16:50 Cheltenham

Friday 13 March 2020

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

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 4m 7.90s

Great Field⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 155| D

33/1

High-class chaser at best but lightly-raced since 2018 failing to complete in four of his five starts albeit they were all in Grade 1/2 company. Drops in class (handicap debut over fences) on stable debut; jumping has been an issue of late; unsafe.

Form: 1/FF-4UP

Marracudja^t⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 154| CD

50/1

Eighth in this last year; has an Old Course 2m win to his name, looks to have excelled himself of late. Given a hefty rise (20lb) from his last winning mark due to his Grade 1 third last time (reported to have bled); usually held-up, has his quirks.

Form: 3-85513

Capeland^t⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 153| C| D

25/1

Course winner with plenty of experience who made amends for being carried out at the last in his previous race when following up over the same C&D. Well held in Graded company since; returns to handicaps, faces a stiff task off a career-high mark.

Form: 84-D145

Paloma Blue^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 152| D

17/2

Lightly-raced over fences, capable of some smart form; ran as well as he's ever done on his first ever try in a handicap over 2m1f at Leopardstown last time. Travelled well but did show some temperament, up 5lb he's still relatively unexposed.

Form: 16-6232

Mcgroarty^t¹³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 152| D

50/1

Good form last year winning four chases at around this trip off an ever-increasing mark before ending his year with a below-par effort on the Old Course here. Left on the same mark, returns from a break facing a stiff task, yard in a lull currently.

Form: 45111P

Gino Trail^p¹³^{(ex 5)}

Age: 13| Weight: 11-8| J: J E Moore| T: F O'Brien| OR: 146| CD

20/1

Pulled-up last year and second (2018) in this; comes here having looked rejuvenated by a stable move having dropped below his last winning mark when winning at Doncaster. Carries a 5lb penalty (not out of this in handicapping terms) but is a veteran.

Form: 3/22P-P1

Greaneteen²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| D

5/1

Bettered his useful hurdles form by going unbeaten in three starts over fences easily confirming the promise shown in first two starts last time. 12lb above his last winning mark; looks a Graded performer in the making; fine chance for four-timer.

Form: 11-0111

Eclair De Beaufeu⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 149| D

13/2

Established as smart over fences although Graded contests have stretched his ability. Showed improved form dropping into a handicap (2m1f) last time (second win over fences), looks the type to enjoy this sort of test despite a 9lb higher mark.

Form: 6-21431

Us And Them^b,t⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 148| D

10/1

Arkle second last year one of four runner-up slots that he gained although he's become disappointing this season running below-par dropped into handicaps. Blinkers worn (first-time) last time are retained off his lowest handicap mark yet.

Form: 2-U3788

Chosen Mate^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| D

7/2

Repaid the considerate start he was given on his chasing debut after a small blip next time when winning a Gowran Park novice last time (2m, heavy). That run matched the best of his hurdles form; comes here unexposed for his first handicap chase.

Form: P60341

Ballywood⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 146| D

28/1

The lesser-fancied of the two runners from this yard he's a three-time winner in handicaps in this sphere. 6lb above last winning mark, been easy to back in three starts this season; back from absence, type who needs everything to fall into place.

Form: 214-U33

Winter Escape⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: B Haslam| OR: 144| D

33/1

Formerly a useful chaser/hurdler he's rather lost his way since winning a Punchestown Grade 3 over fences over a year ago. Dropped into handicaps of late complete with a change of stables; failed to fire in a first-time hood last time; lots to prove.

Form: 3-P360P

Two Taffs^p,t³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 144

14/1

Capable of some smart form on his day (third in the 2017 Close Brothers) returning from two years off via wind surgery this season. Given a varied campaign he looked close to his best off a handy mark last time over 2m4f; often flatters to deceive.

Form: 312/302

Croco Bay^p⁴⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-1| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case| OR: 144| CD

25/1

3F51 are his form figures in this race causing a 66-1 shock last year off a break (second outing in two years). Shaped as though he retained all his ability despite his age at Doncaster; now 5lb higher than last year; hard to see him following up.

Form: 5/21-372

Lisp⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 144| D

7/1

Fifth in the County Hurdle (2019); looked useful over fences finding a good opportunity to get off the mark at Plumpton. Beaten on merit, still ran with credit in a Grade 2 last time (jumped well); switch to handicaps looks sure to prove fruitful.

Form: 85-4313

Jan Maat¹⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 142| D

12/1

Yet to run in a handicap over fences he's 2-6 in this sphere taking a Grade 3 novice when last seen winning comfortably. Not seen since that outing but an interesting contender from a yard who do well in this sphere; one to watch in the market.

Form: 921221

Theinval^p⁹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141| D

50/1

Placed twice in this race off this mark; getting rather long in the tooth now and lightly-raced/below form since 2017/18 season. Looked rusty (easy to back) when last seen (pulled-up); often shows his best in the spring, difficult to make a case for.

Form: 1/936-FP

The Bay Birch^p1,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 140

50/1

Fared well last year winning four time, completed a hat-trick at Chepstow in October (beat Caid Du Lin) off a 5lb higher mark. Not quite in the same form since off some tough marks since, gets some respite with cheekpieces now added, modest claims.

Form: 148532

Non-Runners

Caid Du Lin⁴¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 8

T: Dr R D P Newland J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Adrrastos¹⁴⁵

Weight: 10-13| Age: 8

T: Jamie Snowden J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Chosen Mate (7/2), Greaneteen (5/1), Eclair De Beaufeu (13/2), Lisp (7/1), Paloma Blue (17/2), Us And Them (10/1), Jan Maat (12/1), Two Taffs (14/1), Adrrastos (20/1), Gino Trail (20/1), Croco Bay (25/1), Capeland (25/1), Caid Du Lin (25/1), Ballywood (28/1), Winter Escape (33/1), Great Field (33/1), Theinval (50/1), The Bay Birch (50/1), Marracudja (50/1), Mcgroarty (50/1)

Ten double-figures winners since 2006 have made this a tough nut to crack and last year’s shock winner Croco Bay returns for a fifth try in the race. Novices have a good record in this race and they are well represented with LISP looking to better his Grade 2 effort last time now he’s sent handicapping in this larger field. The Gordon Elliott pair Éclair De Beaufeu (beat the smart Paloma Blue last time) and Chosen Mate give the trainer a strong hand and both are respected. Greaneteen 3-3 over fences and making his handicap debut is another novice who must be noted. Of the older most exposed types previous second Gino Trail and the strong-travelling Two Taffs are two with claims.