13:50 Cheltenham

Saturday 25 January 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Paddy Power 45 Sleeps To Cheltenham Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 5m 33.42s

Cepage²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 154| D

8/1

Quality handicapper when on song, second on seasonal debut at Aintree and a close fourth in the valuable Caspian Caviar last time out; handicapper looks to have him where he wants him though, and yard gone a little quiet.

Form: 14/2-246

Lalor^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: K Woollacott| OR: 153| C

6/1

Well fancied for the Arkle at one stage last year, but season rather fell away; much better when upped in trip and given cheekpieces last time out when third over C&D on New Years Day here, and every chance if building on that.

Form: 13P6-43

Spiritofthegames^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 149

9/1

Blew any notions he needs good ground out of the water when only just denied in the Caspian Caviar here last time, caught in the shadow of the post; conditions fine once again, and still looks on a workable mark despite 3lb rise.

Form: 335-P02

Highway One O One²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: J E Moore| T: C Gordon| OR: 145

6/1

Ran a stormer on this card last year in the Novices Handicap, close third to Kildisart, form that worked out well; has looked back to form last two starts and this drop back in trip may well help; has chances.

Form: 03-2U43

Count Meribel⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 145| C

7/1

Likes it here and has some solid efforts to his name, but not so good this season, with soft ground not really to his benefit; more it dries the better his chance, and he was far from disgraced when sixth in the Bet Victor last time out.

Form: 1147-26

Militarian²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 142| D

12/1

Has plenty of ability and a sight surprise he went off a 50-1 chance when successful at Ascot three starts ago; performed with credit when fourth over a staying trip here last time, but this trip probably a bit on the short side for him.

Form: 634-184

Garde La Victoire³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 141| CD

14/1

Long time since he got his head in front, and the years may be catching up with him; will strip fitter for an outing in December, his first for almost a year, but it takes something of a leap of faith to get with him now.

Form: 8240/4-6

Warthog^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 136| CD

4/1

Has run really well both starts here this season, third in the Bet Victor and followed that up with success in the valuable Caspian Caviar in December; 4lb rise for that more than fair, conditions fine, but a few from the yard have run below par.

Form: 1P3P-31

Cool Mix^h²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 129

20/1

Won a three-runner affair this time last year but nothing since then, and although latest third was a step back in the right direction, this is a lot tougher and he will need to build on it. Plenty on his plate.

Form: 217-653

My Way^p,t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127

6/1

Had seven chase starts to date, yet to score although unlucky at Plumpton last October when falling, looking the likely winner at the time; cheekpieces tried last time produced little better though, and he might need more in this hot company.

Form: 328-F42

Forecasts

Warthog (4/1), Lalor (6/1), My Way (6/1), Highway One O One (6/1), Count Meribel (7/1), Cepage (8/1), Spiritofthegames (9/1), Militarian (12/1), Garde La Victoire (14/1), Cool Mix (20/1)

Probably not too many to concentrate on, in truth, and this offers COUNT MERIBEL a chance to get off the mark for the season. A good novice, with plenty of track form to fall back upon, he may well have found the ground a bit too deep in the Bet Victor but still ran a creditable race to finish sixth. This drying ground is more to his liking, and he can come out on top. Lalor has class and came back to form here last time out; if he can build on that, he holds every chance. Warthog was a good winner of the Caspian Caviar and a 4lb rise gives him chances of following up, and Highway One O One must go close if reproducing his best form too.