15:35 Cheltenham

Friday 24 October 2025

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

squareintheair.com Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 3m 52.78s

1^st

Calico

910-10

5/1

T: D SkeltonJ: Harry Skelton

Chased leaders out wide, led briefly 4th, led again 6th, pushed along turning in, 3 lengths ahead when brushed the last, stayed on strongly run-in tchd 11/2

2^nd

Jasko Des Dames

610-4

9/4f

T: H De BromheadJ: Darragh O'Keeffe

Chased leading pair, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd before next, 3 lengths down and ridden before last, no chance with winner, kept on for 2nd op 5/2

3^rd

Brookie

811-3

7/1

T: A J HoneyballJ: Sam Twiston-Davies

Held up off the pace in 5th, went modest 3rd before 2 out, ridden and kept on run-in, closed on 2nd but no chance with winner op 11/1

4^th

5 ½

Traprain Law

710-2

15/2

T: L Russell & M ScudamoreJ: P W Wadge

Prominent, led before 2nd until before next, chased leaders, outpaced and struggling in modest 4th 4 out, no chance after op 13/2

5^th

2 ½

Unexpected Party

1011-3

16/1

T: D SkeltonJ: Harry Atkins (7)

Off the pace in last pair, never in the race op 22/1 tchd 14/1

6^th

3 ¾

Dr T J Eckleburg

710-2

40/1

T: Evan WilliamsJ: Conor Ring

Off the pace in rear, not fluent 7th, never involved, tailed off

7^th

7 ½

Matata

712-0

11/4

T: N & W Twiston-DaviesJ: J J Slevin

Led until before 2nd, led again before 3rd where mistake, headed briefly 4th, headed 6th, chased winner, ridden after 3 out, weakened quickly before next op 5/2 tchd 9/4

Also Ran

Uncle Phil

810-13

40/1

T: Chester WilliamsJ: H Cobden

Off the pace and always behind, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out op 25/1

Third Time Lucki

1010-5

14/1

T: F O'BrienJ: J J Burke

In touch with leaders, mistake and pulled up quickly after 6th (water) op 10/1 tchd 16/1

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£6.00Pl:£2.00, £1.30, £2.20EX:£17.90Trifecta:£114.90Tricast:£77.36SF:£17.47Swingers:£3.90, £5.60, £4.50

Forecasts

Jasko Des Dames (9/4), Matata (11/4), Calico (5/1), Brookie (7/1), Traprain Law (15/2), Third Time Lucki (14/1), Unexpected Party (16/1), Dr T J Eckleburg (40/1), Uncle Phil (40/1)

CALICO is only 2 lb higher than when winning this race last season and Dan Skelton's charge can enhance his fine record fresh to make it back-to-back to wins in the contest. Front-runner Matata developed into a very smart chaser last season and has to be respected dropping back from Graded company, whilst Irish raider Jasko des Dames bumped into a well-treated sort at Listowel last month and completes the shortlist in an intriguing contest.

CALICO (GER)
MATATA (IRE)
JASKO DES DAMES (FR)

Previous Winners

2024

Calico

Weight: 10-13 |Age: 8

J: Harry Skelton | T: D Skelton

3/1

Prize Money

1st: £52,030.002nd: £23,920.003rd: £11,960.004th: £5,980.005th: £2,990.006th: £1,490.00