14:25 Cheltenham

Friday 25 October 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

squareintheair.com Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 3m 51.55s

Dancing On My Own^t⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 153| CD

5/1

Smart chaser who saw off Triple Trade in this race 12 months ago. Made hard work of landing short odds on soft ground at Ballinrobe in August but the likely sounder surface here should be more to his liking and he's only 2 lb higher than last year.

Form: 1066-21

Matata¹⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 147| D

5/2

Headstrong sort but it didn't prevent him making up into a smart novice chaser last term. Ended his season on a low note at Aintree but capable of bouncing back with a bang after a break.

Form: 6/12240-

Calico^p,t¹⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| D

3/1

Largely held form well in defeat last season, including a second to Triple Trade over C&D. Pulled up at Kempton when last seen in May but he has a decent record fresh and is back on a good mark.

Form: 24204-P

Arclight²⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 136| D

12/1

Won first 3 chases at the end of 2023. Never going after an early mistake in a Kempton Grade 2 in February and not seen since. No surprise were she to resume her progression now handicapping back from 8 months off.

Form: 88/111P-

Triple Trade¹⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: H Cobden| T: J Tizzard| OR: 135| CD

13/2

Second to Dancing On My Own in this race last year before seeing off Calico over C&D at the Open meeting. Ended last season with a respectable fifth of 15 in the Red Rum at Aintree. Has to enter the reckoning under Cobden.

Form: 131585-

Scarface^p¹⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 133

15/2

Thrived over fences when cheekpieces went on, winning 3 times around 2½m between January and April. Good third of 12 over 20.5f here on final start. Shorter trip the slight worry on return.

Form: 312113-

Coastguard Station^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 126| D

14/1

Produced a career-best effort to resume winning ways in 2m Uttoxeter handicap chase in June. Sharper for a recent outing over hurdles at Hexham but he'll need another career best to come out on top here.

Form: P21-215

Sir Tivo^t⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: G Hanmer| OR: 125| D

66/1

Veteran who has been a bit hit and miss so far this season and is likely to find this too competitive.

Form: 985424

Non-Runners

Madara²²⁶

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: Kieran Burke J: Non Runner

Royal Mer¹⁸⁹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 6

T: D Pipe J: Jack Tudor

Forecasts

Matata (5/2), Calico (3/1), Dancing On My Own (5/1), Madara (5/1), Triple Trade (13/2), Scarface (15/2), Arclight (12/1), Coastguard Station (14/1), Royal Mer (16/1), Sir Tivo (66/1)

CALICO has dipped to 1 lb lower than when second over C&D on last year's reappearance and might prove the answer to this useful handicap. Last year's winner Dancing On My Own should give it another good shot, while Matata looks feasibly treated on the pick of last season's novice form.