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17:30 Cheltenham
Friday 17 March 2017
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
- 5YO plus  |  Class 1  |  2m 62y  |  Good  |  24 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 17:33Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 4m 1.4s
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Not an easy horse to predict, but very capable on his day, such as when winning a handicap chase here in December and of course last season's Grade 3 Topham at Aintree. Doesn't mind any ground, so no concerns on that score and if he is on a going day you would not rule out a big run at a big price, despite being exposed.
Former Champion Chaser who has not won since tasting glory in the 2015 renewal of the 2m Championship contest at this meeting. Has plummeted in the ratings and is now 20lb below that level according to the assessor. Would be a shoo-in on his old form but hard to make a strong case for him with so little to go on of late.
Without a win since October 2015 when he scored from 1lb higher than today. Stays beyond this trip and goes well on a sound surface, so the stars are beginning to align for a runner saddled by the in-form trainer of the meeting. Could go close at a double-figure price.
Another without a win since October 2015, though in his case he remains 5lb higher than his best win going into this. Stable has had a winner already this week and this representative comes here fresh, which is a positive given his record. Interesting on ground that should suit.
Looked the type for this after landing a Listed Ascot chase over 2m1f in October and ran a couple more good races before Christmas, but not at his best on either start since. That Ascot win was when he was fresh, so he won't mind the break since his last run and could return to form.
Last seen running third to Top Notch in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (soft) and had won a couple of decent novices' events earlier in the season when conditions were soft. Steps into handicap company for the first time here from a mark of 146 and he looks to have the ability to make a bold showing, though the forecast ground may be faster than ideal.
Raised 3lb for beating Double Ws at Doncaster last time and that form was boosted to a reasonable extent with the performance of Malcolm Jefferson's runner here earlier in the week. Can be very competitive from this mark, although will need to find a little extra to be winning this.
Won a similar contest to this at Punchestown last year when with Gordon Elliott and now 1lb below that. Beaten but competitive on most starts since, including switch to current yard. While he canot be totally ruled out, his best form has been with more cut in the ground than is forecast here.
Yard already among the winners this week, though this runner has suffered on more than one occasion from taking on Douvan and the late, great Vautour. Conditions probably not ideal for him but he still has scope for a bit of improvement and a market check is encouraged.
Standing dish in these top 2m handicap chases in recent years, although has not won since January of last year. Went very close at Aintree last spring from 1lb lower than today and forecast conditions will be just about spot on for him, so he may well be able to leave some of his more recent form behind.
Has won on all types of ground, though softer conditions are probably his optimum, as is this trip, although it is a bonus that he stays beyond it. Is 3lb higher than his highest winning mark today and on balance he looks one to take on.
His latest run here behind Fox Norton doesn't look too bad in the context of this race and he acts well enough on the forecast ground, though looks weighted right up to the hilt for what is a very competitive event.
Finished 11L behind Fox Norton here in October from 1lb lower, so could look well handicapped and was likely to win when falling at Ludlow on his latest start, which was in December. Looks to have been saved for this and goes very well on a sound surface, so could be one to note at a decent price.
Trained by the man after whose father this race is named and he always has a couple of representatives involved to try and win it. This one remains a relatively unexposed novice who has been doing well and looks capable of improving. Freshened up for the contest and goes well on the forecast ground, so a big performance possible.
Back on the same mark as he won from at Worcester in August (good). This is more suitable than some of the races of higher quality that he has been tried in. Goes well on a sound surface.
All his best form has been on soft or heavy ground. Stays beyond this trip, though balance of his form suggests that he may be one or those who runs well but has a few pounds too many to lump around to be winning this.
Another whose best form has been on soft or heavy ground, so things will be happening plenty quick enough for him here. Has run some decent races in defeat from this mark, but not easy to see him being heavily involved today.
Conditions are likely to suit this consistent performer who won a couple of times last spring and races over her optimum trip, although she may struggle to handle the assessor's question in this.
Goes well fresh and gets the opportunity to show us that on his first start since April last year. Has joined this yard from Paul Nicholls since then and gets in on an attractive mark. Any rain would be a plus, as his winning form is on good to soft or softer ground.
Will have to improve a bit to win this, but as that is the case with a number of them it should not concern unduly if thinking of a wager. Certainly a capable performer on the forecast ground, though just under a bit of a cloud of late.
Has slipped to an attractive mark, 3lb lower than his win in this event last year when with Paul Nicholls. Well beaten most starts since, however, but has his favoured conditions and showed a bit more verve last time so a repeat not ruled out.
2lb higher than his best winning mark for this but has won here over the old course and favours a sound surface, so is one of many who has claims with only a small amount of improvement.
Not won since his French debut in 2013 and clearly had problems staying sound. Made a decent start here for these connections in the autumn but failed to build on that when falling heavily last time. Has been given several months to get over it and is one of the least exposed in the field, so very interesting.
Big price for this but actually he is well handicapped on the pick of his form. Pluses include his ability to see out further than this trip and his good form on a sound surface and his last run would entitle him to more respect than the market appears to be giving him.
Forecasts
Le Prezien (7/2), Dandridge (13/2), Dodging Bullets (8/1), Theinval (9/1), The Game Changer (9/1), Rock The World (10/1), Calipto (14/1), Velvet Maker (16/1), Pairofbrowneyes (18/1), Gardefort (20/1), Sizing Platinum (20/1), Solita (25/1), Eastlake (28/1), Bold Henry (33/1), Quite By Chance (33/1), Solar Impulse (33/1), Upsilon Bleu (33/1), Croco Bay (40/1), Mr Fiftyone (40/1), Witness In Court (40/1), Bright New Dawn (50/1), Mick Thonic (50/1), Un Beau Roman (66/1), Ultragold (100/1)
Possibly the most diffiult 2m handicap chase to solve year on year and this looks no exception. Dandridge should again go very well, while Witness In Court is one to consider at a huge price. Nicky Henderson would love to win this again so Theinval should be bang there in first-time cheek pieces. Colin Tizzard has two particularly interesting contenders in Mick Thonic and Sizing Platinum, plus there is Eastlake who would take some beating if on a going day. However, the suggestion at an each-way price is one who has not won for some time, but whose profile coming into this is of one who might end that drought today and the hope is that THE GAME CHANGER can complete a stellar week for Gordon Elliott.
- The Game Changer
- Eastlake
- Dandridge
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £60,039.002nd: £22,754.003rd: £11,298.004th: £5,166.005th: £2,594.006th: £1,554.00
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