14:00 Cheltenham

Saturday 26 October 2019

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

'Matchbook Betting Exchange' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 7m 2.70s

Minella Rocco¹⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 147| C

22/1

Hasn't won since beating Native River in 2016 National Hunt Chase here over 4m in 2016 but second in 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Pulled up final three starts last term and starts this campaign on lowest ever mark.

Form: F/59PPP-

Rocky's Treasure¹⁹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 147

11/1

Progressed well for switching to chasing last term winning four novice events including a Grade 2. Second to Cobra De Mai here final start and now 11lb better off for 13 lengths. Has won on seasonal bow before so is an interesting contender.

Form: 121352-

Crosspark¹⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 146

16/1

Thorough stayer who rocketed up the wieghts last term with win in 4m Eider Chase and fine second in Scottish National at Ayr on his last start. Further 4lb rise to contend with and probably find a few too quick at this trip.

Form: 115312-

Rolling Dylan^p¹⁸²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 142

16/1

Failed to score last term but twice ran well here including very close third in Grade 3 h'cap chase off 2lb lower in December. Yard has fine record in this event so a bold show could well be on the cards.

Form: 434525-

West Approach¹⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 140| BF

4/1

Versatile sort who was second in Grade 1 hurdle at Ascot last year having started season finishing close third in this race opff 3lb higher mark than today. Goes well fresh and handicapped to be very much on the premises.

Form: 522966-

Cogry^p¹⁹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139| CD

6/1

Beaten just a neck in this race last year having won the 2017 renewal. Loves this track and landed Grade 3 here last December off this mark. Unseated at last when in fifth in Scottish National final start last season.

Form: P/2610U-

Bob Mahler^p¹⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: W Greatrex| OR: 139| CD

16/1

Won here in April off 7lb lower mark then pulled up final outing of term at Uttoxeter. Handles cut in the ground but will do well to score. Yard had a good chase winner here on Friday.

Form: 23811-P

Na Trachtalai Abu^p,t⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Burke| T: J Motherway| OR: 138| D

33/1

Irish raider who won good staying handicap chase at Kilbeggan this summer then ran on well for third in Kerry National at Listowel last month. Yard have very few runners in this country so certainly worth a market check for signs of confidence.

Form: 208-413

Red Infantry^p¹⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 138

25/1

Won Haydock 3m4f h'cap chase last term off 6lb lower mark and not disgraced subsequent starts including when seventh in Scottish National in April. Eased 2lb but may prove better for this first run back.

Form: 9125U7-

Captain Chaos¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 133| D

14/1

Second in Rehearsal Chase and sixth in simlar event to this at Cheltenham Festival in March but ran poorly on return at Chepstow recently when tailed off. Has a bit to prove on that evidence.

Form: 08226-6

Get On The Yager²²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 132

20/1

At his best when the mud is flying so any easing f the ground would help his cause. Fine third in Midlands National on final start of just three outings last term. Eased 1lb and not out of the reckoning if the rain comes.

Form: 29P/693-

Back To The Thatch²²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 132

8/1

Hasn't won since January 2018 and usually needs a run or two to reach his peak. Well backed for last term's Midland's National but was tailed off when fell at last having run well when second in decent staying chase at Haydock time before.

Form: FP/742F-

The Conditional²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 131

14/1

Ex-Irish gelding whose only win came in staying maiden hurdle at Thurles on heavy ground. Remains a maiden over fences but shaped with some promise on first start for new yard when third at Worcester last month.

Form: F4654-3

Mindsmadeup²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 128| BF

14/1

Landed Downpatrick handicap chase this summer and Listowel 3m h'cap hurdle in September prior to 4th of 17 over hurdles at Gowran Park last time. Doesn't look obviously well in on these terms.

Form: 55-1214

Onefortheroadtom^p¹⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 124

8/1

Ended last term with good second in Punchestown handicap chase but runs here from 3lb out of handicap and hasn't appeared in love with this track on three previous visits. Others make mroe appeal.

Form: 5662F-2

Non-Runners

Cobra De Mai¹⁸²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Rock The Kasbah¹⁸²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 9

T: P Hobbs & J White J: R Johnson

Royal Vacation¹⁴

Weight: 11-5| Age: 9

T: C L Tizzard J: Aidan Coleman

The Young Master²⁴

Weight: 11-3| Age: 10

T: N P Mulholland J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen

Shantou Village⁴⁵

Weight: 11-1| Age: 9

T: N P Mulholland J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

West Approach (4/1), Cogry (6/1), Onefortheroadtom (8/1), Back To The Thatch (8/1), The Young Master (8/1), Rock The Kasbah (10/1), Cobra De Mai (10/1), Rocky's Treasure (11/1), The Conditional (14/1), Mindsmadeup (14/1), Captain Chaos (14/1), Rolling Dylan (16/1), Crosspark (16/1), Royal Vacation (16/1), Bob Mahler (16/1), Shantou Village (16/1), Get On The Yager (20/1), Minella Rocco (22/1), Red Infantry (25/1), Na Trachtalai Abu (33/1)

A terrifically competitive handicap chase to start the new campaign here and no doubt race specialist Cogry will have been primed to make a bold bid. He should go well once again but from a host of runners with genuine claims a chance is taken on Irish raider NA TRACHTALAI ABU who comes here fit and in form after a couple of good runs of late. Toward the top of the weights Cobra Du Mai, Rock The Kasbah, Rocky's Treasure and The Young Master could be thereabouts, as too might Shantou Village, Rolling Dylan, and West Approach.