16:45 Cheltenham

Friday 24 October 2025

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

Santa - The Visit Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:47 | Winning time: 6m 34.61s

Moroder^v⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: S Elliott⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 127

50/1

33/1 winner in the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster in March. Back on track in a change of headgear (visor) at Cartmel in May (disqualified having lost weight cloth final circuit) and probably needed the run at Bangor last month. Visor refitted but remains to be seen if he's on a going day.

Form: 41P-0D6

Unanswered Prayers^p¹⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr Henry Main⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 126| C

50/1

Course winner resumed winning ways in Southern National at Fontwell in November but lost his way towards the end of last season, turning in a lacklustre effort with cheekpieces back on (retained) at Plumpton in April. Needs to bounce back but has fallen to his last winning mark.

Form: 133UP6-

Hung Jury^p¹³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr Sean P O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 124| C

33/1

Multiple winning pointer failed to land a blow in a couple of maiden hurdles but took a sizeable step forward when landing a big-field hunter at this track (32.4f) in May. Wasn't disgraced when last of 4 on handicap debut at Newton Abbot next time but will need to improve to defy this sort of mark.

Form: 9556-14

Ideal Des Bordes¹⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Daniel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 123| D

10/1

Maiden hurdle winner progressed to make a successful chase debut at Wincanton and backed it up when second at Kempton in January. Well beaten on subsequent two starts (latest following another breathing operation). Has won fresh but has a bit to prove on the back of some weak finishes.

Form: P/112P5-

Beaufort Scale^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr J H Williamson| T: G Elliott| OR: 122

12/1

Fairly useful winner hurdler and matched that form over fences when runner-up in a 2½m maiden chase at Kilbeggan last month. Tough ask in a much hotter Gowran maiden last time and could be seen to better effect over a longer trip on handicap chase debut for top yard.

Form: 00-7027

Solly Attwell^p³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr R James| T: C Collins| OR: 121

14/1

Fair 3m winning hurdler who returned to form from out of the blue to win a Galway handicap chase last month and proved better than ever (badly hampered early) to follow up at Downpatrick (23.5f) 11 days later. This is tougher but bids for a hat-trick in the form of his life.

Form: 30-8P11

The Newest One²³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 121| BF| CD

8/1

Made a winning return in this race in 2024 but saw his form tail off, pulled-up in the Welsh and Edinburgh Nationals at Musselburgh and failed to justify support in a veterans chase at Doncaster on final start of the campaign. 1 lb lower than last year and likely to have been targeted at this race.

Form: 145PP5-

Regarde^t,p¹⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 120WS

13/2

Underwent wind surgery prior to notching a fourth success over fences in a 4-runner handicap chase at Haydock and took another step forward in defeat when runner-up to a subsequent winner at this track (28.1f) in April. One to consider (following another wind op) given his record when fresh.

Form: 2/13P12-

Awaythelad^b²⁰²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: B Pauling| OR: 119

25/1

Ground versatile two-time hurdle winner achieved some solid form over fences prior to landing a first chase success at Southwell (24.3f) in March. Jumping went to pieces at Chepstow next time but could be worth another chance on seasonal return.

Form: 34P214-

Kalanisi Flash^t,p⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr H C Swan| T: J C McConnell| OR: 118

20/1

Two-time winning pointer got off the mark under rules in a Downpatrick maiden on sole start in 2024. Seemingly hasn't been the easiest to train but ran creditably when third on reappearance/chase debut in August. Open to improvement upped in trip (with headgear retained) on handicap debut.

Form: 2F24/1-3

Rockinastorm²¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: H D Daly| OR: 117

6/1

Productive 2024/25 season, scoring at Ludlow and Wetherby and remained in good heart thereafter, doing all he could faced with much quicker conditions when 5¼ lengths third to Regarde at Haydock in March. Easier ground and booking of Patrick Mullins are reasons for optimism on his return.

Form: 311253-

My Gift To You^v,t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Conal Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 117

12/1

Likeable sort displayed a willing attitude when adding to his tally over fences at Worcester in July and exploited a lower hurdles mark under an attacking ride at Warwick last month. Wasn't disgraced when sixth in an 8-runner chase at Chepstow latest but is probably summed up by his mark now.

Form: 341416

Kelce^p²²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Adam Ryan| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 116

9/1

Much improved switched to fences with cheekpieces applied, easily getting off the mark in a 3m handicap at Market Rasen (soft) in December and steadily improved thereafter, ending his season on a high with victory at Wetherby (24.2f). Unlikely we've seen the best of this progressive sort.

Form: 221F21-

Mole Court^p³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr James King| T: B Pauling| OR: 115| CD

22/1

Out of form since the end of last year and didn't find a great deal for pressure on first start since wind surgery when third in a 3m chase at Uttoxeter last month. Now off the same mark as when completing a 4-timer in this race in 2023 and interesting to see if the market expects a return to form.

Form: 03P-P63

Smugglers Haven³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Miss L Bradstock⁽⁵⁾| T: S Bradstock| OR: 115

10/3

Progressive three-time winner over hurdles and has shaped with promise over fences, runner-up for the third consecutive race when bumping into a handicap blot in a 3m chase at Warwick last month. Still early days as a chaser and she remains one to be interested in.

Form: 121-222

Harrys Hope⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Samuel Scott⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 114

11/1

Strong travelling mare enjoying another fruitful year, successful in back-to-back chases only a day apart in June (subsequently awarded the latter of those wins) and still in fine heart when runner-up at Uttoxeter/Worcester. Should be suited by a big-field handicap but can flatter to deceive.

Form: P-21122

Animal^t1²⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Mrs Izzie Hill⁽³⁾| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 109WS

33/1

Last successful in a 3m handicap chase on soft ground at Sandown in December 2023 but has lost his way, pulled-up on both starts earlier this year (reported to have made a respiratory noise latest). Remains to be seen if he can bounce back (in a first-time tongue tie) following wind surgery.

Form: 3257/PP-

Planned Paradise¹¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 109

28/1

Eighth in this race last year but in better form to resume winning ways at Windsor (28.7f) in January and remained in good heart subsequently, not suited by the drop back in trip when third at Market Rasen (21.4f) in July. Will appreciate the step back up in distance and ought to be competitive.

Form: 425-423

Forecasts

Smugglers Haven (10/3), Rockinastorm (6/1), Regarde (13/2), The Newest One (8/1), Kelce (9/1), Ideal Des Bordes (10/1), Harrys Hope (11/1), Beaufort Scale (12/1), My Gift To You (12/1), Solly Attwell (14/1), Kalanisi Flash (20/1), Mole Court (22/1), Awaythelad (25/1), Planned Paradise (28/1), Hung Jury (33/1), Animal (33/1), Unanswered Prayers (50/1), Moroder (50/1)

KELCE enjoyed an excellent first season as a chaser and is fancied to continue his progression on reappearance. He gets the vote ahead of Smugglers Haven who is one the least exposed in this field and could progress again on just her fourth start over fences, while The Newest One merits respect racing off a 1 lb lower mark than when successful in this contest last year.