Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 23.9s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Casa Loupi³²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 111

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler back in 2021 and returned from a long absence with a promising display on the Flat at Nottingham in May. However, has run poorly all three starts back over hurdles since. Lots to prove now going chasing.

Form: 116/P40

Clonakilty^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 109

2/1

Scored over hurdles at Uttoxeter last season and shaped well on the back of a wind op with tongue tie added when third of 7 in handicap chase at Leicester (15.9f, heavy) 34 days ago. Must enter calculations.

Form: 143F-43

Couldbeaweapon³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 106

6/1

Fair winner at 16f over hurdles who came in a good third of 4 in handicap chase at Taunton (16f, soft) 36 days ago, despite going in snatches. Up in trip and in the picture on just his third go in this sphere.

Form: 2235-U3

Kingofthewest^p,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 106

5/1

Dual winner over hurdles who got off the mark over fences in 9-runner handicap chase (7/2) at Chepstow (19.4f, heavy) 20 days ago. Merits serious consideration despite a 3 lb rise.

Form: B3-4341

Sherborne^t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 105| C| D

8/1

Won twice over hurdles and confirmed the promise of previous starts in this sphere when winning 2m4f handicap chase at Wincanton. Pulled up at Exeter since so needs to bounce back.

Form: 14241P

Tea And Chats²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 105

4/1

From a good jumps family and fair form when placed twice in novice hurdle. Only ninth of 11 in handicap hurdle at this course (19.5f, good to soft) 23 days ago but no surprise to see him step forward on his chase debut.

Form: 4725-39

Grizzly James³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 98

7/1

Fairly useful ex-French hurdles winner who scored over fences at Hereford last spring. Got back on track when third of 10 in handicap chase at Plumpton (19.8f, good to soft) 37 days ago. Player off the same mark.

Form: 5P1F-P3

Forecasts

Clonakilty (2/1), Tea And Chats (4/1), Kingofthewest (5/1), Couldbeaweapon (6/1), Grizzly James (7/1), Sherborne (8/1), Casa Loupi (14/1)

KINGOFTHEWEST opened his chasing account at Chepstow last time and a 3 lb rise doesn't look sufficient to prevent another bold showing from David Pipe's 8-y-o. Plumpton third Grizzly James is also weighted to have a big say, with the unexposed Clonakilty another who commands plenty of respect.