15:15 Cheltenham

Wednesday 17 April 2024

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

Gloucester Brewery Holman Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 7m 20.47s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Coeur Serein^p¹³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122

22/1

Now 18 lb below the mark off which he landed a 3-runner Newbury handicap chase in February 2023, but largely struggled since and he needs to bounce back in a major way on his return from 4 months off.

Form: 5-F7U0P

Organdi¹¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 122

66/1

Veteran mare who took advantage of a good opportunity at Fontwell in September. Respectable seventh in Lincolnshire National at market Rasen when last seen on Boxing Day.

Form: 0471P7

Hymac^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 120

11/2

Still low mileage for his age and placed in handicaps at Taunton (23f, good to soft) and Uttoxeter (2½m, heavy) on his last 2 starts. Very much unexposed granted this sort of stamina test.

Form: 1/32-P32

Enqarde^t⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 120

40/1

Back to form after another wind operation when making a successful reappearance at Warwick (25.5f, heavy) in November but has operated below that level on his 3 runs since. Only a return to his best will suffice.

Form: 7P-15P3

Midnight Our Fred^t¹²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: D E Mullins| T: J P Flavin| OR: 119

11/2

Irish raider who was runner-up twice in course handicap chases towards the end of 2023. Claims if returning from a short break in similar form.

Form: 165022

Northern Poet³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 118

28/1

Recorded a hat-trick switched to fences in the second half of last season. The current campaign has yet to get going but he did perform better than on reappearance when fifth of 8 over 3m at Kempton last month. Needs to build on that now.

Form: 4111-P5

Blade Runner^p⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 118| D

20/1

Made it 5 wins from his first 6 starts over fences when taking staying handicaps at Chepstow and Plumpton in the autumn. Never going in the Welsh National back at Chepstow just after Christmas and freshened up since.

Form: 11PPP3

Peejaybee²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 116| BF

15/2

Successful 3 times over hurdles and opened his account in this sphere on just his second run for current yard in 5-runner handicap at Doncaster (3m, soft) in March. Creditable third of 8 at Newbury (22.5f) since. Up in trip.

Form: 67-4413

Bretney^p³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 116

16/1

A dual scorer last term who arrives in decent nick, resuming winning ways in 9-runner handicap chase at Sandown (3m, good to soft) in February and even better form when narrowly denied at Warwick (29f, heavy) in March. Respected.

Form: P-32312

Dee Star^p,t¹⁷⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: K Brogan| T: G Hanmer| OR: 114

100/1

Won veterans' chase at Cartmel last May and another good effort there when runner-up in August. Disappointed over hurdles at Bangor and fences at Sedgefield in October and freshened up since. Might find this a bit too competitive for his liking.

Form: 15P2P6

Whydah Gally^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 114

28/1

Unreliable type who doubled his tally for the season when grinding it out from the front at Lingfield (29f, soft) in February. Not in the same form when remote fourth of 6 to reopposing Stellar Season at Bangor since.

Form: 3-16414

Didero Vallis^b¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 112

80/1

Unreliable type who's on a long losing run. Pulled up on his last 2 starts and can only be watched.

Form: 39P2PP

Betterforeveryone^v⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 112

9/1

Fair hurdler who has some found over fences since fitted with a visor, finishing second then first at Doncaster in January/February. Claims if the headgear continues to work.

Form: F6-3F21

Stellar Stream^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 110| BF

13/2

Point/hurdles winner who gained a deserved breakthrough success over fences (in first-time cheekpieces) in the North Wales National at Bangor (29.5f, heavy) last month. In front when unseating 2 out over at Ffos Las (3½m) 17 days ago and only 1 lb higher here.

Form: 42831U

Haston Clermont⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: Noel Williams| OR: 110

7/2

Progressive over fences, making it 3 wins in his last 4 starts when seeing off 5 rivals at Catterick (25f, soft) 6 weeks ago. Idled in front on that occasion and leaves the impression there's more in the locker, particularly now stepping up in trip.

Form: 5-61121

Gingerbred²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 106| BF

9/1

Off the mark over fences in handicap at Ffos Las (3m, heavy) in February, form which is proving strong. Good runner-up efforts at Wincanton and Exeter since. No reason why he won't give his running again.

Form: 564122

Non-Runners

Animal⁶²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: Miss S Smith J: G Sheehan

Planned Paradise⁶⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: Christian Williams J: Jack Tudor

Forecasts

Haston Clermont (7/2), Hymac (11/2), Midnight Our Fred (11/2), Stellar Stream (13/2), Peejaybee (15/2), Gingerbred (9/1), Betterforeveryone (9/1), Animal (12/1), Bretney (16/1), Blade Runner (20/1), Coeur Serein (22/1), Northern Poet (28/1), Whydah Gally (28/1), Planned Paradise (33/1), Enqarde (40/1), Organdi (66/1), Didero Vallis (80/1), Dee Star (100/1)

HASTON CLERMONT has a progressive profile over fences and is taken to defy the handicapper again with this increased stamina test likely to see him in an even better light. Stellar Stream is another who arrives at the top of his game and heads the dangers along with Bretney and Midnight Our Fred, who was placed twice in course handicaps towards the end of last year.