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14:50 Cheltenham

Tuesday 12 March 2019

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

Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:52 | Winning time: 6m 39.4s

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Selected odds by:

Lake View Lad⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: N W Alexander| OR: 155

25/1

Has an impressive career strike-rate of eight wins from 19 starts and arrives here bidding for a hat-trick after a wins at Newcastle and Wetherby (career best). 8lb rise to cope with but going the right way at present.

Form: 2123-11

Sizing Codelco⁵⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 154| D

66/1

Won two big handicaps in 2017 but hasn't won since and has been largely out of form bar his final start of last season. Has only placed once in seven starts here and others look better handicapped.

Form: PP48-20

O O Seven^b1⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152| C

50/1

Course winner back in 2016. Didn't need to improve to win on seasonal return at Doncaster but 5lb rise looked harsh and he didn't back the win up next time out. Wears first-time blinkers; others rate as more likely winners.

Form: 50P3-19

Minella Rocco^p,t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 152| C

14/1

Won the four-miler here in 2016 and produced a fine run when second in 2017's Gold Cup, though that run may have left it's mark. Not able to repeat the effort since and possibly not the force of old; finds himself on a nice mark as a result though.

Form: 4P4F-59

Activial⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: T R George| OR: 151

40/1

Doesn't have an inspiring strike-rate and was fortunate to get his head in front at Haydock earlier in the campaign (left clear). Well beaten here last time out and doesn't look particularly well-handicapped.

Form: 832126

Mister Whitaker⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: M R Channon| OR: 151| C

8/1

Won the Novice Handicap on this day last year and followed up on his seasonal reappearance. His two starts since suggest the handicapper may be in charge now but he's yet to run a bad race at this venue. Each-way claims. Needs to be delivered late.

Form: 211-144

Beware The Bear^b⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 151| C

10/1

Useful stayer who goes well at this venue (runner-up in this last year) and won over 3m2½f here last time out. 5lb rise for that seems fair but needs to step up again as far as win claims are concerned and de Boinville prefers O O Seven.

Form: 1P4P-41

Magic Of Light^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 151| BF

25/1

Has looked progressive over fences in recent times, though can make jumping errors and that did for her chance last time out at Fairyhouse. Won't get away with mistakes in this but stays this trip well and potentially more to come.

Form: 1-3112U

Royal Vacation^b²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 151| C

33/1

Course winner here in 2017 and gained his first win since in a decent race at Taunton in January. Found a few too good off a joint career-high mark at Haydock last time and others likely to be better handicapped.

Form: 0P-2614

Noble Endeavor^p⁹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 150

14/1

Performed with credit when third in this race two years ago and showed he retained ability when ninth of 18 at Aintree in December when returning from a 600-day break. Handicapper has given him a chance and has claims on best form.

Form: 54136/9

Crucial Role¹⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 145

16/1

Has recorded two wide margin wins at Uttoxeter since switched to fences this season and only has a 5lb penatly for his win last time out. This is clearly tougher and has been known to bleed which is an obvious concern but less exposed than most.

Form: 2P-3131

Calipto²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 148

14/1

Won a decent Listed handicap chase at Ascot and has run okay on each of his four starts here (two hurdles). Career high handicap mark to cope with now but yard in form and there could be more to come at this trip.

Form: U5U131

Singlefarmpayment^h⁸⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: N D Fehily| T: T R George| OR: 146| CD

10/1

Has a questionable attitude in a finish and needs to be delivered on the line but there's no doubt he's still on a workable mark. This jockey has been getting a tune out of him lately and the gelding's record at this venue is rock solid.

Form: 5P52-42

Up For Review⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146

8/1

Well beaten in two previous course starts (hurdles/bumpers) but returned with a promising effort at Gowran in January. Could come on for that and there's quite possibly more to come over fences; may go well if the ground is very testing.

Form: 2148-13

Give Me A Copper^t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145

9/1

Missed most of last season and shaped like he needed the run on a promising enough reappearance effort when fourth of 16 at Sandown last time. Suspicion he's on a lenient mark and yard flying at present; not one to underestimate.

Form: 161/U1-4

Coo Star Sivola⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 145| CD

8/1

Won this race last year but hasn't managed to go on from that since. Just 3lb higher than last year's success as a result and the recent rain that's arrived is in his favour. Hard to put a line through for a yard in fine form.

Form: 11P-837

Vintage Clouds⁷⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: Mrs S J Smith| OR: 144| DWS

16/1

In fine form throughout last season and finished third in last year's renewal of this. Made jumping errors in the Welsh National on latest start but dropped 2lb for that and has had wind surgery since.

Form: 4233-1P

General Principle^t³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 144

14/1

Very useful stayer who won last year's Irish National. Probably better over further than this trip these days, as seen when producing his best effort of the season last time third (3m4½f) out in a National trial. Each-way chance.

Form: 61-0953

Willie Boy^p⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 144

50/1

Won a handicap at Wetherby two runs back but only fourth when stepped up in class/trip last time out. Can make jumping errors and others preferred.

Form: 6F-2F14

Flying Angel^v⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 142

25/1

Won a Grade 1 at Aintree as a novice chaser but hasn't managed to get his head in front since. Only effort of note in recent times was a decent second at Ascot in a first-time visor and well beaten three times subsequently; hard to fancy.

Form: 0-62875

Shantou Village^p,t¹¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 142| C

40/1

Has won twice here including once over hurdles and showed he retained ability when winning at Worcester in the summer. Made a bad mistake when unseating the rider here last time but yard in form and he's not without an each-way squeak.

Form: 43156U

Oldgrangewood^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 140

66/1

Showed this sort of mark wasn't beyond him when winning at Newbury in 2017. Hasn't been at that level in two starts this year though and has a bit to prove at this trip. Crucial Role seemingly the yard's first string.

Form: 31P4-96

Catamaran Du Seuil^v1¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 140

50/1

Looked smart when bolting up at Wetherby on seasonal reappearance but efforts since have been below par. Finished 4L behind Calipto at Wincanton two starts ago and made a bad jumping error when last at Kempton last time. Wears first-time visor.

Form: 1-1F820

Big River^t⁸⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 140

28/1

Won twice last year, both at Kelso over a similar trip to this. Hasn't been in that sort of form in two starts this campaign (fell at Newcastle and well beaten over hurdles last time). Hard to imagine he's well-handicapped in this field.

Form: P312-F6

Forecasts

Up For Review (8/1), Coo Star Sivola (8/1), Mister Whitaker (8/1), Give Me A Copper (9/1), Beware The Bear (10/1), Singlefarmpayment (10/1), Noble Endeavor (14/1), General Principle (14/1), Minella Rocco (14/1), Calipto (14/1), Vintage Clouds (16/1), Crucial Role (16/1), Lake View Lad (25/1), Flying Angel (25/1), Magic Of Light (25/1), Big River (28/1), Royal Vacation (33/1), Activial (40/1), Shantou Village (40/1), O O Seven (50/1), Catamaran Du Seuil (50/1), Willie Boy (50/1), Oldgrangewood (66/1), Sizing Codelco (66/1)

A typically wide-open renewal of this race but at the projected odds, it might be worth taking a chance on SINGLEFARMPAYMENT. While his finishing effort is somewhat questionable, he will be hard to keep out of the first four with a reproduction of his effort last time and he ran well in this race last year. Dangers to the selection include last year's winner Coo Star Sivola who is back on a workable handicap mark and Give Me A Copper who could be well treated.