13:15 Cheltenham

Saturday 26 January 2019

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 5m 17.7s

Spiritofthegames⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 146

3/1

Won in impressive fashion on chase debut at Chepstow in Listed class but mistakes cost him in his follow up bid at Newbury last time. Still early days and warrants respect down in class here.

Form: 2357-14

Highway One O One³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 143

8/1

Has won two of his five chase starts but has found Graded company beyond him on his last couple of outings. Needs to improve to defy this handicap mark and may have wanted softer ground.

Form: 2-12143

Kildisart³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 141| D

9/2

Shaped with plenty of promise on chase debut at Ascot in November and showed a game attitude when gaining compensation at that course last time out. Interesting contender from a workable handicap mark.

Form: 2519-21

Azzerti³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: A King| OR: 137

5/1

Won a novice event last time out at Ascot and every chance the step back up in trip will suit but would have wanted some rain to arrive to be seen to best effect.

Form: 72-4031

First Drift²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 130

14/1

Caused a big shock when winning at Hereford on second chase start (25/1) and showed that was no fluke with a solid placed effort there last time out. Worth another go at this trip and versatile ground wise.

Form: 112-P12

Dentley De Mee^p⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 129

9/1

Hasn't quite matched his form in hurdles over fences just yet and well beaten at a big price here last time out when a bad mistake four from home did for his chance. May be capable of better at some point but others preferred here.

Form: 22-2324

Onefortheroadtom²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: R P McLernon| T: H Fry| OR: 126

16/1

Fairly useful over hurdles and won a jumpers' bumper at Kempton last year but hasn't shown anything in three starts over fences of yet. Hard to fancy here.

Form: 516-656

Enola Gay²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: James Bowen| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120

4/1

Runner-up six times in a 13-race career including at Wincanton last time when unlucky to bump into a smart horse who got his act together for the first time over fences. Little wrong with his attitude and another bold show expected.

Form: 220-322

Forecasts

Spiritofthegames (3/1), Enola Gay (4/1), Kildisart (9/2), Azzerti (5/1), Highway One O One (8/1), Dentley De Mee (9/1), First Drift (14/1), Onefortheroadtom (16/1)

KILDISART has taken well to life over fences and showed a good attitude when staying on well at Ascot last time out. He's taken to get the better of Enola Gay who was probably left a bit too much to do at Wincanton last time out. First Drift may do better over this longer trip and could be up to placing at this level.