DragonBet The Roar Before Cheltenham Dragonboosts Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 56.20s

Royal Jewel³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 131| CD

4/1

Got back on the up with 21f reappearance victory at Newton Abbot in October. Added to that when bagging a small-field handicap here last month and warrants respect up 3 lb.

Form: 3-12631

U Cant Be Serious^p1³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Freddie Gingell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 128| C

7/2

Fairly useful winning hurdler who upped his game again to win a pair of 19f Exeter handicap chases this winter. Has failed to fire the last twice but he'll be a serious player if able to get back on track here with first-time cheekpieces enlisted.

Form: 33-1197

Kap Vert⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 126| CD

6/5

Winning hurdler who looked a natural when making a successful chase debut over C&D in December. Hasn't done a great deal wrong in 2 subsequent starts and a bold show may well be on the way.

Form: 7-27134

Kelce^p³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 125

4/1

Reliable sort who was back to winning ways in 3m Musselburgh handicap at the end of January. 7 lb rise demands a new personal-best but he looks sure to be involved nonetheless.

Form: 21-4721

Hold Your Fort¹⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 122| BF

28/1

Newton Abbot specialist but confirmed he's just as good elsewhere when bagging 5-runner handicap chase at Ludlow in October. Uncharacteristic jumping lapse proved costly when bidding to follow up under a penalty at Chepstow 4 days later but he looks vulnerable in any case.

Form: 3F3314

Non-Runners

Wicked Thoughts⁵⁹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Kap Vert (6/5), U Cant Be Serious (7/2), Royal Jewel (4/1), Kelce (4/1), Wicked Thoughts (5/1), Hold Your Fort (28/1)

It's hard to pick holes in KELCE, who can usually be relied upon and a 7 lb rise for his latest Musselburgh success may not be enough to prevent him from going in again. Kap Vert has taken pretty well to fences and may prove most troublesome, though U Cant Be Serious will also have a strong chance should the addition of cheekpieces help spark a return to form.