13:20 Cheltenham

Saturday 14 December 2019

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Cheltenham Club Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 4m 23.42s

Destrier³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 151| D

5/4

Making up into a far better chaser than he was a hurdler winning over fences at Southwell/Ayr before taking third in an Aintree Grade 1 (Maghull Chase). Made a pleasing reappearance at Exeter, still unexposed over fences, remains with potential.

Form: 2/3113-3

The Bay Birch^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 149

16/1

Picked up where she left off when making a winning return to complete a hat-trick off a 4lb lower mark, looking well suited by a positive ride. Found out by circumstances in two starts since; looks as though the handicapper may well be in charge.

Form: 711-148

Ballywood²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 147| D

11/2

Won three chases last season improving his mark and ending the term with a sound run in an Ayr Grade 2. Failed to complete on his seasonal return but fared much better last time at Ascot (failed to get a clear run); could well have more to offer.

Form: 1214-U3

Theinval^p¹³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 146| D

14/1

Suffered a rare jumping lapse when last seen at Galway in the summer having not undertaken his usual spring campaign. Almost slipped back down to his last winning mark having been placed over 2m here twice in the Grand Annual; may need this outing.

Form: 41/936-F

Croco Bay^p²²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case| OR: 143| CD

10/1

Overcame an absence and odds of 66-1 to land the Grand Annual in March dominating a large field and holding on well from the challengers. Unable to dominate when last seen at Punchestown (finished a credible third); hard to ignore on return.

Form: 835/21-3

Art Of Payroll^t¹¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 140| DWS

14/1

Seen just three times since landing a well-supported win at Southwell on his debut for this yard at Southwell (August 2017). Returns from another wind op having offered little when last seen; given a chance by the handicapper, interesting.

Form: P11P2/P

Eamon An Cnoic^b1,t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 135| D

5/1

Finished fourth in the Festival Plate over further (trip stretched him) this year but his form appears to have gone missing since then. Struggled badly when last seen now 2lb below his Festival mark back in trip with a new headgear combination.

Form: 149-0U0

Northern Beau^b,t⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 122| CD

12/1

Won't find this easy from 3lb out of the weights at this level having found marks of 120+ too testing. Well beaten in this grade when returning from a wind op last time, again from out of the handicap; would be a surprise winner.

Form: 21-31P6

Forecasts

Destrier (5/4), Eamon An Cnoic (5/1), Ballywood (11/2), Croco Bay (10/1), Northern Beau (12/1), Art Of Payroll (14/1), Theinval (14/1), The Bay Birch (16/1)

The form claims of Destrier clearly stand out in this race having been placed in the Haldon Gold Cup last time behind two very capable sorts and the fact that he returns to race left-handed can only be a bonus. However, BALLYWOOD just makes a shade more appeal on the back of his promising effort at Ascot last time and with prominently ridden Grand Annual winner Croco Bay in the field this race could set up perfectly for him. Theinval will surely be of more interest in the spring but a market move for Art Of Payroll should be noted. He travelled well here on his penultimate outing over 4f further and although he disappointed when last seen another wind op may have sorted the problem.