14:55 Cheltenham

Sunday 17 November 2024

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Holland Cooper Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 7m 13.49s

Nassalam^p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 156

40/1

Mark has suffered since bolting up in Welsh National over Christmas and well held at Chepstow on return.

Form: 411P0-P

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Does He Know^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 150| CD

9/2

Smart chaser who returned to form when landing the Grimthorpe at Doncaster on slow ground in March. Ran poorly at Sandown next time but offered something to build on when fourth of 14 in handicap chase (12/1) at this course (25f, good) on return 22 days ago. Won this 2 years ago.

Form: P451-P4

Ballygrifincottage^p,t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139

9/1

Produced his best effort for a while when runner-up in Sandown handicap in March and ran to a similar level when seventh of 26 in Scottish Grand National next time. Collared late on at Uttoxeter (24f) in May before shaping as if needing the run at Chepstow last month. In the mix.

Form: P527-34

Surrey Quest^t²¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: K Brogan| T: T Lawes| OR: 137

14/1

Dual hurdles winner for Nicky Henderson and improved when bagging chase victories at Huntingdon and Newbury either side of Christmas. Failed by the narrowest of margins in the Scottish National at Ayr final start and remains unexposed at marathon trips.

Form: 47/1102-

Manothepeople^p³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 137| C

15/2

Posted a personal best when landing 14-runner handicap chase here (26f, good) in April. Good comeback third at Chepstow last month and not taken lightly.

Form: 2U821-3

Undersupervision^p²⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132

25/1

Unreliable type who produced just one decent effort from 4 starts last season. Off 8 months.

Form: 2P/P3PP-

Abuffalosoldier^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: S Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 131| BF

10/3

Opened account over fences at Newbury (22.4f) in January and made a promising comeback when close second at Exeter last month. Enters calculations with headgear back on.

Form: 26134-2

Bangers And Cash^p²⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 130

12/1

Largely ran well without winning last term, though did find the bet365 Gold Cup too competitive last time. Respected on his return for his in-form handler.

Form: P8343-0

Rose Of Arcadia^t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 128

10/1

Likeable mare who made a decent return at Exeter but likely to find a few too strong from out of the handicap.

Form: 33214-3

Hymac^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 127| C

11/4

Proved well suited by a step up to 3½m when opening his chase account here (28f) in April. Coped well with drop back in trip when making a winning return back hurdling at Newton Abbot 18 days ago and remains unexposed. Needs considering despite being 3 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 2/P321-1

Non-Runners

Monbeg Genius²⁵⁰

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: J & A O'Neill J: Nick Scholfield

Escaria Ten²²

Weight: 10-7| Age: 10

T: M Keighley J: Daire James McConville

Forecasts

Hymac (11/4), Abuffalosoldier (10/3), Does He Know (9/2), Manothepeople (15/2), Ballygrifincottage (9/1), Rose Of Arcadia (10/1), Monbeg Genius (12/1), Bangers And Cash (12/1), Surrey Quest (14/1), Undersupervision (25/1), Nassalam (40/1), Escaria Ten (50/1)

HYMAC impressed with his jumping when beating a big field here in the spring and has returned in good form having picked up a novice hurdle at Newton Abbot last month. He remains unexposed so could be the answer despite being 3 lb out of the handicap. Abuffalosoldier made a promising comeback at Exeter so is a must for the shortlist, with Scottish National runner-up Surrey Quest another to consider.