Betfair Daily Multiples Offer At Cheltenham Novices' Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:39 | Winning time: 5m 22.75s

Lac De Constance²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 144| BF

9/2

Unbeaten over hurdles last season and easily made a winning start over fences in a Kempton novice (2¼m) in November. However, he rather blotted his copybook with an odds-on failure at Exeter last time and needs to get back on track now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 111-1U2

Easy As That¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 142| D

6/4

Jumped sketchily when beaten in match on chase bow after a long absence but far more sure-footed when scoring at Haydock in December. Further progress when following up at Newcastle (2½m) recently and a 9 lb rise may not be enough to stop him in his tracks.

Form: 241/211

No Risk Des Flos⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 139| D

10/1

Good strike rate over hurdles (4-9) and made it 2-4 in this sphere when accounting for 4 rivals at Wetherby (19.4f) in January. 5 lb rise tolerable and conditions won't be a problem but will need to up his game another notch in order to follow up here.

Form: 1P-4161

Quel Destin^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| C

6/1

Smart hurdler who produced his best effort over fences when landing a 2m novice at Lingfield on penultimate start. Bit disappointing in a handicap here subsequently, though, and couldn't be sure that this step back up in trip is what he wants.

Form: 2P/3P13

Hudson De Grugy^v²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 123| C

11/4

Won 3 times over hurdles here but yet to scale such heights in this sphere, for all that he wasn't disgraced when third in a first-time visor at Lingfield (23.5f) last month. However, he continues to edge down the weights and forecast conditions are in his favour, so there's cause for optimism.

Form: 16-4273

Non-Runners

Baron De Midleton¹⁴

Weight: 10-7| Age: 10

T: B Ellison J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Easy As That (6/4), Hudson De Grugy (11/4), Lac De Constance (9/2), Quel Destin (6/1), No Risk Des Flos (10/1), Baron De Midleton (12/1)

Venetia Williams saddled the winner of this in 2021 and can repeat the dose with EASY AS THAT, who made it 2-3 in this sphere with an impressive display at Newcastle where he jumped with aplomb. He has low mileage for a horse of his age and looks a smart chaser in the making. Hudson de Grugy has yet to shine over fences but is interesting back here with conditions likely to be testing, while Baron de Midleton also needs considering.