15:40 Cheltenham

Thursday 18 March 2021

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

Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:43 | Winning time: 5m 18.28s

Top Notch^p1⁹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 154| DWS

50/1

Looked very rusty after 11 months off when sixth in the Peterborough in December and could be much closer to form after a wind op now. Twice placed at the Festival. Cheekpieces on. Handicap debut.

Form: 0P/113-6

Caribean Boy⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 153

12/1

Taking winner of 20f Newbury Grade 2 in November and ran respectably, for all he couldn't get on terms over the minimum trip, in Sandown handicap last time. Could have a bigger effort in the locker.

Form: 2/31-134

Mister Whitaker^p³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: M R Channon| OR: 150| CD

18/1

Good record here, successful in the novice handicap chase at the 2018 Festival and beaten just 3 lengths in third in this off 2 lb higher last year. Lightly raced since and primed for a big run.

Form: 1/5P3-66

Assemble^t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 148| D

20/1

Successful return in 21f Fairyhouse maiden chase and even better when following home Envoi Allen next time. Has fallen twice since, though, hardly the ideal preparation for this handicap/Festival bow.

Form: 63-12FF

Huntsman Son^t⁹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 147| D

40/1

Made light of 18-month absence with impressive victory in 19f Wetherby listed handicap chase on return and tanked along before being pulled up in the mud here in December. Probably no back number.

Form: 219/2-1P

Oldgrangewood³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 146| CD

25/1

Did well last term after wind op, winning Newbury and C&D handicaps before a good fourth in this off 1 lb higher. Rare jumping lapse at Warwick after 12 weeks off last time and should bounce back.

Form: 114-44U

Farclas^t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 146| BF| C

5/1

2018 Triumph winner who scored on his first 3 starts over fences and has run well in some red-hot handicaps in Ireland this season. Big effort looks forthcoming.

Form: 111-534

Happy Diva^t⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 145| C| D

14/1

Likeable mare who won the 2019 Paddy Power Gold Cup here and was second off a higher mark in this 12 months ago. Rare poor run at Warwick last time but likely to be much closer to form today.

Form: 42-5F33

Fils D'oudairies³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Donagh Meyler| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 145

16/1

Lightly-raced novice chase winner who has twice tackled top company since his Navan success. Pulled too hard at Leopardstown last time and this scenario should suit him better on handicap debut.

Form: 81-F125

Coole Cody¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: T J O'Brien| T: Evan Williams| OR: 143| CD

22/1

Big improver over fences for new yard this term, landing the Paddy Power Gold Cup in gutsy fashion here in November. Suspect recent Kempton run will have him spot on for this. Wouldn't dismiss.

Form: 122163

A Wave Of The Sea⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 142

8/1

Grade 1-winning hurdler who improved massively on previous chasing form when landing red-hot Leopardstown handicap last month (The Shunter third). Stiffer test will suit and a very interesting runner.

Form: 413751

Two Taffs¹⁰⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 141| D

80/1

Useful chaser for Dan Skelton, third in the novice handicap here in 2017. Possibly needed the run for new yard when supported at Leicester in November but some feat to bounce back and take this now.

Form: 2/3020-4

The Shunter^h,t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Jordan Gainford⁽⁷⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 140| BF| C| D

9/4

Has been turned inside out by this yard, bolting up in the Greatwood Hurdle here and Morebattle at Kelso (shaped well behind A Wave of The Sea in Leopardstown handicap chase in between). More to come.

Form: 114131

Kiltealy Briggs^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 139

40/1

Useful winning hurdler at up to 23f in the mud. Has matched that form over fences this season, but without success, and suspect the handicapper has his measure.

Form: 31P-234

Paddy's Poem¹⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 133

40/1

Tremendously consistent and gained reward for a couple of good placed efforts when scoring at Wincanton a fortnight ago. This is tougher, though he could have more to offer over this sort of trip.

Form: 1/12-231

Sully D'Oc Aa^t¹¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 137| BF

14/1

Confirmed previous promise over fences when successful on return at Ascot and fine third from 10 lb higher at Newbury (19.8f) in November, losing momentum with a mistake over the last. Interesting.

Form: 6256-13

Champagne Court^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 134| BF

28/1

Jumped well when winning at Sandown/Plumpton over this sort of trip last term and better signs again at Warwick 3 weeks ago having fallen plenty in the weights. Could outrun big odds.

Form: 8-9P584

The Unit²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 134| D

66/1

Dual novice chase winner over this sort of trip in 2018 and all his ability remains judged by latest third at Warwick (closely matched with Champagne Court). Place claims if building on that.

Form: 32/4563

Maypole Class²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: G Sheehan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132| D

50/1

Progressed well initially over fences this season, winning handicaps around 20f/21f at Bangor and Fakenham. Reportedly lame at Wetherby just 4 weeks ago, though. Looks outclassed.

Form: 2P-011P

Dead Right¹⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 132| D

28/1

Resumed progress right away starting out on only his second season over fences after 10 months off, winning 21.4f Market Rasen handicap in September. Will clearly need more again 6 months on.

Form: 1/22PP-1

Eamon An Cnoic^b,t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 130| BF| D

40/1

Campaigned over hurdles of late, winning 2m handicap at Sandown last month. Fourth in this off 7 lb higher 2 years ago but his jumping has often failed him over fences in the meantime.

Form: U-76212

Non-Runners

Laskalin³⁹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: Miss V Williams J: Charlie Deutsch

Smarty Wild³¹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 7

T: P Hobbs & J White J: R Johnson

Forecasts

The Shunter (9/4), Farclas (5/1), A Wave Of The Sea (8/1), Caribean Boy (12/1), Sully D'Oc Aa (14/1), Happy Diva (14/1), Fils D'oudairies (16/1), Mister Whitaker (18/1), Assemble (20/1), Smarty Wild (20/1), Coole Cody (22/1), Oldgrangewood (25/1), Laskalin (25/1), Dead Right (28/1), Champagne Court (28/1), Huntsman Son (40/1), Kiltealy Briggs (40/1), Eamon An Cnoic (40/1), Paddy's Poem (40/1), Top Notch (50/1), Maypole Class (50/1), The Unit (66/1), Two Taffs (80/1)

FARCLAS has been running well in some hot handicap chases in Ireland and looks set for a bold bid back at the scene of his 2018 Triumph Hurdle heroics. Big improver The Shunter is chasing a £100,000 bonus after winning the Morebattle at Kelso and likely has more to offer over fences, so he ticks plenty of boxes, with his old rival A Wave of The Sea chief among the other strong contenders.