15:50 Catterick

Wednesday 6 March 2019

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Join Racing TV For Cheltenham Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 3m 56.20s

Commis D'Office¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 121

9/5

Going left-handed proved to be the catalyst for a performance more akin to his French form when third (of 8) at Chepstow over 2m. That was only his second run back from a long absence and wind surgery; could still be more to come.

Form: 152P/P3

Greybougg⁹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 120

9/2

Front-runner who will always be suited by an easy lead; looks as though he could be ready to build on his two runs so far this season. A late blunder at Doncaster ended his chance last time but now 3lb below his last winning mark.

Form: U65P-93

Pull Together¹⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 118| D

4/1

Shaped well enough on his chasing debut (is a winning hurdler) at Fontwell despite finishing well held in the end. Should improve on that run but returns from another absence against some experienced chasing types.

Form: 42221-6

Ubaltique^b,t⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 118| CD

12/1

Enigmatic/quirky sort who is often seen to best effect at Haydock but didn't look the force of old on his most recent start there. He is unbeaten around here though 2-2 with one of those victories over this trip off a 2lb higher mark.

Form: 340-3U5

Valgor Du Ronceray⁷⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 113| D

40/1

His form since leaving Joseph O'Brien for whom he won a maiden hurdle on his last start for him has been a very mixed bag. His chase runs have been blighted by mistakes; remains a very perilous betting proposition.

Form: U4F45-P

Halcyon Days^p⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 112| BF| CD

6/1

Tough and genuine chaser who very rarely runs a poor race getting back to winning ways back from a break over 2m at Carlisle in October. Has shown sound form in his two runs at this trip since and always hard to leave out of the equation.

Form: 2-61622

Las Tunas^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith| OR: 101| D

11/2

Took a crashing fall at Ayr earlier this year when looking as though he would end his winning jumping drought. Happily made up for that mishap over the same C&D 6 days later; upped in grade/mark for that win (coped well enough), this is tougher.

Form: 432F12

Non-Runners

Roxyfet¹³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 9

T: Micky Hammond J: Miss Becky Smith

Forecasts

Commis D'Office (9/5), Pull Together (4/1), Greybougg (9/2), Roxyfet (5/1), Las Tunas (11/2), Halcyon Days (6/1), Ubaltique (12/1), Valgor Du Ronceray (40/1)

Around this sharp track anything that gets an unopposed lead is going to be dangerous and Greybougg having fallen to a good mark will be dangerous if allowed too much rope. The Venetia Williams stable remain in good form though and her top weight COMMIS D'OFFICE is taken to appreciate going left-handed once more having run well last time in a better race than this at Chepstow. The redoubtable C&D winner Halycon Days can never be left out of the discussion but he may just need to find a little extra here. Las Tunas and Roxyfet step up in grade with the latter hoping for a strongly run race which sees him to best effect.