16:50 Cheltenham

Wednesday 16 March 2022

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

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 4m 12.98s

Sky Pirate^t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 156| CD

14/1

Much improved for drop to 2m last season, defying a market drift to land this race from 4 lb lower mark. Hard to knock efforts in defeat this time around and expected to give it another good go.

Form: 1-24324

Andy Dufresne¹³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 155| D

10/3

Low-mileage 8-y-o who landed first 2 starts over fences last term, including Navan Grade 3. Return second at Naas in November right up there with his best efforts and he's interesting now handicapping

Form: 3/113P-2

Editeur Du Gite⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 153| CD

15/2

Improving front-running chaser who again jumped boldly when landing a second course handicap in December, keeping on well. Very likeable sort who should go well despite career-high mark.

Form: P11-U11

A Wave Of The Sea^b³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 150| D

25/1

Reacted well to fitting of blinkers, best of those held up when runner-up in Munster National and displayed good attitude to score at Leopardstown (17.2f) last month. 8 lb higher mark to defy now.

Form: 5062F1

Exit Poll³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 149| D

66/1

Scored twice over fences last year, landing a Roscommon Gr 3 by a neck from Embittered in September. Solid efforts in handicaps next 2 starts but must shrug off lesser effort at Leopardstown latest.

Form: 211326

Embittered^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Cooper| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 145| D

12/1

Smart hurdler who fell in this race 12 months ago (well backed) but managed 2 chase victories thereafter, latterly a Gr 3 in October. Well held in graded company since but this likely been his target.

Form: 121365

Elixir De Nutz^t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 143| CD

14/1

Smart hurdler who arrives having landed Plumpton novice (19.7f) in January prior to easily accounting for 3 rivals on handicap debut at Kempton (18f). Remains low-mileage but this much deeper.

Form: 7/2-4211

Amarillo Sky^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 143| D

5/1

Done little wrong since going chasing, gaining second small-field victory in emphatic fashion at Newbury (16.4f) last month, from Shakem Up'arry. Assessor applies further pressure and this tougher.

Form: 6412F1

Dancing On My Own^t1³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 143

33/1

Made light of lengthy absence to take a KIllarney maiden chase (17f) in October. Had plausible excuses in a couple of starts since (fell latest) and not ruled out on handicap bow over fences.

Form: 416/13F

Il Ridoto^t⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| D

18/1

Improved markedly on yard debut effort when easy winner from 12 lb lower at Newbury (16.4f) in November. Similar form when third of 4 in Lingfield novice (2m) in January and he may have more to offer

Form: F2-31P3

Frero Banbou³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 141| D

6/1

Chased home Editeur du Gite when third here in November prior to tasting success at Lingfield (2m) in January. Form of his subsequent Sandown second looks solid and in with a sound each-way shout.

Form: 4-43312

Poseidon³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: D E Mullins| T: C Byrnes| OR: 141| D

66/1

Confirmed previous promise to make winning handicap chase debut at Cork (17.7f) in October. Things haven't gone to plan since but this more suitable than his latest Punchestown novice assignment.

Form: 2U1PU5

Gumball^p1⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 140| D

14/1

Smart hurdler/chaser at his best who struck on the Flat at York (2m) in October. Ran well despite a sluggish start when second at Ludlow (2m) in December and he appeals as being on a handy mark.

Form: 403-482

For Pleasure³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 138| CD

7/1

Front runner who opened chase account in 3-runner Plumpton novice (17f) in December. Fell next time but typically went with plenty of zest for all he was last of 4 in Gr 2 latest. This more suitable.

Form: 5-F31F4

Hasankey^v²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁷⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 137| D

33/1

Made excellent strides forward over fences this season, defying another hike in weights when completing hat-trick at Wetherby (15f) last month, just holding on. Understandably more needed again.

Form: 42U111

Global Citizen³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 136| D

28/1

Smart front-running hurdler/chaser in 2019/20. Confirmed still has plenty to offer over timber this term, third in listed Contenders hurdle at Sandown latest. Will face competition up front, though.

Form: P-92023

Non-Runners

Before Midnight⁴⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 9

T: S Thomas J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Buddy Rich¹⁰⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: G Elliott J: D N Russell

Thyme White⁷⁷

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Bryony Frost

Capuccimix³⁹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 9

T: H De Bromhead J: Jordan Gainford

Forecasts

Andy Dufresne (10/3), Amarillo Sky (5/1), Frero Banbou (6/1), Buddy Rich (6/1), For Pleasure (7/1), Editeur Du Gite (15/2), Thyme White (8/1), Embittered (12/1), Sky Pirate (14/1), Gumball (14/1), Elixir De Nutz (14/1), Before Midnight (14/1), Il Ridoto (18/1), A Wave Of The Sea (25/1), Global Citizen (28/1), Hasankey (33/1), Dancing On My Own (33/1), Capuccimix (33/1), Poseidon (66/1), Exit Poll (66/1)

A host holding sound claims in a typically intriguing renewal, including low-mileage ANDY DUFRESNE. A dual winner as a novice last term, he ran right up to his best when second at Naas in November, conceding 7 lb to a decidedly smart rival. He can provide JP McManus with his fourth victory in this since 2012. Stablemate Buddy Rich, Thyme White and last year's winner Sky Pirate can also feature.