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16:10 Cheltenham

Thursday 16 March 2017

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 5m 8.7s

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Selected odds by:

Village Vic⁷⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 158

16/1

Two C&D wins included amongst four victories last season and arrives here in good heart, having chased home Shantou Flyer, again over C&D (soft) last time out. By no means inconvenienced by better ground and no surprise to see him make his presence felt despite big weight.

Form: 1190-23

Art Mauresque¹²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155

33/1

Ran abysmally in this race a year ago but has recovered well this term to win twice at Newton Abbot and Chepstow. Struggled to land a blow behind Tarquin Du Seuil in the Grade 3 Betvictor Gold Cup in November and has been off since. No margin for error.

Form: 2/11787-

Tango De Juilley³⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 150

20/1

Mixed it in top-class novice company in 2014/2015, winning three times but only run last season came when an excellent second in this race off a similar mark. Not sighted since so fitness needs to be taken on trust but dangerous to discount.

Form: 2U161/2-

Cold March^b⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 150

50/1

Plenty of ability but was starting to flatter to deceive prior to regaining the winning thread at Musselburgh on New Year's Day in first-time blinkers. Raised 6lb for that but should remain competitive if headgear have a similarly positive effect.

Form: 36U5-55

Diamond King^t⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 150

5/1

Not many miles on the clock for his age and really sprung to prominence when winning last year's Coral Cup in good style. Impressive winner at Galway on chasing debut but jumping hasn't looked quite as assured in two Graded events since. Still, has been freshened up by a break and opening chase mark well below hurdles rating. Looks an obvious player.

Form: 4154PP-

Voix D'Eau^t¹³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr M Legg⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 146

25/1

CV includes a notable Grade 2 win over this C&D last spring but didn't race with quite the same sparkle in a trio of chases in the autumn, running particularly poorly at Sandown when last seen. Hopes pinned on a break reviving him.

Form: 33740P-

Baron Alco⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 146

10/1

Four-time hurdles winner but well-held in handicaps at the Festival in each of the past two seasons. Has employed forcing tactics over fences this season and has been rewarded with two wins at Plumpton and place money here twice. Warmed up for this by chasing home Top Notch in a Grade 1 event at Sandown (2m4f, soft) so clearly entitled to respect.

Form: 120-312

Road To Respect²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Cooper| T: N Meade| OR: 145

14/1

Has improved for a switch of yards this term, winning over 2m3f at Naas (good to soft) and not disgraced in Graded novice events since, though a long way behind easy winner Acapella Bourgeois at Navan last time. Doesn't look particularly well-treated on that evidence.

Form: 135-014

Bouvreuil^h,t⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145

10/1

A runner-up at each of the last two Festivals off lower marks and has shaped as though retaining all ability in just two runs this year (both on this track). Likely to have long been targeted for this race so a bold bid cannot be discounted.

Form: 1524-56

King's Odyssey⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 145

20/1

Twice a winner over fences prior to falling in a Grade 3 handicap (2m5f, soft) here in December when still travelling well. Wasn't given too hard a race when third at Market Rasen next time and is probably still fairly-treated, though unproven on a quicker ground.

Form: 421/311-

Cocktails At Dawn¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145

33/1

Looked smart when winning twice at around 2m4f on good ground in 2015 but things haven't gone to plan since, failing to complete in three of his last four. All that said, he was leading when falling at Kempton last time and probably retains ability, so could be feasibly-treated.

Form: F-P4FPF

Germany Calling^p,t⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 145

100/1

Has looked as good as ever this season, winning at Bangor and Musselburgh but floundered off this mark at Musselburgh last time and the fact that he put in an error-strewn round at the Grand Annual last year is also off-putting. Others preferred.

Form: 583181

Starchitect^t⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 143

6/1

Fifth in last year's County Hurdle before scoring readily in a class 2 event at Newton Abbot on fast ground two months later. Steady progress in novice chases, culminating in a facile win in the mud at Ayr last time. Cleary has more to offer and has to come into the reckoning on the strength of the yard's excellent record in this race (three wins in last six years).

Form: F/253-13

Henryville^t¹⁰³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 141

12/1

Four hurdle wins but produced arguably his best effort when fourth under a big weight in the Pertemps Final two years ago. Less convincing over fences with only wins coming against vastly inferior opposition, though he jumped better when third off this mark in the Sefton at Aintree (2m5f, good to soft) last time out in December. Others still more convincing.

