Racing Blogger, 'Christmas Cup' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 6m 58.95s

Isaac Des Obeaux^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127

11/4

Got back on track after a wind op when third of 5 in listed chase at Cheltenham (25f, heavy, 16/1) 34 days ago. Ought to be thereabouts back in handicap company in his bid for a maiden chasing victory.

Form: 3/5P33-3

Coolvalla^p⁹⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon| OR: 127| C| D

11/1

Course winner who scored a remarkable five times in 2022/23. Off over 2 years since posting a solid fifth of 16 in bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown but still can't be ruled out with his yard going well.

Form: 111P15/

Operation Manna³⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 125| C

7/1

A three-time hurdles winner in 2023 but pulled up in handicap hurdle at Sandown (23.4f) on his sole run last term 12 months ago. Goes chasing now with his fitness to prove.

Form: 11104/P-

Gyenyame^b⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 117| C

9/4

Course winner who is knocking on the door, a rallying second of 8 in handicap chase over C&D (soft) 41 days ago. Not taken lightly despite a 2 lb rise.

Form: 1322-32

Sheldon²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Houlihan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 117| C

12/1

A dual Wincanton chase winner in 2023/24 but winless last term and he again made mistakes when a well-held fourth of 9 in 19f Chepstow handicap 27 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 7/73F5-4

Vision De Maine²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 108| BF| D

5/2

Irish point winner who also landed his first 2 chases last season at around 3m. Resumed from 9 months off with an encouraging third of 9 in handicap at Ascot (23.8f, good) 27 days ago. Merits serious consideration eased 1 lb.

Form: 12P34-3

Non-Runners

Rosscahill⁵¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Gyenyame (9/4), Vision De Maine (5/2), Isaac Des Obeaux (11/4), Rosscahill (4/1), Operation Manna (7/1), Coolvalla (11/1), Sheldon (12/1)

A few of these arrive with a question mark against them but VISION DE MAINE should strip fitter for his encouraging Ascot third after a nine-month absence and is weighted to resume winning ways. Joe Tizzard's in-form course scorer Gyenyame rates a big threat though, while Isaac des Obeaux can also have a say at these weights now reverted to handicap company after a solid third in a Cheltenham listed chase.