15:45 Cheltenham

Friday 25 October 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Matchbook Most Trusted Betting Exchange Novices' Chase

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 6m 31.40s

Dinons¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 145| CD

11/4

Showed that he acts around here when completing a five-timer over hurdles at this meeting last year over 3m. Continued his progress since then over fences winning three times in Ireland; best when allowed to dominate; experience could prove useful.

Form: P-11431

Boyhood¹⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 142| CD

16/1

Made a winning start over fences at Newton Abbot in May putting his useful hurdles form to good use (jumped well). Has shown a lazy streak a couple of times over hurdles (something to watch for here); ought to go well off a break.

Form: 41/230-1

Wholestone²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 153| CD

5/2

Multiple hurdles winner at this track often running his best races here; came up short at really top level on a few occasions. Late to chasing so will need to progress quickly to make a mark having beaten a sole rival on his debut at Perth.

Form: 52950-1

Aye Aye Charlie²²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 138

9/2

For a while one of the best maiden hurdlers in the country until he finally got off the mark at long-odds on at Kelso last November. Often came up short in graded company; ran no sort of race last time (Albert Bartlett); embarks on chasing career.

Form: 4/21668-

Minella Warrior^t²²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 138| DWS

13/2

Not as highly tried as some of these over hurdles but a likeable type who showed himself to be useful enough last season. Came back well from wind op to win a Wetherby handicap when last seen; had another wind op, now goes chasing first-time.

Form: 2/11421-

Mulcahys Hill²²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 137| D

12/1

Chasing career hasn't quite gone to plan as yet with a Bangor novice chase second the best he can muster. Had a gruelling race when falling when well held in the Festival 4m race; back from a long break but that may have left its mark.

Form: 4P/624F-

Present Ranger^t⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 132

33/1

Picked up nicely after a break to win his third hurdles start in a row off the back of a break at Market Rasen overcoming a double penalty (dictated the pace). Runner-up in his only point-to-point he's presented with a stiff task on chasing debut.

Form: 3/301-11

Rockpoint¹⁹¹

8/1

Back from a wind op his only hurdles win was gained here in a Grade 2 event but it still leaves his 1-14 career record looking a little threadbare. Well below-par when last seen in a 3m handicap here; hard horse to weigh up but does have ability.

Form: 214607-

Forecasts

Wholestone (5/2), Dinons (11/4), Aye Aye Charlie (9/2), Minella Warrior (13/2), Rockpoint (8/1), Mulcahys Hill (12/1), Boyhood (16/1), Present Ranger (33/1)

Ireland have done well in this contest taking the race four times since 2010 with Gordon Elliott successful in 2010 and 2011 and although his three-time chase winner DINIONS has to concede to the entire field his experience may swing the vote in his direction. Minella Warrior would have been hard pushed to match Wholestone and the selection over hurdles but he should make progress as a chaser provided there isn’t too much rain. Boyhood, Rockpoint and the aforementioned Wholestone who was the best of these over hurdles add plenty of depth to what is an interesting contest.