Your Ultimate Cheltenham Guide At attheraces.com/cheltenham Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:52 | Winning time: 4m 20.8s

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Selected odds by:

One Style³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 109

8/1

Back from a very long break when having his initial chasing start in Britain (had run over fences in France) and did too much too soon to do himself justice. Drops back in trip here but needs to settle better to have a chance having been dropped 4lb from his last outing.

Form: P3422/4

Zamparelli^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 105

5/2

This will be his second run after wind surgery and his debut over fences (and handicaps) having run over hurdles last time out. May well have needed that run though over what looked an inadequate trip (same distance here) and may need further to be seen at his best.

Form: P7166-5

Peppay Le Pugh³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: David Dennis| OR: 94| BF

6/4

Irresolute sort over hurdles who has flattered to deceive on more than one occasion over hurdles and looked to repeat the trick on his first run over fences at Catterick. Sure to travel well again but lacks application in a finish and no surprise to see him ass to his run of seconds.

Form: 764222

Rain In The Face²⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 90

14/1

Makes his debut over fences having shown regressive form over hurdles and now dropped to his lowest handicap mark yet. Pulled-up on his last two starts and hard to build a case here unless the switch to fences has a resurgent effect.

Form: 5064P-P

Minella Voucher^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 88

2/1

Well backed on his recent return to action over hurdles he took a Towcester handicap hurdle off a 7lb lower mark over 2m3f on testing ground. Now switched to fences for the first time he looks one of the more likely sorts here in a weak contest.

Form: 756961

Grow Nasa Grow¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 80

13/2

Showed his first worthwhile form over fences at Doncaster on his penultimate start over a 3f longer trip rallying well after getting outpaced. Failed to follow that up last time at Leicester and now reverts to a shorter trip; questions to answer.

Form: 57PP34

Forecasts

Peppay Le Pugh (6/4), Minella Voucher (2/1), Zamparelli (5/2), Grow Nasa Grow (13/2), One Style (8/1), Rain In The Face (14/1)

Very few solid options here and if Peppay Le Pugh could be trusted to finish a race off he would have a fine chance here but his application in a finish makes him a risky prospect. MINELLA VOUCHER did manage to place in Irish point-to-points and showed improved form last time out over hurdles and he looks a safer option for win purposes here. One Style will need to settle better to have a chance while Zamparelli looks one to keep an eye on in the market on his second run back from wind surgery although he may need further.