17:30 Cheltenham

Thursday 17 March 2022

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (Sponsored By The JRL Group) (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 6m 55.29s

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Selected odds by:

Frontal Assault^p⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr R James⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 145

6/1

Allotted his handicap mark over fences based on 3 starts at up to 21.5f and leaves the firm impression he'll have more to offer in this sphere now stepping up to 3m+. Obvious claims.

Form: 018-342

Fakir D'alene^b³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Harry Swan⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 144

33/1

Disappointed in a valuable handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival but he'd looked progressive when winning a maiden and handicap prior to that. No surprise to see him bounce back.

Form: 732117

Ain't That A Shame⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Harvey⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 144| BF

6/1

Maiden hurdle winner last season and better form (smart) when placed on all 3 starts in maiden chases this term. Good chance there's more to come now handicapping. High on the shortlist.

Form: 531-322

Cat Tiger^t⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142

25/1

Classy chaser who recorded a career best when edging ahead late on in 3m Ascot handicap in January. 6 lb rise means another career best will be needed if he's to follow up.

Form: 13-2521

School Boy Hours⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: N Meade| OR: 142

5/1

Finally put it all together and got off the mark over fences on return at Christmas, landing red-hot 28-runner 3m Punchestown handicap from Ben Dundee, jumping better. Clearly dangerous.

Form: 42436-1

Elegant Escape^b³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁷⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 140| BF

50/1

Welsh National winner in 2018. Proved he retains a useful level of ability when third at Taunton in January but pulled up in a veterans' event at Exeter since.

Form: P0/7P3P

Smoking Gun^b,t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

14/1

Landed a nice prize at Fairyhouse in November and bounced back from a poor run in the Thyestes when third back at Fairyhouse last month.

Form: 4-6F1P3

Mister Fogpatches⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: P A Fahy| OR: 140

9/1

Punchestown winner last spring. Another solid effort in a competitive handicap when third of 18 in the Thyestes at Gowran last time. Should give another good account.

Form: 1-43323

Almazhar Garde^b1,t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 139

66/1

Profile is starting to look rather patchy, but he's capable when on-song, including chasing home Omar Maretti at Catterick (25f) latest. Well held in this last year. Blinkers replace cheekpieces.

Form: 662722

Mister Coffey⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137

5/1

Progressed into useful hurdler last term. Similar form in 3 chases at up to 2½m this winter (well-held second in Grade 1 latest). Still has room for improvement in jumping but interesting up in trip.

Form: 374-322

Mindsmadeup¹²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr F Maguire| T: M J Smith| OR: 137

66/1

Resumed winning ways back chasing at Down Royal in October and bettered that when second of 13 over 25f here in November. That form has worked out well but he is 7 lb higher back from a break.

Form: 543512

Come On Teddy⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr William Biddick| T: T R George| OR: 137| C

9/1

Useful staying handicap hurdler who made perfect start over fences at Uttoxeter (2½m) in December. Pulled up in Grade 2 Dipper here on New Year's Day but back on track when second at Newcastle since.

Form: 336-152

Omar Maretti³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr D Peters⁽³⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 137

9/1

Dual point winner with an impressive 4-5 record under Rules, winning small-field handicap chases around 3m on his last 2 starts. Up 5 lb in a more competitive scenario but is unexposed.

Form: 2/11-211

Mint Condition^p1²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: J Candlish| OR: 136

33/1

Three-time hurdle winner and Haydock win in December shows he's equally as good over fences. However, he did run poorly when pitched into a competitive handicap last time. Cheekpieces go on now.

Form: 2-8214P

Glenloe⁶⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: G Elliott| OR: 134| BF

14/1

Close second in Pertemps Hurdle at 2018 Festival. Only respectable third when warm favourite for 23f Punchestown handicap chase under Derek O'Connor in January but still no surprise if he goes well.

Form: 534/743

Chambard¹¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 129

40/1

Hans't finished out of the first 3 in 5 outings this term, gaining a third win in 3-runner affair at Huntingdon 11 days ago. 5 lb penalty in a much deeper race now.

Form: 6-12211

Larry^p,t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Freddie Mitchell| T: G & J Moore| OR: 133

50/1

Looked as good as ever when landing Ascot Grade 3 handicap in October. Not so good since, but only 1 lb above that winning mark.

Form: 8-U1635

Rightplacerightime¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss Maxine O'Sullivan| T: E Mullins| OR: 130| BF

18/1

Won 3m Fairyhouse maiden in November. Good second in handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. Let down by jumping in chase there last time but yard's runners here always respected.

Form: 416246

Powerstown Park^t⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: S Thomas| OR: 130

50/1

Quickly resumed progress when notching a second win of the season at Hereford 45 days ago. A lot to like about how he did things on that occasion and should remain very competitive after a 6 lb rise.

Form: 4-U51P1

Didero Vallis^b1⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr James King| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 127

66/1

Useful chaser who ran well when second in handicap at Ludlow (3m) in December but hasn't fired since, including at Sandown last week. Blinkered first time.

Form: 628484

Non-Runners

Janika⁴⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: N J Henderson J: Ben Bromley

Lord Accord²²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: N P Mulholland J: Mr J W Hendrick

The Mighty Don⁷⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 10

T: N J Gifford J: Non Runner

Rocco⁴⁷

Weight: 11-1| Age: 9

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Mr Zac Baker

Red Infantry¹⁰³

Weight: 10-10| Age: 12

T: Ian Williams J: Tristan Durrell

Forecasts

Mister Coffey (5/1), School Boy Hours (5/1), Ain't That A Shame (6/1), Frontal Assault (6/1), Mister Fogpatches (9/1), Omar Maretti (9/1), Come On Teddy (9/1), Smoking Gun (14/1), Glenloe (14/1), Rightplacerightime (18/1), Cat Tiger (25/1), Lord Accord (25/1), Fakir D'alene (33/1), Mint Condition (33/1), Janika (33/1), Chambard (40/1), Powerstown Park (50/1), The Mighty Don (50/1), Larry (50/1), Elegant Escape (50/1), Red Infantry (50/1), Rocco (50/1), Didero Vallis (66/1), Almazhar Garde (66/1), Mindsmadeup (66/1)

The Elliott stable has a good record in this and FRONTAL ASSAULT has very much the right profile having got his mark from 3 runs over shorter trips whilst leaving the impression this sort of stamina test will very much play to his strengths. Fellow handicap newcomer Ain't That A Shame is feared most. School Boy Hours and Smoking Gun complete the shortlist in what could be an Irish domination.