16:50 Cheltenham

Tuesday 10 March 2020

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

Northern Trust Company Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed)

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 5m 24.32s

Precious Cargo^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145

14/1

Raced exclusively over 2m. Ran to a good level on all three chase starts, he hosed up on chasing debut before a narrow defeat off a 5lb lower mark at Newbury. Beaten fairly when third in a Grade 2 last time and is vulnerable to less exposed rivals.

Form: 116-123

Hold The Note^p⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: M R Channon| OR: 145

10/1

Makes his handicap debut after a narrow defeat in a Grade 2 at Warwick (3m) where he was just outstayed late on. Ignore his previous run at Kempton as he was badly hampered and should go well for a yard who won this two years' ago.

Form: 312-3P2

Espoir De Guye⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 144

8/1

Improved rapidly over fences this season. Good second on chase debut before winning easily at Exeter and Ascot (both 2m3f). Off for 80 days, up 14lb for his latest success and this a different test but hard to rule out given his upward trajectory.

Form: 172-211

Torpillo^h³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 145

40/1

Impressive on his chase debut at Warwick (2m) but disappointed as favourite in the Henry VIII at Sandown (1m7½f) and wasn't much better back at Warwick in Grade 2 company last time. Those runs leave him with questions to answer; first run above 2m.

Form: 0-13145

Knight In Dubai^t⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 143| D

20/1

Won his first two chases easily at Bangor (2m4½f) and Doncaster (2m3f). Found Sam Brown too much in a Haydock Grade 2 (2m4f) last time but he still ran a good race in defeat and is an interesting runner on his handicap debut.

Form: 205-112

Jarveys Plate^b1⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 143| CD

20/1

Sprang a small surprise when turning over Reserve Tank on chase debut at Chepstow (2m3½f) in October. Outclassed at Kempton two runs ago but ran poorly here last time (beaten 39L) in calmer waters and others are more appealing.

Form: 39-1449

Champagne Mystery²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143| D

25/1

Put in a spectacular front-running jumping display at Aintree (2m4f) on chase debut and has finished second in both starts since without matching that form. Isn't the most resolute and might be found wanting in a race this competitive.

Form: 222-122

Imperial Aura⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 143| BF

4/1

Has improved with each start over fences. Learnt plenty from chase debut at Fakenham (3m) before a good second here (3m1½f) when stamina cost him; career-best here latest (2m4½f) when second and seems to be peaking at the right time.

Form: 11-3122

Champagne Court^t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 143| D

18/1

Fair hurdler but better in this sphere and a ready winner of his first two chases at Sandown (2m4½f) and Plumpton (2m3½f). Nearly 20L off Imperial Aura here in January and that gives him plenty of work to do in a stronger contest this time.

Form: 43-2115

Galvin¹⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 142

4/1

Decent sixth in the Ballymore here 12 months ago; he looks to have been laid out for this with three eyecatching runs over fences to date, each one better than before. Second to subsequent Grade 2 winner last time and is a leading player.

Form: 162-F42

Paint The Dream^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 140| BF| D

66/1

Booked for third before Champ fell here on New Year's Day and subsequently given 10lb rise. That was still a career best but ran abysmally in a calmer affair when last seen at Ludlow (2m) five weeks ago and is opposable on balance.

Form: 1-8U225

Highest Sun^t1³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 140

33/1

Showed fair form on his first three chases, culminating with victory at Plumpton (3m1½f) in December. Ran moderately in a Grade 2 at Warwick (behind Hold The Note) and was even more lacklustre when tailed off at Newbury last time; others preferred.

Form: 332145

Earlofthecotswolds^p1⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139

16/1

Listed-placed hurdler; put a crashing fall on chase debut behind him with a fair third at Ascot (2m3f) and then easily won at Exeter (2m3f) last time. Not seen since but has gone well fresh before. Place claims in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 21-2F31

Beakstown^p1,t⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| D

12/1

Grade 2 winning hurdler who has ran well behind three good horses in novice chases this season at (Sam Spinner/Champ/Mister Fisher). Another who looks to have been targeted for this and looks fairly treated on his hurdle form; cheekpieces added.

Form: 21P-243

Mitchouka¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: G O'Loughlin| OR: 139| BF

33/1

Pulled up in both Festival races. He has plenty of experience with this his eighth chase but has only won one of those and isn't open to the same improvement as many of these. Likely to find this an uphill task.

Form: 390713

Daly Tiger²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 139

40/1

Made a comfortable chasing debut at Tipperary (2m1f) in October but hasn't kicked on from that in four outings since. Outclassed by Notebook two runs back but was below form at Punchestown (2m) most recently and he needs to improve.

Form: 5-1P353

Lord Schnitzel^t⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Cooper| T: M J Smith| OR: 139

33/1

Placed behind Faugheen and Carefully Selected earlier in the campaign but has been tailed off in graded races and the Thyestes on his last three runs. Those initial chase starts give him a squeak but it's hard to be confident on recent efforts.

Form: 9-32340

De Plotting Shed⁶⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: T Scudamore| T: J & S Best| OR: 139| D

50/1

The oldest and most experienced runner - he got off the mark over fences at the 11th attempt three runs ago and was back near his best beating Who Dares Wins (Grade 2 winner since) last time. Totally exposed though and vulnerable to younger rivals.

Form: 48-2131

Trainwreck³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 139

14/1

Fair hurdler who showed little on first three chase starts but nearly landed a big prize on handicap debut at Leopardstown (2m5f) last time. Effectively 10lb higher today with no conditional claim and that makes life a lot tougher.

Form: 084302

Whatmore¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 138| D

14/1

Won on chase debut at Market Rasen (2m5½f) last May and has performed well in defeat since, including off this mark in a Grade 3 at Kempton (3m) recently. Drop in trip no problem but has ground to find with Hold The Note from earlier in the season.

Form: 2-13434

Non-Runners

Mellow Ben⁵⁹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: C Gordon J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Imperial Aura (4/1), Galvin (4/1), Espoir De Guye (8/1), Hold The Note (10/1), Beakstown (12/1), Whatmore (14/1), Trainwreck (14/1), Precious Cargo (14/1), Earlofthecotswolds (16/1), Champagne Court (18/1), Jarveys Plate (20/1), Knight In Dubai (20/1), Champagne Mystery (25/1), Mitchouka (33/1), Highest Sun (33/1), Lord Schnitzel (33/1), Mellow Ben (33/1), Daly Tiger (40/1), Torpillo (40/1), De Plotting Shed (50/1), Paint The Dream (66/1)

As fiercely competitive as you would expect, a case can be made for many of these. Those at the top of the market in Imperial Aura and Galvin have shown the requisite ability to win this race and are both open to improvement on their handicap debuts. HOLD THE NOTE is also making his handicap debut after a narrow defeat in a Grade 2 last time and that form is up there with the best on offer over fences. Espoir De Guye brings the best handicap form but has a 14lb rise after hosing up at Ascot in December for a trainer who is no stranger to Festival success whilst fellow handicap debutants Beakstown and Earlsofthecotswolds have good each-way claims.