year's renewal as a result though and a clear career best needed here.

Form: 09P-821

Born Survivor⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 143| D

7/2

Hit and miss performer but put up a career best when winning a Listed race on return to action at Wetherby in November. Given a chance by the handicapper, now only 4lb higher, and expected to be thereabouts.

Form: 380-171

Divine Spear³²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141| BF

9/2

Turned over at odds-on when making his hat-trick bid at Musselburgh when last seen. Has a bit to prove on return here off this sort of handicap mark.

Form: 225/112-

Happy Diva^t⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 140| D

8/1

Ultra consistent last season, winning three of her last four starts of the season. Produced a good second on seasonal return and brought down here last time so quite possibly more to come. Yard form a concern.

Form: 1121-2B

Foxtail Hill¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135| CD

11/1

Two-time course winner and he can be dangerous to give an uncontested lead to. Not shown a great deal of late but handicap mark is starting to look lenient and likely to bounce back at some stage.

Form: 6800-37

Dustin Des Mottes¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 133

5/1

Multiple winner in France before being bought for this yard for €40,000 in the summer. Has made an encouraging enough start for connections, including a good second in a novice chase last time and there could be more to come over this longer trip.

Form: 13-1132

Non-Runners

Acting Lass³¹¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 8

T: H Fry J: N D Fehily

Give Me A Copper⁴¹⁴

Weight: 10-13| Age: 9

T: P F Nicholls J: Harry Cobden

Forecasts

Aso (3/1), Born Survivor (7/2), Divine Spear (9/2), Dustin Des Mottes (5/1), Give Me A Copper (5/1), Ballyhill (7/1), Happy Diva (8/1), Acting Lass (8/1), Foxtail Hill (11/1)

Ballyhill won this race last year and the yard have a fantastic record in the contest, with three wins in the last five years. Twiston-Davies throws also saddles the well-handicapped Foxtail Hill this time around who is respected with the possibility he will get the uncontested lead he needs. However, preference is for ASO who has proven at this level and produced an impressive reappearance at Newbury.