14:40 Cheltenham

Wednesday 19 April 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Gloucester Brewery Holman Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 7m 24.65s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Almazhar Garde^p,t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: B Roberts⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 125

9/1

Stepped up on previous efforts this term when fourth in 25f Hereford handicap in January and confirmed he's back in better form when second in Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown since. His sometimes iffy jumping is a bit of a worry in a big-field race around here, though.

Form:

Tip Top Cat⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 124

10/1

Completed a hat-trick over hurdles last winter and left previous chasing form behind when scoring at Uttoxeter (3¼m) in January. Struggled for pace over 3m on quickish ground at Newbury since but there's nothing wrong with the Uttoxeter form and he's much respected now stepping back up in trip.

Form:

Innisfree Lad^v²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: David Dennis| OR: 123

25/1

Third in last year's Eider and back to form from much-reduced mark when landing weak conditional jockeys' veterans' handicap at Hereford in February. Respectable efforts since but might prove vulnerable in this more competitive scenario.

Form:

Copperhead^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 122

11/1

Grade 2 novice chase winner in early-2020. His career has been rather disappointing since, giving no indication he's in good enough form to take advantage of his falling mark when remote fifth at Exeter last month.

Form:

Potters Legend^p²⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 11-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 122

25/1

Not the force of old. Has made the frame 3 times this season but he was in the process of running below form when falling 4 out at Newbury last time.

Form:

Coup De Pinceau^b³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: S Hosie| OR: 122| C| D

33/1

Winner of a 4m course hunter last April. Fared about as well as could be expected in the face of a stiff task when seventh of 16 in cross-country chase at the Festival here last month. On a competitive mark back over regulation fences.

Form:

Max Dynamo^h,t³²

Age: 13| Weight: 11-9| J: Harrison Beswick⁽³⁾| T: Mrs E Bishop| OR: 120

11/1

Veteran with a good strike rate over fences, easily bagging a 3¼m handicap at Chepstow on his reappearance in February. Faced stiff task from out of handicap and ran well for long way in Midlands National since, suggesting he's still very much in form. One to consider back off proper mark.

Form:

Young Bull^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 120

12/1

Yet to add to his 3 hurdling wins (in 2019) in this sphere. Returned from 10 months off with a creditable third at Haydock in December but jumped poorly when a remote fourth over a marathon trip at Exeter since.

Form:

Valleres²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120

9/1

Irish point winner who was having only his second outing for this stable when coming good over fences in 3m Ffos Las handicap (heavy) 28 days ago. Could play a part if his stamina holds now moving up in trip.

Form:

Checkitout^v²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 118| D

20/1

Scored over this trip at Fontwell at the beginning of 2022. Below that level since but placed efforts the last twice show he's back down to a mark he can be competitive from.

Form:

Wake Up Early^v1²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 117| D

9/1

Bright start for this yard last spring, winning twice, and back on the up when scoring at Sedgefield (27f) last month, outbattling the runner up. First-time visor replaces regular cheekpieces now. Likely to remain very competitive after a 2 lb nudge.

Form:

Gwencily Berbas^b²⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 117

18/1

Isn't the force of old but proved up to taking advantage of a falling mark in the Devon National at Exeter in February. Respectable third on both starts since.

Form:

Didero Vallis^b³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr James King⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 115

28/1

Useful chaser at his best. Creditable third on his first 2 completed starts this term but has lost his way since, pulling up in the Kim Muir here last month. Starting to look well handicapped but he has too much to prove at present.

Form:

No Cruise Yet^p,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 115| D

17/2

Really likeable staying chaser who dug deep to win over this trip at Haydock in November. Good placed efforts in North Wales National at Bangor and Eider at Newcastle on next 2 starts and the type to bounce back from a rare poor run last time.

Form:

Blame The Game^p⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 114| BF

11/1

Three handicap chase wins this season. Also went close at Plumpton in January and shaped as if still in form back there since (third when unseated last).

Form:

Bermeo^b,t²³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-13| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 110| C

22/1

Made a winning start for the Harry Fry stable at Newbury (3m, good) last season but he hasn't gone on from that, his latest Warwick fifth his first completion since. Cheekpieces off, blinkers back on. Others are more obvious.

Form:

Ballinslea Bridge¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H Dickin| OR: 109

33/1

Snapped a long losing run at Market Rasen (3m, soft) in December. Creditable second at Wincanton (25f) last month and going well when falling 5 out at Haydock since.

Form:

To Be Sure¹⁰^{(ex 7)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 100

16/1

Back to form a little out of the blue when taking advantage of his reduced mark at Ffos Las (3m, soft) 10 days ago. Shouldered with a 7 lb penalty in a much stronger race now.

Form:

Bretney^b²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: H D Daly| OR: 104

12/1

Showed benefit of reappearance when scoring at Hereford in November and took his form up a notch tackling a marathon trip for the first time/sporting first-time blinkers when beating No Cruise Yet to win North Wales National at Bangor in February. The headgear didn't work at Carlisle since, though.

Form:

Madera Mist^t⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 102| C

14/1

Ended last season with a win here but well beaten on all 4 outings this time round. Did run better than previously this term when 25 lengths fourth of 7 at Lingfield last time but a good bit more will be needed here.

Form:

Forecasts

No Cruise Yet (17/2), Wake Up Early (9/1), Almazhar Garde (9/1), Valleres (9/1), Tip Top Cat (10/1), Blame The Game (11/1), Copperhead (11/1), Max Dynamo (11/1), Young Bull (12/1), Bretney (12/1), Madera Mist (14/1), To Be Sure (16/1), Gwencily Berbas (18/1), Checkitout (20/1), Bermeo (22/1), Innisfree Lad (25/1), Potters Legend (25/1), Didero Vallis (28/1), Ballinslea Bridge (33/1), Coup De Pinceau (33/1)

TIP TOP CAT might have found 3m on quickish ground a bit sharp last time. There's nothing wrong with the form of his 3¼m Uttoxeter win prior to that and he's taken to bounce back now faced with an increased stamina test against largely more exposed opposition. Max Dynamo ran well for a long way from out of the weights in the Midlands National and heads the dangers along with last-time-out Sedgefield winner Wake Up Early and Sam England's No Cruise Yet.