cheltenhamfestival.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 7m 30.20s

Head On^v⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 97

14/1

Won 3 times in early stages of the 2021-22 campaign and has shaped better than the result a couple of times over fences this term. Not discounted from an appealing mark.

Form: P3/P2P6

Born At Midnight⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 89| CD

16/5

Career best when winning 5-runner handicap chase at this C&D (soft, 9/2) 7 days ago, pushed out. Should go well under a penalty if the race doesn't come too soon.

Form: P32-341

Delgany Monarch⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 92| CD

9/1

Only one who showed his form when landing 3-runner C&D handicap back in April and whilst he probably needed his seasonal return at Taunton (has unseated since), his present mark demands that little bit more.

Form: 4321-6U

Hard Frost^p,t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 90| BF

6/1

Found improvement when narrowly landing 9-runner handicap chase at Taunton in December and, while not in the same form at Huntingdon since, he could get back on track after a short break.

Form: 224-217

Flemen's Tipple¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 89| BF

5/1

Wilted only late on chase debut at Market Rasen and shaped as if still in form back over hurdles at this course last time. Has some scope for better in this sphere.

Form: 225-242

Ballycorr^b²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Lee Edwards| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 78

33/1

Justified support as he won his first race of any description at Sedgefield in May 2022. Sub-par efforts since, though, and needs to prove he retains ability.

Form: 34/174-7

Hilltown⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 73| C

6/4

Poor hurdler/chaser who is dropping in the weights without showing any sign that he's about to take advantage, going in snatches when below form at Wincanton last time. Worth a market check after a break.

Form: 4373P3

Forecasts

Hilltown (6/4), Born At Midnight (16/5), Flemen's Tipple (5/1), Hard Frost (6/1), Delgany Monarch (9/1), Head On (14/1), Ballycorr (33/1)

HARD FROST has a poor run to shrug off but he'd been developing a solid record over fences prior to that and he's worth a chance to get back on the up. Recent-scorer Born At Midnight is an obvious threat and Flemen's Tipple has the potential for better after just one run in this discipline.