16:40 Ayr

Friday 7 March 2025

All14:3015:0015:3516:1016:4017:10

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 5m 48.75s

Fete Champetre⁷¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Paul Robson| OR: 109| D

7/1

Hasn't stood much racing in recent seasons but wasn't beaten far starting out for this yard back from 10 months off at Sedgefield (19.3f, good to soft) on Boxing Day. Jumping wasn't foot-perfect that day but he's on a workable mark and could be a factor if getting into a good rhythm here.

Form: 73/514-4

Step Above^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: P W Wadge| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 106| CD

5/1

Respectable fourth in 6-runner C&D handicap on penultimate start but has failed to complete either side of that, and he shapes as though a step back up in trip wouldn't go amiss.

Form: 75-3P4F

Overcourt²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Ross Chapman| T: W Coltherd| OR: 105| D

16/1

Dual hurdles winner for Sandy Thomson who made the frame on his first 5 starts over fences. However, he has failed to complete on 3 of his last 4 appearances and while he managed to get around over C&D last time, there was little in that effort to suggest that his turn is near.

Form: 25PP-F4

Leading Force^t,p³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 103| D

14/1

Seemingly needed the run after a break/wind-op at Musselburgh in December but has failed to build on that in 2 subsequent starts, beaten a long way back hurdling last time.

Form: 297480

Travail D'Orfevre^t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander| OR: 103| C

9/2

Deservedly regained the winning thread in a 4-runner handicap on his first attempt at 3m here in January. Wasn't in the same form at Carlisle next time but this 9-y-o is largely consistent and, with this drop back in trip unlikely to pose a problem, he could easily bounce back with a bold show.

Form: 32-3318

Grand Voyage^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 99| CD

9/2

Long time without success and his record in this sphere stands at 1-19. On the upside, he has performed with credit on his last 2 starts, latterly finishing third of 7 over this C&D, and it would be no surprise to see him involved in the finish.

Form: 826P23

Nights In Venice^t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans| OR: 96| CD

4/1

Proved ¾-length too strong for the re-opposing Travail d'Orfevre when opening chase account over this C&D last February. Placed on his last 2 starts at Carlisle and now 2 lb lower than for his aforementioned success here but he nevertheless looks vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 143-P33

Tenbobeachway³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Power⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 90

13/2

Didn't show much sent chasing following almost 2 years of at Wetherby last month and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 5585/9

Ardera Cross^t⁶⁰

Age: 14| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 84| CD

40/1

Veteran who has 9 chase wins at this course to his name but hasn't looked as though he'll be adding to that tally anytime soon judged on his efforts so far this season.

Form: 5P-6PPP

Non-Runners

Adveram⁴³

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: I A Duncan J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Nights In Venice (4/1), Grand Voyage (9/2), Travail D'Orfevre (9/2), Step Above (5/1), Tenbobeachway (13/2), Fete Champetre (7/1), Adveram (8/1), Leading Force (14/1), Overcourt (16/1), Ardera Cross (40/1)

It's not hard to forgive TRAVAIL D'ORFEVRE for a rare below-par effort last time given his general consistency and, just 1 lb higher than for his 3m win here in January, he is taken to get his head back in front. Grand Voyage has shown enough the last twice to suggest that he will be competitive once more, while Fete Champetre will also be a threat granted an assured round of jumping.