16:50 Cheltenham

Friday 22 October 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Andy Stewart Memorial Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 6m 30.61s

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Selected odds by:

Redford Road²¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 127| C

11/2

Winner of a Grade 2 novice hurdle here a couple of seasons back. Failed to build on encouraging chase debut last term, but dangerous to discount given that he resumes on a potentially handy mark.

Form: 38374P-

Boughtbeforelunch^b¹¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: P R Webber| OR: 121| BF

16/1

Consistent chaser who deservedly got his head back in front when landing a 26f Ludlow handicap in May. Runner-up both starts since, but this demands a clear career-best.

Form: 23-6122

Ballyegan Hero¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Luke Scott⁽⁷⁾| T: P Henderson| OR: 119

66/1

Dual winner in this sphere earlier in the year and also successful over hurdles in September. However, he was below par back chasing off this mark at Newton Abbot recently.

Form: 616214

Bermeo^b,t¹⁹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss A B O'Connor| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 117| CD

28/1

Good strike rate over fences and saw off Boughtbeforelunch and 11 others when landing this race last year. However, 13 lb higher mark to overcome this time round on debut for new yard.

Form: 2P4833-

Petite Power¹⁴⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: F O'Brien| OR: 117| CD

16/1

Winner of this race for Fergal O'Brien in 2019, but majority of last season's efforts were below par (trained by Dai Burchell for last 3 starts) and needs to bounce back having rejoined O'Brien.

Form: 7PP2-87

First Class Return^p,t¹⁹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 117| BF

50/1

Clear-cut winner of back-to-back 24.3f handicap chases at Southwell in March. Came unstuck when bidding for the hat-trick there on final start of last term, though, and others look better treated.

Form: 922114-

Super Citizen^p¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Maxine O'Sullivan| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 116

18/1

Irish raider who opened chase account in a 14-runner Leopardstown handicap in March. Creditable fourth of 16 recently at Punchestown, but improvement needed off present mark.

Form: 9-F0074

Debden Bank^p¹⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr James King| T: M Keighley| OR: 116WS

5/1

Has left hurdles form behind since switched to fences, completing the hat-trick in good style at Southwell (24.3f) when last seen in July (since undergone a wind op). Remains open to improvement.

Form: 96/31-11

Elan De Balme^p,t¹⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 116WS

25/1

Successful twice over fences for Francois Nicolle in France and runner-up on a couple of occasions for new yard last season. Since undergone another wind op and needs to take a step forward here.

Form: 77/32-82

Jean Genie^p,t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 115

16/1

Yet to win a race of any description, but more good efforts than bad ones since switched to fences, not least when third on recent reappearance at Chepstow (23.6f). Each-way shout off the same mark.

Form: 22533-3

Carnet De Stage¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽³⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 114

12/1

Finally off the mark with an emphatic success in a 23.5f Downpatrick handicap chase 2 weeks ago. This mark demands another personal best, but he needs considering all the same.

Form: 84F241

Len Brennan¹⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Jack Andrews| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 114

25/1

Winning hurdler who has been placed on 5 of his 7 starts over fences, including when runner-up back from a lengthy absence at Uttoxeter (23.3f) in July. Place possibilities.

Form: 23134/2

Defuture Is Bright^p¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr R James⁽⁵⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 114

6/1

Progressive over fences last season, winning twice, and it was no surprise whatsoever that he struggled against some smart sorts on recent return at Newton Abbot (21f). Not without hope.

Form: 61212-3

Fact Of The Matter^b,t³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: William Featherstone⁽⁷⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 111| BF| CD

20/1

Five-time winner in this sphere, but most recent of those victories was gained on the cross-country course here back in December 2018. Others make greater appeal.

Form: 4-73432

Strictlyadancer¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr P A King| T: Christian Williams| OR: 110

7/1

Ended last term on a rather disappointing note, but there were positives aplenty to glean from his recent reappearance fifth at Chepstow (23.6f), shaping better than the bare result. One to consider.

Form: 1234-85

Furius De Ciergues^p,t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr J W Hendrick⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 107

10/1

Dual chase winner earlier this year and has gone close on 2 of his last 3 starts, most recently back over hurdles at Bangor (23f). However, needs to find extra if he's to play a leading role here.

Form: 31-2232

Madera Mist^t¹⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 104| C

14/1

Much improved when opening Rules account in a mares' handicap chase here (20.6f) last December. Ended that campaign by finishing a creditable second at Uttoxeter, but looks vulnerable all the same.

Form: 3/5132-2

Non-Runners

Marquis Of Carabas⁹⁰⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 11

T: F O'Brien J: Mr Derek O'Connor

Forecasts

Debden Bank (5/1), Redford Road (11/2), Defuture Is Bright (6/1), Marquis Of Carabas (6/1), Strictlyadancer (7/1), Furius De Ciergues (10/1), Carnet De Stage (12/1), Madera Mist (14/1), Jean Genie (16/1), Petite Power (16/1), Boughtbeforelunch (16/1), Super Citizen (18/1), Fact Of The Matter (20/1), Len Brennan (25/1), Elan De Balme (25/1), Bermeo (28/1), First Class Return (50/1), Ballyegan Hero (66/1)

STRICTLYADANCER was broadly progressive in this sphere last season and he is appealing on the back of an encouraging reappearance at Chepstow a fortnight ago. There are dangers aplenty, headed by the long-absent Marquis of Carabas, for whom market confidence would look significant all things considered. The upwardly-mobile Debden Bank, Carnet de Stage and Redford Road are also shortlisted.