13:50 Cheltenham

Saturday 25 January 2025

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 5m 26.50s

Ginny's Destiny⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 152| CD

7/2

Had an excellent first campaign over fences with this yard, including a Cheltenham hat-trick between November and January (at this meeting), and even better form when second in Grade 1 company twice after. Excuses both starts this term and worth another chance.

Form: 1122-P3

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Iroko^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 152| BF| C

11/2

Progressive over hurdles and took form up another notch on third start over fences when 4 lengths second of 6 in Grade 1 Mildmay at Aintree in April. Shaped very well on Haydock reappearance before falling through no fault of his own at Ascot. Opening mark in this sphere looks a handy one.

Form: 3/152-2F

Il Ridoto^p,t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147| CD

12/1

Likeable sort who was a good third in this last year off 1 lb higher. All the better for return when winning Paddy Power Gold Cup here by 4½ lengths but only sixth in December Gold Cup over C&D 6 weeks ago.

Form: 08P-516

Soul Icon^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 146| C

12/1

Multiple winner over hurdles who showed improved form to finally get off the mark over fences in Grade 2 handicap at Kempton last month despite being 4 lb out of the handicap. Races off 3 lb higher here so must be respected back up in trip.

Form: 2-22241

Imperial Saint³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 144

9/2

Taken very well to fences this season, winning 3 of his 4 starts, resuming progress when making all at Aintree on Boxing Day, impressing with his jumping. Looks ready for a crack at something like this.

Form: 31-1171

Gemirande²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 144| BF| CD

22/1

Lightly raced and without a win last term but has returned in fine heart this season, following up his decisive winning Ascot return with victory in December Gold Cup over C&D last month. Needs to shrug off a poor effort in a similar event here on New Year's Day, however.

Form: 550-116

Happygolucky⁶⁸³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 143| C| D

50/1

Took very well to fences in 2020/21, second in the Ultima at the Festival prior to winning Grade 3 handicap at Aintree. However, missed the following season and struggled in competitive handicaps here when last seen 2 years ago. Has since left Kim Bailey.

Form: 121309/

Grandeur D'ame⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 136

20/1

Enhanced good record fresh when scoring at Chepstow on return. Just respectable fifth in December Gold Cup over C&D since, however, and others make more appeal.

Form: 14UP-15

Torn And Frayed⁴³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130| CD

28/1

Not always the most sure-footed but avoided mistakes when capitalising on a falling mark in veterans event at Warwick in November. Not i smae form in similar event here next time. however, and will find this more competitive.

Form: 604-516

Moon D'orange^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: S Bowen| T: J C McConnell| OR: 129| D

7/2

Winner of a novice hurdle during a short stint for Fergal O'Brien during the spring and best effort over fences back with this yard when second at Newbury 4 weeks ago. More needed in this deeper race, though.

Form: 10-3342

Some Scope^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 128

15/2

Had a good first season over fences, winning on 2 of his 5 starts (at up to 25.3f). Back on the up when winning Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day and this progressive young chaser isn't taken lightly back down in trip.

Form: 124-P41

Forecasts

Moon D'orange (7/2), Ginny's Destiny (7/2), Imperial Saint (9/2), Iroko (11/2), Some Scope (15/2), Soul Icon (12/1), Il Ridoto (12/1), Grandeur D'ame (20/1), Gemirande (22/1), Torn And Frayed (28/1), Happygolucky (50/1)

Plenty to consider but IROKO's opening mark in this sphere looks a handy one judged on the form he showed in a Grade 1 at Aintree last season and he can make amends for his luckless first-fence fall at Ascot last month. Ginny's Destiny has had excuses on both his starts this term and is another who's on a tempting mark based on his exploits at the top level in the spring, while Imperial Saint is worth a crack at this level after his dominant all-the-way win at Aintree.