bet365 Oaksey Chase (Grade 2) (For The Menorah Challenge Trophy)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 39.16s

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Selected odds by:

Charbel^p⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 159

4/1

In fine fettle earlier on in the season, beaten narrowly by Politologue at Ascot (2m5f) before winning the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon by 8L; highly tried since (has struggled); ideally needs good to soft ground.

Form: 12135P

Go Conquer^t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 156

7/1

Fluent fencing front-runner who has enjoyed plenty of big race success in the past, including when dominant in the Grade 3 Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot in November 2017; 6L Listed winner on his penultimate start (Doncaster).

Form: 58-321P

Gold Present¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152

10/1

Without a win since late 2017 when beating none other than Frodon (not such a force back then) by 3L in the Listed Lavazza Silver Cup (3m Ascot); second, but back-peddling when falling at Ayr recently; stablemate of Josses Hill.

Form: 1PP-39F

San Benedeto^p,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 154

5/1

Stablemate of Black Corton; 7-24 over fences, albeit many of those wins came during his Gr.1 winning novice campaign in 2016/17; Gr.3 Newbury scorer (penultimate) before negotiating a safe passage in the Topham at Aintree (seventh of 27).

Form: 346017

Black Corton^t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 156| BF| D

15/8

Stablemate of San Benedeto; reunited with the returning Bryony Frost; well suited by racing on a sound surface and very much the nearly horse this season, finishing runner-up on four occasions; closely matched with Charbel and Definitly Red; player.

Form: 4-2P222

Cobra De Mai^p,t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 153

9/2

Best on a sound surface, so will revel in these conditions; strictly speaking has plenty of work to do at the weights on the book, but lines-up having won two of his last three starts (2m4f-3m2f); stable flying.

Form: 4P7151

Josses Hill^p²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 148

25/1

Stablemate of Gold Present; finished tired when beaten 20+L by Menorah in this race in 2017 and hasn't won anywhere since late 2016; has a couple of recent non-completions on his CV; simply making up the numbers nowadays?

Form: 4P-04FU

Non-Runners

Definitly Red⁴³

Weight: 11-6| Age: 10

T: B Ellison J: Danny Cook

Forecasts

Black Corton (15/8), Definitly Red (10/3), Charbel (4/1), Cobra De Mai (9/2), San Benedeto (5/1), Go Conquer (7/1), Gold Present (10/1), Josses Hill (25/1)

A tricky looking Grade 2 contest in which no strong opinion is formed. Cobra De Mai will appreciate the underfoot conditions and represents the man of the moment Dan Skelton, so although he has plenty to find at these weights it wouldn't come as a complete surprise if he proves good enough. Definitly Red had the measure of BLACK CORTON when winning the Charlie Hall at Wetherby in November, but with things having not gone exactly to plan for the northern based raider since, we'll chance that the Paul Nicholls-trained 8yo can reverse those placings with one of jumps racing's finest ambassadors Bryony Frost returning to the saddle from injury.