12:10 Cheltenham

Saturday 28 January 2023

All11:4012:1012:4013:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:13 | Winning time: 5m 15.1s

Stage Star²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| D

11/4

Challow Hurdle winner last season who boasts pair novice chase victories, either side of finishing runner-up in a Newbury Grade 2 in November. More on his plate now pitched into a competitive-looking handicap under top weight but further progress is a distinct possibility.

Form: 1PP-121

Fern Hill³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: B I Case| OR: 140| D

18/1

Won twice over hurdles and runner-up 4 times over fences prior to deservedly getting his head in front in a Uttoxeter handicap chase (22.5f) in November. Put in his place off this mark at Kempton next time, though, and a similar outcome is likely here.

Form: 252-219

Unexpected Party^t1³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 140| BF| D

11/1

Progressive hurdler last season and promising start over fences when chasing home McFabulous on return at Exeter. Shade disappointing that he failed to land the odds in a 2½m Leicester novice last time but it's still early days and he remains of interest. Tongue strap applied.

Form: 21P-232

Datsalrightgino³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 138| C

12/1

Fairly useful hurdler who opened his chase account at the second attempt in a 2m Chepstow novice handicap. Below par at Doncaster last time but it could be that moving back up in trip here will help and he's certainly not without a chance.

Form: P4-2134

Llandinabo Lad³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: David Noonan| T: T Symonds| OR: 131| BF

16/1

Useful hurdler who has made an encouraging start in this sphere, looking a tad laboured for a while but finding only a very promising 4-y-o too good in Hereford handicap (2m) on his latest start in December. Place possibilities with this step back up in trip a potentially good move.

Form: 64P-422

Any News³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 131

33/1

Bumper/maiden hurdle winner who went close starting out over fences at Warwick on his reappearance last season. However, he was beaten a long way when returning from 12 months off at Wetherby on Boxing Day and now has a bit to prove.

Form: 62343-8

Malinello^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Luca Morgan| T: B Pauling| OR: 131| D

8/1

Quickly made into a fairly useful hurdler in 2020/21 and perfect start in this sphere after nearly 2 years off at Newcastle (23.4f) in November. By no means disgraced when third at Newbury since and merits respect for the yard that landed this race with Kildisart in 2019.

Form: 4212/13

Panic Attack^b,t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 130| C

8/1

Three-time hurdles winner, including in a listed handicap here last spring, and made all in 3-runner novice chase at Huntingdon (2½m) on debut over fences. Performed to a similar level when third at Kempton last month and will need to raise her game if she's to land this prize.

Form: 31-2713

Iamastar^p1,t1⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 133

100/1

Useful chaser for David Cottin in France last term who changed hands for €110,000 last spring. However, well held on return/debut for new yard at Ascot and opposable here, for all that he's been eased 5 lb.

Form: 42362-3

Dalamoi³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 129| BF| D

9/2

Real chasing type who created an excellent impression when scoring on debut in this sphere at Kempton (20.5f). Followed that with a good effort in defeat at Chepstow and, provided his confidence hasn't been dented by an early fall last time, he should have a big part to play.

Form: 235-12F

Fire Dancer²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120

9/2

Fair hurdler/chaser in France for Guillaume Macaire and improved when making a winning start for this yard on the back of a lengthy absence in a handicap chase at Ludlow (2½m). 6 lb rise fair enough and very much of interest here with the likelihood of better to come.

Form: P3932/1

Forecasts

Stage Star (11/4), Dalamoi (9/2), Fire Dancer (9/2), Panic Attack (8/1), Malinello (8/1), Unexpected Party (11/1), Datsalrightgino (12/1), Llandinabo Lad (16/1), Fern Hill (18/1), Any News (33/1), Iamastar (100/1)

Several of these are open to improvement, not least FIRE DANCER, who overcame a 27-month absence when scoring on his first start for Venetia Williams at Ludlow where he produced an accurate round of jumping. The 7-y-o is very appealing off a light weight for a yard that has landed this race 3 times in the past. Dalamoi is next on the list, albeit only marginally as both Malinello and Stage Star merit serious consideration, too.