14:30 Cheltenham

Tuesday 16 March 2021

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 31.00s

Cepage²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 158| C

14/1

Very smart chaser who has largely been consistent in high-quality handicaps and 14l winner at Chepstow (19.5f) in January. This trip seemed to stretch him when seventh in this last year, however.

Form: 617-P14

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Aye Right⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: R Johnson| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 154

11/2

Has developed into a very smart chaser, third in Charlie Hall before excellent second in Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury and Sky Bet at Doncaster. Tough and reliable so should be on the premises again.

Form: 5-23262

Pym¹⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 153| CD

14/1

Made a good start to chase career last term and, after a couple of dismal runs, he was firmly back on track to land a listed race at Sandown on return. Found little at Newcastle since, though.

Form: 11PP-15

Ok Corral⁴¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: N J Henderson| OR: 151

33/1

Low-mileage 11-y-o. Runner-up in Albert Bartlett in 2018. All-or-nothing record over fences but produced a career best when defying top weight in Sky Bet at Doncaster when last seen 13 months ago.

Form: 11P/091-

Milan Native^t⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 149| CWS

13/2

Found extra distance in his favour on handicap bow when justifying support in Kim Muir here last season. Better than bare results since making a winning return at Galway. Can bounce back.

Form: 21-12P0

Happygolucky⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 147| CD

10/3

Made up into a useful novice hurdler last season and has continued progress over fences this term, winning 2 of 3 starts, including novice chase here (25.2f, soft) latest. Remains with potential.

Form: 334-121

Alnadam³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 145

11/2

Point/hurdle winner who has taken very well to fences this season and wasted no time getting back to winning ways at Sandown (20f) last month. Up in trip now and remains unexposed.

Form: 41-2181

Delire D'Estruval^b¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 143

80/1

Bit of an in-and-out performer but did post a smart effort to win 20.5f handicap at Kempton on final start last season. Scant encouragement on belated return there 17 days ago, however.

Form: 1/7231-P

Vintage Clouds^p1²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 143| D

28/1

Placed twice in this race but only eighth last year and below par all 3 starts this term. Back on last winning mark but possibly best days are behind him. Headgear on.

Form: 158-753

Discordantly³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 142

10/1

Second-season chaser who produced a career best to win Galway handicap on return but mostly let down by jumping since, failing to complete last 2 starts. Risky.

Form: 4-149UF

Admiral's Secret²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 142

20/1

Has his quirks but ended last season winning at Leicester and Wincanton and carried on where he left off when successful at Ludlow on return. Good third at Warwick since and worth a try at this trip.

Form: 2211-13

One For The Team⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: T Scudamore| T: Nick Williams| OR: 140

17/2

Useful hurdler who quickly matched that level over fences when second in Grade 2 at Newbury. Not disgraced in Kempton Grade 1 next time and ground might have been too testing in Sky Bet since.

Form: 1-3U255

The Wolf²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 137

22/1

Useful hurdler who jumped soundly when making winning start over fences at Chepstow in October. Has disappointingly failed to build on that since though, tried in cheekpieces latest.

Form: 7-21543

Nietzsche^t⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: J J Burke| T: B Ellison| OR: 134| C

40/1

Posted some good runs on the Flat in late summer and excellent placed efforts back over fences this season. Worth a try over this trip given his stamina on the level.

Form: U27-333

Soupy Soups^p¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 134

100/1

Enhanced good record at Perth when resuming winning ways there in August but well held in stronger company next 2 starts and pulled up in this last year.

Form: P-561P0

Fingerontheswitch^p,t¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 130| D

66/1

Veteran who enjoyed excellent time of it last season, but signs of decline this term and hard to fancy from out of the handicap.

Form: 12P-498

Forecasts

Happygolucky (10/3), Aye Right (11/2), Alnadam (11/2), Milan Native (13/2), One For The Team (17/2), Discordantly (10/1), Cepage (14/1), Pym (14/1), Admiral's Secret (20/1), The Wolf (22/1), Vintage Clouds (28/1), Ok Corral (33/1), Nietzsche (40/1), Fingerontheswitch (66/1), Delire D'Estruval (80/1), Soupy Soups (100/1)

Novices have an excellent record in this and HAPPYGOLUCKY is taken to enhance it further. He had plenty to spare in a 5-runner novice here in December and proved he can handle the hustle and bustle of a big field when fourth in the Martin Pipe last season. The tough and reliable Aye Right should make another bold bid, with last year's Kim Muir winner Milan Native another to consider.