13:50 Cheltenham

Saturday 12 December 2020

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:52 | Winning time: 5m 21.68s

Master Tommytucker²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 157

15/2

Low-mileage 9-y-o who has looked smart when completing and arrives on a hat-trick after ready wins at Haydock and Huntingdon (match). More needed back in handicap company but he's not dismissed.

Form: 1FF-211

Cepage²⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 155| CD

9/1

Cracking servant to connections who scored over C&D last term and signed off with good 7th in Ultima handicap here. In frame in past two runnings of this race and goes well fresh so leading claims.

Form: 2/24617-

Al Dancer²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 154| BF| C| D

5/1

Course winner who has taken his form up another notch this term, excellent third of 16 to Coole Cody in Paddy Power Gold Cup here last month. Well worth considering off unchanged mark.

Form: 2425-13

Huntsman Son^t⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 148| D

33/1

Low-mileage 10-y-o who made light of 18-month absence when impressive winner of 19f Wetherby handicap chase on return, quickening clear from last. Up 9 lb but good jumper who is not ruled out lightly.

Form: 6219/2-1

Windsor Avenue⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: B Ellison| OR: 148

12/1

Looked smart chaser in making with easy 20f wins at Sedgefield and Carlisle last term and got back on the up after wind op when 2nd to Imperial Aura at Carlisle on return. In the mix on handicap bow.

Form: 2/112F-2

Midnight Shadow⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 148| CD

12/1

Grade 2 winner over hurdles/fences, landing Dipper over C&D last term. Looked rusty after 8 months off on return when tenth in 20f Aintree handicap so no forlorn hope with that run under his belt.

Form: F2126-0

Saint Sonnet^t1²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147

10/1

Ex-French recruit who signed off with good seventh in Marsh Chase here last term. Undone by late mistakes when last-fence faller in Paddy Power Gold Cup on return but remains with potential.

Form: 56317-F

Good Boy Bobby²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 146

6/1

Useful hurdler who has matched that level over fences, scoring readily on return at Bangor before runner-up to Master Tommytucker at Haydock. Into handicaps now and he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 2125-12

Drumconnor Lad^b,t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 145

100/1

Better than ever over fences when scoring at Ayr in October but never able to get in a blow at Ascot last time. Return to further should suit but this is a tough ask.

Form: 112-916

Southfield Stone²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145| C

16/1

Useful hurdler/chaser who returned with 20f win here before good second of 4 back at this course last month. This is tougher back in handicap company but he's still respected.

Form: 2312-12

Coole Cody²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 143| CD

10/1

Vastly improved over fences for new yard this term, and landed Paddy Power Gold Cup in gutsy fashion here last month. Up 6 lb but another bold showing is very much on the cards.

Form: 4P-1221

Annie Mc^p1⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 142| D

18/1

Rattled off hat-trick in small fields over fences last term but unable to get in a blow in stronger company since, seventh in 20f Aintree handicap on return. Cheekpieces go on now with bit to prove.

Form: 41119-7

Benatar⁶⁹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 142| BF| D

25/1

Useful winning chaser at his best but off the track for 23 months. Has gone well fresh before but this is a very tough comeback run.

Form: 134437/

Chatham Street Lad²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M Winters| OR: 141

16/1

Made it 2-3 over fences this season with facile victory in 2m Cork handicap 13 days ago. Effective over 20f too but 13 lb hike demands plenty more here in this higher grade.

Form: 23/5-151

Champagne Mystery²⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139WS

22/1

Wide-margin winner on chasing debut at Aintree last term but failed to build on it and pulled up in 20f handicap here final start. Since had wind op so no forlorn hope on return for leading yard.

Form: 22/122P-

Romain De Senam^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| D

33/1

Three-time winner around 20f for Paul Nicholls in 2019. Has been brought along steadily for new yard, fourth in 2m Aintree handicap last month. Back up in trip with tongue strap refitted so a player.

Form: 148-864

Militarian⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: James Bowen| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 138| D

33/1

Sprang a surprise (50/1) when scoring at Ascot last season and has failed to match that form, though not disgraced when third back there on reappearance. Others more persuasive, however.

Form: 18450-3

Forecasts

Al Dancer (5/1), Good Boy Bobby (6/1), Master Tommytucker (15/2), Cepage (9/1), Coole Cody (10/1), Saint Sonnet (10/1), Midnight Shadow (12/1), Windsor Avenue (12/1), Chatham Street Lad (16/1), Southfield Stone (16/1), Annie Mc (18/1), Champagne Mystery (22/1), Benatar (25/1), Militarian (33/1), Romain De Senam (33/1), Huntsman Son (33/1), Drumconnor Lad (100/1)

A cracking renewal in which CEPAGE is fancied to make it third time lucky after fine efforts to reach the frame in the past two renewals. Venetia Williams' admirable C&D winner goes very well fresh too so can gain a deserved victory and fend off Dan Skelton's well-weighted Romain de Senam and last month's Paddy Power Gold Cup 1-3 Coole Cody and Al Dancer.