Enjoy Cheltenham With MansionBet Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 18.20s

Knockrobin^b,t⁷¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 122

7/2

Off the mark over fences at the ninth attempt when winning at Catterick on New Year's Day. 4lb higher and returns from 10-week with connections appearing to have waited patiently for the anticipated better ground. Shouldn't be far away.

Form: 23P-731

Jaboticaba³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: A King| OR: 120

7/2

Runner-up in three of his four attempts over fences but struggled in higher grade at Kempton last time. Eased 2lb and has claims on previous second at Huntingdon. Yard been fairly quiet last fortnight.

Form: 54-2225

De Forgotten One^h⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 117| CD

7/2

Stayed on well in soft ground to land Stratford 2m6f h'cap chase in October but has run poorly both starts since at 3m and pulled up at Wetherby last time on first run following wind op. Eased 1lb but may be found wanting for pace.

Form: 46-415P

Monsieur D'Arque^t⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 116

3/1

Yard has 19% strike rate here over fences but hasn't made the most of a falling handicap mark and found wanting over 2m latest at Newbury. Back up in trip but has yet to go close beyond minimum trip and looks risky proposition.

Form: 14-0644

Carolines Charm¹⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 116

16/1

Stayed on to land 20/1 surprise win on chasing bow in four-runner Fontwell affair on quick ground in August. Not disgraced two subsequent starts and rested through winter. Returns after 159-day break and worth noting for any market support.

Form: 4P0135

Top Decision^t⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 96| BF

11/2

Only form in four attempts over larger obstacles came when failing by just a length finishing second in Southwell heavy ground four-runner event in December. Favourite but beaten a long way at Warwick last time and has questions to answer.

Form: 13-UP28

Forecasts

Monsieur D'Arque (3/1), Knockrobin (7/2), Jaboticaba (7/2), De Forgotten One (7/2), Top Decision (11/2), Carolines Charm (16/1)

It's hard to be very enthusiastic about any of these but top weight KNOCKROBIN did win last time and seems to have been waiting for the better ground expected here. He may get his own way up front and can follow up. This is easier than the Kempton race in which Jaboticaba ran poorly last time and he has claims on previous efforts, while Top Decision gets plenty of weight and a case can be made for him if you excuse an abysmal effort at Warwick in December when last seen. Carolines Charm also has place prospects.