15:00 Ayr

Wednesday 1 February 2023

All12:4513:1713:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 56.26s

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Selected odds by:

Uncle Alastair^p1⁶⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 127| C

8/1

Bumper/multiple hurdles winner who, after 7 months off, finished runner-up for the fourth time in 6 starts over fences at Carlisle (24.5f) in November. Headgear goes on and he can give another good account.

Form: 23/225-2

Clan Legend^t³³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-13| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N W Alexander| OR: 124| C| D

18/1

Likeable veteran who made a creditable reappearance when runner-up at Ayr (24.1f) in November. Hasn't been competitive on either outing since, though, and he's probably vulnerable to less-exposed sorts again.

Form: 142-29P

Calipso Collonges^p,t³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 124| D

12/1

Chased home well-treated pair in veterans' event on return and was far from discredited when fifth of 15 in handicap chase at Market Rasen (27.6f, good to soft) 37 days ago. Consistent sort holds frame claims again.

Form: 4/133-35

Dubai Days^h²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 123| C

6/1

Won trio of small-field handicap chases last term and ran his best race of this season when third of 9 at Newcastle (20.1f, soft) 25 days ago, travelling smoothly for long way. Could be building up to something and is respected.

Form: U11-553

Grand Voyage³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 122| C

5/1

Progressive, dual winner over hurdles who improved to make second chase start a winning one at Ayr (20.5f) in November. Good efforts in defeat both starts since (stamina stretched at Kelso) and he's expected to be bang there.

Form: 11-2134

Donna's Double³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 121| C

3/1

Confirmed promise of chase debut when the getting better of High Moon to land a 6-runner handicap here (20.5f, heavy, 10/3) 30 days ago. This race looks to contain more depth but he's open to progress.

Form: 8126-31

High Moon³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 118

13/2

Fairly useful hurdles winner has at least matched that form when placed both starts over fences so far, latterly finishing 3¼ lengths behind Donna's Double at this course (20.5f, heavy, 7/1) 30 days ago. Probably needs to find some improvement to score here.

Form: 118-732

Readysteadybeau³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 110

7/2

Fair winner at 24f over hurdles but hasn't kicked on from a promising chase debut here, no sharper for the fitting of cheekpieces when fifth of 9 in handicap chase at Kelso (22.3f, heavy, 10/1) 34 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 12P-345

Forecasts

Donna's Double (3/1), Readysteadybeau (7/2), Grand Voyage (5/1), Dubai Days (6/1), High Moon (13/2), Uncle Alastair (8/1), Calipso Collonges (12/1), Clan Legend (18/1)

GRAND VOYAGE scored here in November and appeals as still being on a fair mark kept to mid-range trips, so he is taken to notch his second win over fences. Dubai Days has been working himself back to form and has dropped back to his last winning mark, while Donna's Double remains open to improvement on the back of his recent course success.