16:25 Cheltenham

Wednesday 17 April 2024

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

Weatherite Air Conditioning Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 6m 44.07s

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Selected odds by:

Stumptown^b³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 147| C

6/1

Resumed progress in first-time blinkers when scoring here on New Year's Day. Struggled a long way out in the Ultima at the Festival but this is obviously a lesser grade of handicap, so could get back on track.

Form: P-48P1P

Escaria Ten^p⁹²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 145

80/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2020. 10/1, pulled up in minor event chase at Pau (23.4f, heavy) 92 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Patrice Quinton. Plenty to prove.

Form: 9/27P-6P

Cepage^b1³⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 138| C

125/1

Useful chaser nowadays. Lightly raced in recent seasons and back to form fitted with cheekpieces when winning 20.5f veterans' event here in December. Pulled up all 3 starts since, however.

Form: 7-41PPP

Captain Cattistock^p,t¹⁵⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 135| CD

33/1

A three-time course winner but he has been pulled up on both outings this season. Successful on last year's renewal and could be primed after a 5-month break.

Form: 3421-PP

Full Back⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 130| CD

20/1

Useful winning chaser but fell on return from a long absence at Lingfield and ran poorly at Haydock next time. Hard to weigh up after a couple of months off.

Form: 20/4P-F9

Manothepeople^p⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130| D

9/1

Dual chase winner last term who was back on track when runner-up at Wincanton 76 days ago. Should be ready to go after a break, so merits respect.

Form: 2P-2U82

Java Point^t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 129

10/1

Confirmed promise of stable debut when landing a decent pot at Sandown in February. Only fourth at Kempton next time but remains well treated on old form.

Form: 36-P414

Are U Wise To That²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 129| C

10/3

Bumper/hurdles winner who made a positive start over fences, doubling his tally in this sphere at this track in December. Not quite on his game at Newbury last time but remains with potential.

Form: 33-1414

Hidden Heroics^p⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| C| D

15/2

Resumed winning ways at Ludlow in December but has struggled on both subsequent outings. Cheekpieces refitted with stable going well, so not a forlorn hope.

Form: P6F16P

Moroder^b1¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: James Best| T: J W Mullins| OR: 127| D

25/1

Bagged the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster last season and ended campaign with a fine second in Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. Big questions to answer now though after several poor runs this term.

Form: 2-PP785

Some Scope^t⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: G Sheehan| T: R Hobson| OR: 127| BF

3/1

Irish point/hurdles winner who continued theme of race-by-race progress over fences when scoring with something in hand at Doncaster in January. Shaped well again when runner-up there next time and there's even more to come, so leading claims.

Form: 1-P5112

Wayfinder^p⁶⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 125| D

11/1

Capable staying chaser when the mood takes, as he demonstrated with creditable placed efforts here and at Chepstow in the first half of this season. Pulled up on his last 2 starts, though, and others look more solid.

Form: P-3F2PP

Court Master^p¹⁷³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 125

25/1

One-time useful chaser for Michael Scudamore and best effort for present yard when fifth of 19 in handicap chase here (25f, good to soft) 173 days ago, albeit better placed than most. Stable has been going quite well lately, so not discounted.

Form: P-232U5

Laskalin^p³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120| D

22/1

Useful at his best and, while he hasn't got his head in front this term, he returned to form when runner-up at Taunton (28.4f, soft) last month and is 8 lb below his last winning mark.

Form: 6564P2

Forecasts

Some Scope (3/1), Are U Wise To That (10/3), Stumptown (6/1), Hidden Heroics (15/2), Manothepeople (9/1), Java Point (10/1), Wayfinder (11/1), Full Back (20/1), Laskalin (22/1), Moroder (25/1), Court Master (25/1), Captain Cattistock (33/1), Escaria Ten (80/1), Cepage (125/1)

The smooth-travelling SOME SCOPE is improving by the run and should be well suited by the way this pans out, so he's preferred to Are U Wise To That, who is expected to get back on track. Stumptown can be excused his latest effort in a higher grade and he may have more to offer.