16:30 Cheltenham

Friday 21 October 2022

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Andrew Malam Lifetime In Racing Award Winner Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 6m 40.4s

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Selected odds by:

Old Town Garde^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R James⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 124

20/1

Point/hurdles winner who posted arguably his best effort yet over fences when runner-up at Gowran (2½m, good to soft) last time. However, he'll need to improve, particularly in the jumping department, in order to play a leading role in this competitive contest.

Form: 5-45372

The Newest One²²²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 124

12/1

Winner of novice handicap chases at Newton Abbot and Doncaster (both on good to soft) last season. Stamina seemingly stretched upped to 29.2f at Warwick when last seen in March and dropping back in trip here will help but he's unproven on ground this fast.

Form: 512144-

On Springs^b⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 123

10/1

Not entirely straightforward but thrived during the summer, winning 4 of his 5 starts after returning from a break in June. 8 lb rise for latest success at Newton Abbot (21f, good to firm) asks a question but definite chance if his stamina holds out.

Form: 4-12111

Anightinlambourn²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: B Pauling| OR: 121

16/1

Has taken sizeable steps forward the last twice, landing a brace of handicap chases over 2½m at Worcester (good/good to soft). Yet to conclusively prove she stays this trip and untried on ground this fast but she's of strong interest all the same.

Form: U3-4711

Marracudja^t¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Heidi Palin⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 120| C

66/1

Won a weak Fontwell handicap chase and Leicester hunter last season. Recent reappearance at Warwick was low-key but dangerous to completely discount having slipped to an attractive mark.

Form: 7319-45

Nick Lost^p⁵³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Harvey| T: J C McConnell| OR: 120

20/1

Fairly useful at his best for Henry de Bromhead but largely struggled in various race-types since and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 24-3465

Centurion Steel^p,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 117

20/1

Winning start over fences at Tramore last June and has made the frame on several occasions since, including when fourth of 17 at Listowel (3m, good) last time. By no means handicapped out of things but extra 1f round here may stretch his stamina to the limit.

Form: 3-7U724

Huntsmans Jog^v²⁰²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 117

12/1

Fairly useful hurdler who has yet to score over fences but was a fine third of 17 off 2 lb higher in a competitive Exeter handicap chase (24.2f, soft) last winter. Both subsequent efforts have been poor, though, and he needs to bounce back.

Form: 222336-

Jimmy The Digger¹⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 115| BF

11/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who opened his account over fences at Uttoxeter in July 2021. Hasn't done a great deal wrong since but clear career best needed here back from a 6-month break.

Form: 133522-

Go On Chez⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Andrews| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 114| BF| D

6/1

Won first 5 starts over fences and would've pushed the winner close but for an uncharacteristic late mistake at Bangor in August. Departed at around the midway point, albeit through not fault of his own, at Kempton on Sunday and he's one to consider for in-form yard.

Form: 1-1132F

Bermeo^p,t¹⁸⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Miss A B O'Connor| T: H Fry| OR: 114| BF| CD

8/1

Capitalised on the handicapper's mercy when making a winning debut for Harry Fry at Newbury (23.4f, good) in April. Bombed out at Fakenham later that month, as he did in this race 12 months ago, but he landed the 2020 renewal and will be a danger to all if on-song following a break.

Form: 3/PU41P-

Super Citizen^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr C J Shine⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 114

12/1

Bagged a big-field handicap chase at Leopardstown (21.4f, good to soft) in March. Below par back from a break at Listowel last month but he's 2 lb lower than when sixth in this race last year and is certainly not without each-way hope.

Form: 130-345

Jony Max^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr P A King| T: Christian Williams| OR: 113

14/1

Notched third success in this sphere at Newton Abbot (25.8f, good to soft) in July but put in his place off this mark over the same C&D later that month. No real impact over hurdles the last twice and yard, which saddled the winner of this last year, fields a stronger candidate in Powerful Position.

Form: 221244

Powerful Position^p,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 113

5/1

Four-time winner over fences last season and clear of the rest when just touched off at Carlisle in March. May have needed the run when second in a 3-runner affair at Chepstow (23.6f, good) recently and he's a player for last year's winning stable.

Form: F1112-2

Light Flicker^p²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr T Power Roche⁽⁷⁾| T: R Potter| OR: 112

28/1

Enjoyed a productive campaign last season, winning 3 handicap chases at up to 26.9f. Perhaps best not to read too much into reappearance spin over hurdles (looked rusty following a 5-month break) but others preferred all the same.

Form: 15P21-7

Ask Cory^b⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Joshua Newman| T: K Woollacott| OR: 110

40/1

Some decent form to his name for Henry de Bromhead in Ireland but he's not the most fluent of jumpers and was well held on debut for new yard when last seen in July.

Form: 600-346

Madera Mist^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr James King| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 110| C

18/1

Wasn't disgraced when ninth in this race 12 months ago and looked better than ever when running away with a mares' handicap chase (3¼m, good) back here in April. No show on return over hurdles at Bangor but should be sharper now and she's an each-way player.

Form: 2/2931-7

Earths Furies^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Mr Alan O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 103

18/1

Successful in this sphere and over hurdles at Limerick last winter but ended last season on a downer and recent reappearance at Punchestown (23.9f, good) was no more than fair.

Form: 5100-95

Cardboard Gangster^p³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Mrs Izzie Hill⁽⁷⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 95

18/1

Landed gamble in handicap chases at Perth and Stratford during the summer. Left with too much to do at Kelso last time, so that run can be overlooked, but it's unlikely that he will be equal to this task in any case.

Form: 412153

Fiston Du Mou^p,t¹⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 91| BF

50/1

Looked a different proposition for new stable when scoring at Perth in May but latest effort there in July was poor and he's 7 lb 'wrong' at the weights here.

Form: 00-3124

Forecasts

Powerful Position (5/1), Go On Chez (6/1), Bermeo (8/1), On Springs (10/1), Jimmy The Digger (11/1), The Newest One (12/1), Super Citizen (12/1), Huntsmans Jog (12/1), Jony Max (14/1), Anightinlambourn (16/1), Cardboard Gangster (18/1), Madera Mist (18/1), Earths Furies (18/1), Nick Lost (20/1), Centurion Steel (20/1), Old Town Garde (20/1), Light Flicker (28/1), Ask Cory (40/1), Fiston Du Mou (50/1), Marracudja (66/1)

If the BERMEO who landed this race in 2020 turns up, rather than one who failed to fire when bidding for a repeat 12 months ago, he will have every chance. The 11-y-o looked good when making a winning start for this yard at Newbury in April and connections have secured the services of a very capable amateur. Go On Chez is feared most but cases can also be readily made for the Ben Pauling-trained duo, Anightinlambourn and On Springs, while Powerful Position is also shortlisted.