14:25 Cheltenham

Saturday 16 November 2019

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 5m 17.72s

Us And Them^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 152

7/1

Goes well in the mud but hardly helped by now having to carry topweight. Shaped encouragingly when third on his return to action (up in trip; 2m4f) when third to Snow Falcon; capable of winning at this level, needs considering in calculations.

Form: 2222-U3

Siruh Du Lac²⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 150| C| D

8/1

Fine jumper who is usually ridden up with the pace (has a good record with today's rider). Progressed well last term winning all four starts including the Plate at the Festival (dominated a large field); may not have finished making progress.

Form: 13/1111-

Spiritofthegames^p²²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 150| DWS

8/1

Won first time out for the last three seasons (may well have been kept fresh for this); had a wind op in the summer. Fine effort behind (third) Siruh Du Lac in the Festival Plate (did well against a pace bias); acts on testing ground, shortlisted.

Form: 7/14335-

Magic Saint²⁰⁸

20/1

Did well enough in his first season with this yard but had only one win to show for his efforts leaving the feeling he slightly underachieved especially in the Grand Annual. Failed to meet expectations when last seen; up in trip/had a wind op.

Form: 2510F2-

Slate House^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 147| CD

4/1

May finally be living up to his potential having had a second wind op prior to finally putting it all together in a Carlisle novice (2m4f, heavy) after an eight month break. This will be a totally different test (handicap debut); can't be ignored.

Form: 8/4528-1

Belami Des Pictons²⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 146| BF| D

10/1

Only seen once since November 2017 and pulled up on that occasion (shaped as though he retained ability; reportedly bled) he's hard to assess. A three-time chase winner this would be some training feat to bring him back to score in this.

Form: 41112/P-

Count Meribel¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 146| CD

9/1

Took a 2m4f novice chase at this meeting last year (second chase win); failed to match that form although he was highly tried. Returned this with a fine second to a top-class prospect; may be best caught at this time of the year (all wins Nov-Dec).

Form: P/1147-2

Mercian Prince²⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 146| DWS

66/1

Has a good strike rate over fences (7-21) although most of those wins have come in smaller fields than he'll face here. Returns from an absence (had wind op), the chances are his style of racing will make this test too competitive for him.

Form: 671801-

Highway One O One⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 144

16/1

Useful form over fences but does like to boss his field which he'll find hard to do here with several of the same ilk in opposition. Tuned up for this over hurdles at Fontwell; looked ready to go there, may not find too much improvement.

Form: 43203-2

Happy Diva^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 143| BF| D

14/1

The sole mare in the field she's a most reliable sort gaining reward for her consistency when taking a Listed Mares' chase at Huntingdon earlier in the year. Good second to Guitar Pete on her recent return (travelled well, found less than likely).

Form: 231U2-2

Demi Sang^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 142

50/1

Given a busy time over the summer rewarding his connections with a couple of winning efforts at Cartmel. Returned from a break recently to finish a good third to Guitar Pete/Happy Diva; this mark does look a tough one for him to deliver off.

Form: 144153

Guitar Pete¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 141| C| D

16/1

Fortunate winner of a Grade 3 handicap here in 2017; for the most part been consistent since. Gained his first success since winning a Wetherby race he has a good record in last time (two of today's rivals behind); needs a career-best to win this.

Form: 68/233-1

Eamon An Cnoic^p,t¹⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 138| D

16/1

Well backed returning from a wind op when taking a Chepstow 2m handicap prior to running a good race to be fourth in the Festival Plate (travelled well). Not in the same form in the spring in two tough handicaps; needs to bounce back first time up.

Form: 56149-0

Brelan D'As^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138| D

20/1

Two small-field novice chase wins are on par with his hurdling form and he has shown that he can cope big-field handicap chases having run well in a couple of fast-run 2m events. Unseated rider on his recent return he does have a little to prove.

Form: 15135-U

Springtown Lake¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| D

9/1

Heavy ground winner over fences on debut at Sandown he matched that form for the most part despite not winning for the rest of last season. Best left-handed his recent Ascot return was better than the finishing position; sharper here, on a good mark.

Form: 1245P-7

Warthog^t²⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 132| DWS

33/1

Made all to win a Sandown handicap last December on his debut in this sphere but failed to match that effort in three later starts (jumping problems coming to the fore). Pulled up when last seen in the 4m at the Festival; returns from a wind op.

Form: 27/1P3P-

Splash of Ginge¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130| CD

25/1

Took this in 2017 causing a 25-1 surprise (has a good course record); enters the arena this time on the back of some out of sorts efforts. Well beaten in a decent Wetherby handicap chase last time (behind several of today's rivals); follow up unlikel

Form: 2/5P80-6

Non-Runners

Saint Calvados²¹

Weight: 12-5| Age: 6

T: H Whittington J: Non Runner

Royal Village²⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: Ian Williams J: Non Runner

Dell Oro²²⁹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: G & J Moore J: Joshua Moore

Forecasts

Slate House (4/1), Us And Them (7/1), Siruh Du Lac (8/1), Spiritofthegames (8/1), Count Meribel (9/1), Springtown Lake (9/1), Belami Des Pictons (10/1), Saint Calvados (10/1), Happy Diva (14/1), Guitar Pete (16/1), Eamon An Cnoic (16/1), Highway One O One (16/1), Brelan D'As (20/1), Magic Saint (20/1), Splash of Ginge (25/1), Warthog (33/1), Royal Village (33/1), Dell Oro (50/1), Demi Sang (50/1), Mercian Prince (66/1)

Despite the conditions this should be run at a good clip with plenty that like to race prominently amongst them one of the market Siruh Du Lac likely to be very much amongst then with his jumping prowess sure to keep him in the mix. Nigel Twiston-Davies has won this three times since 2008, most recently with Splash Of Ginge who tries again but the same yard have a better chance with Count Meribel who looks to have a good profile for this race. Spiritofthegames looks to have been laid out for this and must be respected but overall the vote goes to SPRINGTOWN LAKE back off his last winning mark. Slate House and Us And Them are two others who can’t be left out of the equation.