Form: 4P3981-

Ballykan^p,t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: D A Jacob| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 140

33/1

Twice a winner in small fields last summer to take his chasing tally to four and, though not disgraced in better events twice since, the suspicion is that the handicapper currently holds sway. Career-best effort needed.

Form: 3456F4-

Sizing Codelco^b1,t⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 140

14/1

Not disgraced despite tiring over 3m2f last time out and better judged on his fine previous effort when chasing home Top Notch at Ascot (2m5f, good to soft). Still lightly-raced for this yard, so improvement possible in first-time cheekpieces. Could easily get involved.

Form: 8P2401

Pinkie Brown^h⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 137

66/1

Lost his way over hurdles but has scored twice in novice company over fences this season, albeit in weak company. Last seen out running a decent race on the Flat at Lingfield in December and others look more appealing.

Form: 71F12P

Un Ace^p1,t⁹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: David Bass| T: K C Bailey| OR: 137

25/1

Potentially well-treated on the form he showed to win three times in 2014/15 and seemed to race with a bit more zest when a 15L sixth over 3m2f (good) here last time out in December. Drop in trip will suit and first-time cheekpieces make him interesting.

Form: 42758-U

Rock Gone¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Joshua Moore| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 136

25/1

Lightly-raced, he stepped up on his hurdles form to win a chase over this sort of trip at Wetherby (good to soft) in January and was not disgraced over a shorter trip at Fontwell next time. Suspicion is that we haven't seen the best of him, so dangerous to discount.

Form: 4231/2F-

Champagne At Tara²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Jonjo & A O'Neill| OR: 136

25/1

Only one win from 12 hurdle starts and obliged at the fourth attempt over fences at Leicester (2m, heavy) last time when given a smart ride. Hugely different task facing him today and others have more convincing profiles.

Form: 7231P3-

Mad Jack Mytton²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: R P McLernon| T: Jonjo & A O'Neill| OR: 135

28/1

Twice a winner over hurdles and did little wrong in first two chase starts, making the useful O O Seven pull out all the stops at Huntingdon and then second to Clic Work at Taunton. Excused a lesser effort on heavy ground at Leicester last time and is feasibly-treated.

Form: U5-P225

All Together⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Farrelly| OR: 133

50/1

Just two wins from 12 attempts over fences (both at around 2m on heavy) but produced arguably his best effort when chasing home Mercian Prince on his first attempt over 2m4f at Sandown (soft) last time. Raised 2lb for that, but faster ground a bigger conern.

Form: 6144-25

Katachenko^h³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 133

40/1

Career-best effort when winning the Grade 3 Red Rum Chase off this mark at Aintree last spring and, having started slowly this term, he returned to form with a good second-place effort over a much longer trip at Catterick last month. More needed here but no forlorn hope.

Form: 31-5352

Thomas Crapper^p,t¹²^{(ex 5)}

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: C Poste| T: R Dickin| OR: 128

7/1

Loves it here (twice second at this meeting) to go with two course wins and put a lean spell behind him when winning Newbury's Greatwood Gold Cup in tremendous fashion two weeks ago. Looks well-treated under a penalty and no surprise to see him bang there at the business end.

Form: 4-67046

Forecasts

Diamond King (5/1), Starchitect (6/1), Thomas Crapper (7/1), Baron Alco (10/1), Bouvreuil (10/1), Henryville (12/1), Road To Respect (14/1), Sizing Codelco (14/1), Village Vic (16/1), King's Odyssey (20/1), Tango De Juilley (20/1), Rock Gone (25/1), Voix D'Eau (25/1), Un Ace (25/1), Champagne At Tara (25/1), Mad Jack Mytton (28/1), Ballykan (33/1), Art Mauresque (33/1), Cocktails At Dawn (33/1), Katachenko (40/1), All Together (50/1), Cold March (50/1), Pinkie Brown (66/1), Germany Calling (100/1)

On the face of it, another devilishly-competitive renewal of a race which is notoriously hard to predict at the best of times. Course-specialist Thomas Crapper has to enter the equation under a penalty after his emphatic recent win at Newbury, whilst last year's Coral Cup winner Diamond King is an obvious player from a potentially favourable mark on his handicap debut over fences. Preference however is for another handicap debutant in STARCHITECT who also boasts strong Festival form and who represents a yard with a tremendous record in this race. Last year's runner-up Tango De Juilley, Bouvreuil and Sizing Codelco are also interesting.