14:50 Cheltenham

Tuesday 10 March 2020

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 6m 50.75s

Vinndication^t¹²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 159

11/2

Grade 2 winner at Ascot prior to disappointing in Grade 1 company twice since, particularly at this venue when making jumping errors. Obliged when backed like defeat was out of the question at Ascot on reappearance; likely still ahead of his mark.

Form: 1/1135-1

Brave Eagle^p¹⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 157

25/1

Won a Listed handicap at Uttoxeter in the summer and not disgraced on his reappearance at Newbury when eighth of 24 in the Ladbrokes Trophy; needs to come on for that but unexposed and could go well; drying ground would suit.

Form: 113-118

Cepage⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 155| C

14/1

Produced a game effort to get his head back in front here last time out on Trials Day. This is tougher but gets away with just a 1lb rise from the assessor and he goes well at this venue, as his Cheltenham form figures of 42461 suggest.

Form: 4/2-2461

Vintage Clouds²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 151| D

28/1

Impressive winner of the Peter Marsh at Haydock in January but not in the same form when only fifth at that venue last time. Runner-up in this race last year prior to his National tilt so not ruled out if he can bounce back.

Form: 6-5P315

Mister Malarky^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 151

12/1

Bounced back to form in good style at Kempton last month when getting the better of a useful yardstick in a 14 runner contest. 4lb higher and this is tougher but ran okay in last year's RSA here; could do with the ground drying out.

Form: 42-06P1

Kildisart^p1¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 150| C| D

10/1

Fourth in last year's JLT and more than hinted at a return to form when fifth of 14 at Kempton last time out. Won a competitive handicap at Aintree last year from 2lb lower so not ruled out if the first-time cheekpieces eke out improvement.

Form: 41-3665

Discorama^t1⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 148WS

11/2

Runner-up in the four-miler last year when staying on gamely. Hasn't looked particularly well-handicapped so far this term but a first-time tongue-tie and a wind operation could both help.

Form: F2-2283

Who Dares Wins^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 147| BF

10/1

Stayed on well to land a Grade 2 novice chase at Kempton last month in just his third start over fences. Looks feasibly weighted on handicap debut but has stamina to prove over this new trip.

Form: 353/221

Atlanta Ablaze⁹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 145| DWS

33/1

Inconsistent; got her head back in front at Market Rasen in November but tailed off when prominent in the market at Aintree last time. Fell on only previous course outing in the four-miler last year and has enough to prove in a race of this nature.

Form: U1FP-14

Activial³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 145

33/1

Produced a fair sixth in this race last year and returned with a promising effort at Chepstow on seasonal debut. 6lb lower for this year's renewal but made jumping errors when unseating at Haydock in November and tailed off at Newbury last time.

Form: 660-3U6

Mulcahys Hill^p⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 144| C

33/1

Fell in the four-miler last year and while he got his head back in front in a novice event here in October, he's posted two poor efforts since, particularly last time when tailed off in a match race at Newcastle.

Form: 24F-1P2

Burbank^b⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144

25/1

Ended a long losing run when winning a three-runner event at Kempton in May 2019 and impressive when stepping up in trip at Newbury in December; failed to build on that from revised mark at Doncaster though and looks up against it here.

Form: 04-1518

Cogry^p⁶⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 143| CD

25/1

All his best form is at this venue in recent years and landed a third handicap over fences here in December. Only found one too good last time and place claims again but may be vulnerable to better handicapped sorts as far as a win is concerned.

Form: 10U-312

Townshend^t⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Jamie Neild⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 142

40/1

Lost his way for Willie Mullins but signed off last season with a first win for this yard and arrives bidding for a hat-trick having won on heavy ground at Ascot last time. 6lb higher and this clearly tougher but may have more to give at this trip.

Form: 42641-1

Cobra De Mai^p,t⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 142| C

20/1

Won twice last year including a handicap at this venue at the April meeting. Returns on his last winning mark but well below form in five outings this time around; wants good ground to be seen at his best.

Form: 4-P9P56

Big River^p,t⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 141

20/1

Fourth in this last year prior to finishing fifth in the Scottish National. Pulled up on his first two starts this term but bounced back to form with a win at Kelso last time; 1lb higher than last year's renewal and others preferred.

Form: 645-PP1

The Conditional^p⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 139| BF| CD

15/2

Impressive when winning at the Showcase meeting over C&D and only narrowly denied in the Ladbrokes Trophy (may have won if he hadn't hit the last). Made jumping errors when fourth of 13 at Warwick last time and won't get away with mistakes here.

Form: 54-3124

Elwood^p1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 139

18/1

Promising debut and off the mark at the second attempt when winning at Thurles. However, jumping errors have become a regular part of his races and needs to improve for the fitting of first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 397132

Soupy Soups^p¹²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 138

50/1

Gained a second win over fences at Perth in September and was unsuited by a drop in trip when bidding to follow up under a penalty. Only narrowly denied in Listed race at Wincanton last time but 4lb higher in a much tougher race here.

Form: 072122

Quarenta^p⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: H Cobden| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 137| D

28/1

Consistent sort and had excuses last time out when given too much to do at Doncaster. Dropped 2lb, versatile with regards to ground and while he has a bit to prove at this level, he's not without each-way claims.

Form: 12-4127

No Comment^h⁷⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137

12/1

Yet to win in seven starts over fences and arrives here on the back of a fall at Leopardstown which obviously isn't ideal. However, good fifth here in a handicap last year and returns on a lower mark this time around.

Form: 6/55-35F

Vivas^b,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: G Sheehan| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 130

100/1

At his best on fast ground, as seen when winning at Warwick in September; out of the handicap here and has a tough ask with soft expected to be somewhere in the going description.

Form: 7-15595

Ice Cool Champs^t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 129

100/1

Gained first chase win on debut for this yard at Wetherby in January but beaten a long way out next time Exeter and has plenty to prove from out of the handicap here.

Form: 3/446-18

Non-Runners

General Principle²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 11

T: G Elliott J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Discorama (11/2), Vinndication (11/2), The Conditional (15/2), Kildisart (10/1), Who Dares Wins (10/1), Mister Malarky (12/1), No Comment (12/1), Cepage (14/1), Elwood (18/1), Big River (20/1), Cobra De Mai (20/1), Brave Eagle (25/1), Cogry (25/1), Burbank (25/1), Vintage Clouds (28/1), Quarenta (28/1), Atlanta Ablaze (33/1), Mulcahys Hill (33/1), Activial (33/1), Townshend (40/1), Soupy Soups (50/1), Vivas (100/1), Ice Cool Champs (100/1)

NO COMMENT may have failed to get a win on the board since 2017 but there's a strong suspicion that the JP McManus runner is well-handicapped and he showed enough in a handicap here at last year's Festival to think he could go well. Vinndication looks like another who could well be ahead of his mark while the likes of Cepage and Cogry have good course form and look capable of hitting the frame.