16:10 Cheltenham

Wednesday 16 March 2022

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 9m 8.68s

Alpha Des Obeaux^p,t³¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

66/1

Good back in the day but seems to have lost his form, finishing down the field in the Punchestown cross-country won by Midnight Maestro last month. Major revival needed.

Form: P89U80

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Back On The Lash⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 141| BF| CD

22/1

Relished the step up in trip when making a winning start to cross-country career over C&D in November. Only a respectable fifth to Diesel d'Allier here since and has a bit to find on these terms.

Form: 171515

Brahma Bull^p⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157

20/1

Pulled up in the Thyestes last time (reportedly broke blood vessel) but he's a smart and consistent chaser in the main. Can make the odd mistake but definitely talented enough to have a big say.

Form: 02333P

Delta Work^t³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 160| C

5/2

Five-time Grade 1 winner over regulation fences. Stablemate of Tiger Roll, he has shown he still retains a smart level of ability this term and potential class act if taking to this new discipline.

Form: 5U3-466

Diesel D'Allier^t⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 141| CD

12/1

Better than ever for new yard when edging out Potters Corner in C&D handicap in December. However, he was only remote fourth to Easysland in 2020 and suspicion he'll find a few too strong off levels.

Form: 4236-31

Easysland^p,t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 157| CD

17/2

Beat Tiger Roll in this in 2020 but not in same form when second to him 12 months ago. Showed very little in 2 handicap hurdles for new yard last month. This more his thing but hard to be confident.

Form: 11/42-PP

Midnight Maestro³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Dempsey| T: E Bolger| OR: 140

33/1

Ran disappointingly over this C&D but he bounced back when winning a cross-country event at Punchestown last month by a neck from stablemate Shady Operator. Yard always feared in these events.

Form: 14-2091

Mitchouka³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: J T R Dreaper| OR: 145

150/1

Useful chaser at his best for Gearoid O'Loughlin but ran poorly in 2 starts in the summer and well behind a few of these in Punchestown cross-country event on his yard debut 31 days ago.

Form: 513-P00

Plan Of Attack^b⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138

25/1

Useful chaser who recorded 2 good in-frame efforts in C&D handicaps before Christmas. Likely to give his running again but playing for place money if some of these are at the top of their game.

Form: 8F7-043

Poker Party^t⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 145

33/1

Won a Kerry National in autumn 2019 but no show in a handicap hurdle/chase since returning from a long absence. This new discipline needs to spark something in him.

Form: U143/00

Potters Corner¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 135

33/1

Won the Midlands and Welsh Nationals in 2019. Not so productive since and has failed to build on his C&D second to Diesel d'Allier in 2 subsequent runs.

Form: 76P2P0

Prengarde¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Bolger

9/2

Multiple cross-country winner in France. Well held in Naas handicap hurdle on last month's yard debut but likely to prove a different proposition now. Very interesting runner.

Form: 1-11110

Shady Operator^p³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: E Bolger| OR: 140

12/1

Won his first 2 cross-country events at Punchestown and failed only narrowly to make it 3 in a row there last month, going down by a neck to Midnight Maestro. Should go well.

Form: 609102

Step Back^p,t³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: M Bradstock| OR: 137

66/1

Useful chaser at his best who was a respectable third in Edinburgh National at Musselburgh last month. Faded into sixth on sole previous atrtempt over these fences. Likely to find a few too strong.

Form: 5116-73

Tiger Roll^b,t⁵³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 161| CD

3/1

Dual Grand National winner who has an outstanding record over these fences as well. Denied a hat-trick in this race by Easysland in 2020 but regained his crown at the expense of same rival last year.

Form: P614-P0

Tout Est Permis^t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 147| BF

33/1

Smart chaser at his best but he was nowhere near that level when third to Midnight Maestro and Shady Operator in a Punchestown cross-country last month. Owner has stronger claims elsewhere.

Form: FP-5903

Forecasts

Delta Work (5/2), Tiger Roll (3/1), Prengarde (9/2), Easysland (17/2), Diesel D'Allier (12/1), Shady Operator (12/1), Brahma Bull (20/1), Back On The Lash (22/1), Plan Of Attack (25/1), Potters Corner (33/1), Tout Est Permis (33/1), Midnight Maestro (33/1), Poker Party (33/1), Alpha Des Obeaux (66/1), Step Back (66/1), Mitchouka (150/1)

This is reportedly TIGER ROLL's last race and how fitting it would be if he could end his remarkable career with a fourth success in this and a sixth Festival win all told. He hasn't shown that much this term but it was a similar story before he bolted up last year and he's taken to see off classy stablemate Delta Work, who makes his cross-country debut. Shady Operator may prove best of the rest.