15:35 Cheltenham

Friday 23 October 2020

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Bentley Flying Spur Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 3m 58.37s

Dolos^t²³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 161| BF| DWS

12/1

Class act who finished second in the Haldon Gold Cup on his return last season before winning 2m Sandown handicap chase that rather fell apart in February. Mighty effort needed off 161 after wind op.

Form: 5/12714-

Rouge Vif^t²²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 156| D

5/1

Quickly made up into a smart novice chaser, successful in the Kingmaker at Warwick before finishing a remote third in a messy Arkle here final start. Connections won this last year with a top-weight.

Form: 3/14213-

Hatcher⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 145| D

14/1

Justified support when making winning return to fences at Southwell (2m) in July, clear when blundering last but getting home for hand riding. Up 6 lb in tougher race now and can finish weakly.

Form: 51601-1

Ballywood⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 144| D

6/1

Winless last season after a productive 2018/19 but shaped better than the result more than once and made an encouraging comeback behind Beat The Judge at Fontwell 6 weeks ago. Interesting.

Form: 4/U336-2

On The Slopes²²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: C Gordon| OR: 143| D

11/2

Did well last season, third in the red-hot 20f Timeform novice handicap chase here on Trials Day before winning twice at Kempton with fine rounds of jumping (lost shoe second occasion). Could go well.

Form: 233311-

Beat The Judge⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 142| D

4/1

Useful hurdler who has made a fine start over fences, putting up a smart performance switched to handicap company when winning at Fontwell (17.8f) last month. Form looks good and can progress again.

Form: 368-311

Western Miller^p,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 139| D

66/1

Butchered his rivals with a superb jumping display on return at Uttoxeter (20f) under this rider but been unable to dominate and well beaten twice since. Drops back in trip here with more to find.

Form: 851-168

Azzuri^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| D

80/1

Largely disappointing since his listed handicap win at Ayr in April 2019 but has tumbled in the weights and almost landed a gamble from the front at Southwell in July. Poor at Chepstow last time.

Form: 75P-235

Katpoli^t²³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 137| D

14/1

Successful twice in the mud at Southwell and Wetherby at up to 2m last season and ran well at Doncaster despite losing a shoe final start. Still only 5 and could have more to offer in this sphere.

Form: 517152-

Scardura^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 134| D

9/2

Chasing was always going to be his game and he's made a good start this term, jumping better as the race wore on when scoring at Newton Abbot (extended 2m) last month. More to come from him.

Form: 153-2U1

Doitforthevillage^t³³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 133| CD

33/1

C&D winner who scored at Chepstow in December 2019 and ended the season with a fine third in the Topham. Not so good in 3 starts last term and looks to have plenty on his plate.

Form: 303/946-

Movie Legend^p²²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 128| D

25/1

Successful three times in 2018/19 when also running well in C&D handicap. Limited to just four runs last season, going close over hurdles when last seen in March. Work to do.

Form: 10/4342-

Northern Beau^b,t²⁸

16/1

Has won 2m handicap chases on the New Course here in each of the last two seasons and ran well back over hurdles at Uttoxeter last time. Surprising if she's winning this, though.

Form: 6147-52

Forecasts

Beat The Judge (4/1), Scardura (9/2), Rouge Vif (5/1), On The Slopes (11/2), Ballywood (6/1), Dolos (12/1), Hatcher (14/1), Katpoli (14/1), Northern Beau (16/1), Movie Legend (25/1), Doitforthevillage (33/1), Western Miller (66/1), Azzuri (80/1)

SCARDURA is a likeable young novice chaser who quickened clear in good style when opening his account over fences at Newton Abbot last month. You can expect to hear plenty more of him and he’s taken to land the spoils up in class. On The Slopes boasts some tremendous form and likely has more in the locker for Chris Gordon. The improving Beat The Judge also makes a fair bit of appeal.