13:50 Cheltenham

Saturday 30 January 2021

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Paddy Power Millionaire Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

5YO plus | Class 1 | 2m 4f 127y | 11 Runners | Turf

Aso⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 155| CD

Placed twice in the Ryanair but essentially below his best last term and he arrives here on the back of a heavy fall in the Becher 56 days ago. Yard in great nick but veteran has something to prove.

Form: 3547-7F

Caribean Boy⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 154| BF

French import who has made up into a smart chaser for present yard, showing good turn of foot to land Newbury Grade 2. Didn't last home in the mud when last of 3 at Ascot latest so stamina a worry.

Form: 92/31-13

Al Dancer⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 153| BF| C| D

Course winner who has taken his form up another notch this term, though he turned in an uncharacteristic laboured effort when ninth over C&D last time. Sort to bounce back, so not written off.

Form: 425-139

Mister Whitaker^p⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Burke| T: M R Channon| OR: 152| CD

Smart chaser with a very good record here, including third in Plate at the Festival in March. Not seen since fair sixth in Charlie Hall at Wetherby but goes well fresh so he's worth considering.

Form: P1/5P3-6

Happy Diva^t⁶²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 149| BF| C| D

Llikeable mare who took 2019 Paddy Power Gold Cup here and was running well when falling 2 out in latest renewal. Rare poor run in Carlisle mares' chase latest but no surprise to see her bounce back.

Form: 242-5F3

Midnight Shadow⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 149| CD

Grade 2 winner over hurdles/fences, landing Dipper over C&D last term, and ran another cracker here when gutsy second of 17 in Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. Nudged up just 1 lb, so big player.

Form: 2126-02

Oldgrangewood⁶⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 146| CD

Beneficiary of wind surgery last term, winning handicaps at Newbury and over C&D. Solid efforts when fourth both starts this term so he's in the mix once more.

Form: 3114-44

Kauto Riko^t⁷⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: T R Gretton| OR: 142

Winless since 2018 but he is very useful on his day and returned after a wind op with good fourth of 16 in 20f handicap here 77 days ago. Handles the mud well so decent claims off unchanged mark.

Form: 8/2520-4

Benatar⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 142| D

Useful chaser who shaped encouragingly after 23 months off when third of 17 in Caspian Caviar Gold Cup over C&D 49 days ago, travelling strongly long way. Yard among winners, so sure to go well again.

Form: 34437/3

Clan Legend^t⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 135| D

In good form last season and built on reappearance at this track to score cosily at Aintree last month. 8 lb hike means he has career-high mark to overcome but another solid showing expected.

Form: 1324-61

Eden Du Houx^b1,t⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 127WS

Form: 134-044

Forecasts

Midnight Shadow (4/1), Caribean Boy (9/2), Al Dancer (6/1), Oldgrangewood (7/1), Mister Whitaker (8/1), Benatar (8/1), Happy Diva (10/1), Aso (12/1), Kauto Riko (12/1), Clan Legend (14/1), Eden Du Houx (20/1)

Lots with chances in a cracking handicap but MIDNIGHT SHADOW is taken to add to his fine record round here having found only runaway winner Chatham Street Lad too good in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup last time. Gary Moore's Benatar finished one place behind him that day and is again taken to prove the chief threat. Al Dancer and Happy Diva are tough sorts who are sure to be on the premises too.