14:55 Cheltenham

Friday 11 November 2022

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Glenfarclas Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 5m 6.42s

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Selected odds by:

Elegant Escape^b,t²²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 143

7/1

Welsh National winner in 2018. Proved he retains a useful level of ability when ending last term with success in a veterans' event at Ascot (23.8f) in March, rallying well. Only 3 lb higher now but this trip looks on the short side on return.

Form: 7P3PU1-

Ballyandy⁵¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 142| C| D

5/2

Capitalised on reduced mark to land back-to-back staying handicap hurdle contests earlier this year and he ran well from lower mark back over fences on return at Perth (23.8f) in September. One to consider back down in trip provided his jumping continues to hold up.

Form: 52110-3

Broken Quest^p,t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: David Dennis| OR: 138| D

14/1

Better than ever this spring, rattling off a quick-fire hat-trick in decisive fashion at Market Rasen (23.8f) in May. Good second at Perth in June and likely he needed last month's return to action at Chepstow. Still, this mark demands more.

Form: 411-125

Kauto Riko^p,t¹⁶⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: T R Gretton| OR: 137

6/1

Went winless last term but he did run well on back of a wind op when third in 9-runner veterans' event at Fakenham (3m) in April. Unseated 3 out when last seen at Cartmel in May but he has gone well fresh in the past. Cheekpieces replace blinkers.

Form: 2P453-U

Native Robin^p,t²³⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 131| D

18/1

Better than ever last season, gaining fourth success of the campaign at Wincanton (20f, soft) in February, edging ahead home turn and battling well. Creditable fourth in stronger company at Kempton (20.5f) final outing and he makes seasonal bow with yard in good nick.

Form: 131114-

Magic Dancer^p,t²⁰⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 125| C| D

7/2

Fairly useful hurdler who impressed when making winning return/chase debut at Worcester (16.5f) last autumn. Something of a mixed bag followed but back to winning ways from easing mark at Ludlow (20f) final start in April. Not out of things from 5 lb higher.

Form: 235321-

Saint Xavier^t,v¹⁷³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 123| D

6/1

10-y-o who dispelled lesser effort when runner-up in veterans' handicap at Newbury (26f) in March. Well below that level both starts in France thereafter but wouldn't be the first from this yard this term to revive following a break.

Form: 64426-6

My Manekineko⁵³

Age: 13| Weight: 10-5| J: Gearoid Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: P McCreery| OR: 120

28/1

Likeable type who added to his tally at Navan (3m) in March and shaped best having been set plenty do when second in veterans handicap in April. In frame on last 2 starts over hurdles and has since joined another new yard ahead of this return to chasing.

Form: 2-35824

Another Emotion^b²³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 116| D

11/1

Dual chase winner (at around 3m) during 2021 who left opening pair of efforts in his wake last season when second at Hereford (25f) in February. However, not in anything like the same form over marathon trip at Hexham (31.9f) in March.

Form: 21/P72P-

Forecasts

Ballyandy (5/2), Magic Dancer (7/2), Saint Xavier (6/1), Kauto Riko (6/1), Elegant Escape (7/1), Another Emotion (11/1), Broken Quest (14/1), Native Robin (18/1), My Manekineko (28/1)

Twice a winner over hurdles last term, BALLYANDY jumped better than previously in this sphere in a race that looks solid enough form for the grade when third at Perth in September and he earns the vote to come out on top dropped back in trip. Magic Dancer bookended last term with victories over fences and he's fancied to feature on his return, along with Kauto Riko who has gone well fresh in the past.