15:30 Cheltenham

Saturday 23 October 2021

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

888sport Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 3m 50.95s

Sky Pirate^t²²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 159| CD

3/1

Different proposition dropped to 2m last season, posting career-best to land Grand Annual narrowly in March. Returns with yard in good form and respected from 7 lb higher mark.

Form: 251121-

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Hatcher⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 150| BF| D

16/1

Rejuvenated earlier this year, landing hat-trick in small-field handicap at Stratford (17f) in July. Ran no sort of race at Cartmel in August and mark demands more in this more competitive environment

Form: P61-116

Voix Du Reve^p¹⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 149| D

10/1

Smart chaser at his best who ran well when third in a listed handicap chase at Ayr (20.5f) in April. Unable to lead and below best at Punchestown thereafter but he may get his own way in front here.

Form: 422030-

Before Midnight²⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 136| D

2/1

Made a very bright start over fences last season and fresh from jumpers bumper victory, impressed when opening chase account at Chepstow (2m) in April, despite diminishing winning margin. Claims.

Form: 223211-

Solar Impulse^p⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 135| CD

18/1

Veteran who has scored 3 times this season. Found run of good form coming to a halt at Cartmel in August though, and he only closed-up late on when third at Stratford (22.5f) latest. Others preferred.

Form: 11F143

Leapaway^p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135| D

7/1

Hurdles winner who has been in good form over fences this summer, successful at Worcester in July and going in again at that venue last month. This tougher but clearly in rude health at present.

Form: 54U131

Bathiva⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 132| BF| D

9/2

Steadily progressive as a chaser, landing 3 of his 5 starts at around 2m for this yard. Not at best when fourth behind Leapaway at Worcester last time but no surprise to see a better showing here.

Form: 1/12-114

Non-Runners

Belargus¹⁸²

Weight: 10-5| Age: 6

T: N J Gifford J: Non Runner

Ashutor¹⁸²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: Mrs S Leech J: C Gethings

Forecasts

Before Midnight (2/1), Sky Pirate (3/1), Bathiva (9/2), Belargus (6/1), Leapaway (7/1), Voix Du Reve (10/1), Ashutor (10/1), Hatcher (16/1), Solar Impulse (18/1)

SKY PIRATE proved a different proposition dropped back to 2m last season, signing off with a career-best display when landing the Grand Annual here in March. Returning with his yard in good form, he's fancied to be firmly in the mix once more from this 7 lb higher mark. Before Midnight deserved his Chepstow victory marking up in the spring and he's feared most. Belargus completes the shortlist.