12:50 Cheltenham

Saturday 1 January 2022

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:50

New Four Eighty Restaurant At Cheltenham Festival Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 7m 13.73s

Brave Eagle^p³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| D

22/1

Multiple chase winner, including valuable Uttoxeter contest over this trip in 2019. Good return at Chepstow before finding the Ladbrokes at Newbury too hot. Could figure down another 4 lb.

Form: 80/5F-40

Honest Vic^b²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 141| C

15/2

Smart 3m winner over hurdles (including at Cheltenham off this mark). Has run well a couple of times in novice chases this term though suspect the handicapper has him nailed. Change of headgear.

Form: 150-332

Newtide^t³¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 137

18/1

Made a good start over fences in 2019-20 (fortunate Grade 2 winner) and returned with a good run in strong Haydock handicap last season. Well beaten when last seen, but decent record fresh bodes well.

Form: 1116/3P-

Undersupervision²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 136| D

9/2

Point/hurdles winner who has had all 3 of his spins over fences at Cheltenham this term, none the worse for a fall and shaping well in 25.2f novice handicap last month. Has more to offer.

Form: 142-2F3

The Wolf^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 136| BF

10/1

Beginners' chase winner at Chepstow last term and returned with a fine effort in 3m Doncaster handicap, perhaps unlucky not to score after a bad mistake 3 out. Same mark but this looks a bit tougher.

Form: 54302-4

Full Back³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 135| D

9/2

Won small-field novice chases at Plumpton and Exeter last winter. Returned with solid seventh at Chepstow but never figured after bad mistake early in the Ladbrokes Trophy last time. Dropped 3 lb.

Form: 11P2-78

Smooth Stepper^p1³¹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 135| D

50/1

Won 3m veterans' handicap chase at Carlisle in the spring. No show on return in similar event at Haydock though and back in competitive open handicap now with headgear tried very late in his life.

Form: 5551P-5

Destinee Royale²⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 132| BF

5/1

In good form when last seen, winning 3m Wetherby handicap chase in the mud and nearly defying 9 lb rise at Haydock (edged out finish), She has more to offer as a stayer and big shout on return.

Form: 41/U412-

Potters Legend^v1¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 130| D

28/1

Useful chaser who enjoyed a good 2020/21, winning a couple of veterans' events. Good run at Warwick going for the repeat before jumping let him down at Haydock. New headgear. Has gone well here.

Form: 261-65P

Big Nasty^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 122| BF

7/1

Belatedly shed maiden tag when making all in 3m Southwell handicap chase in May. Creditable runner-up efforts next 2 starts but no show at Wetherby last time and this is a lot tougher. Work to do.

Form: 26-122P

Captain Tommy¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 120

11/2

Gained breakthrough success over fences on debut for this yard at Uttoxeter (3m) in May. Back below that winning mark and catching the eye again of late, jumping better at Exeter. Interesting.

Form: 135634

Non-Runners

Eclair Surf²⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Thomas Bellamy

Forecasts

Full Back (9/2), Undersupervision (9/2), Destinee Royale (5/1), Captain Tommy (11/2), Big Nasty (7/1), Honest Vic (15/2), The Wolf (10/1), Eclair Surf (10/1), Newtide (18/1), Brave Eagle (22/1), Potters Legend (28/1), Smooth Stepper (50/1)

UNDERSUPERVISION steps out of novice company with plenty more to offer over fences, and having shaped well on this course 3 weeks ago, he could be the answer to this competitive handicap. Destinee Royale has more in the locker and is very interesting on her return for Venetia Williams. Newtide and Brave Eagle are a couple of others to consider.