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13:50 Cheltenham

Saturday 16 December 2023

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Virgin Bet December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 11.19s

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Selected odds by:

Fakir D'Oudairies²⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 162| BF| C| D

11/1

High-class Irish chaser who looked a fortunate winner of Thurles Grade 2 in January. Respectable second in Melling Chase (had won previous two renewals) at Aintree when last seen 8 months ago and his class will count for plenty in this.

Form: 15/2132-

Fugitif^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: R Hobson| OR: 151

13/2

Came of age and looked a lot more mature last season, winning at Chepstow over Christmas and then second in good handicaps over this trip on the New Course. 12/1 and cheekpieces on 1st time, respectable fourth of 14 in handicap chase at this course (20.2f, soft) 28 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 21225-4

Thunder Rock⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 146

3/1

Four-time hurdle winner who has developed into a smart chaser and scored readily at Carlisle last time. That form has been boosted (runner-up ran well next time) and he could take a big prize here.

Form: 13362-1

Monmiral²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145WS

4/1

Smart hurdler who made a positive start over fences last season. Form tailed off but young enough to think he can still come good in this sphere, so makes plenty of appeal back from 8 months off.

Form: 42/2247-

Il Ridoto^p,t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| CD

17/2

In first-time cheekpieces, finally put it all together to land good handicap over this trip on the New Course here on Trials Day. Returned to form when third in handicap at this course a month ago and likely to give his running again.

Form: 4416P-3

So Scottish^t1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: M P Walsh| T: E Mullins| OR: 141

5/1

Didn't really kick on from a promising start to chasing last season but he had excuses at Gowran last time and shrewd yard now fits a tongue strap. Every chance this has always been the target for him, so expect a big run.

Form: 1127U-4

Jay Jay Reilly¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| BF

33/1

Won twice (at up to 18f) over fences last term and shaped better than distance beaten the last twice, poorly placed when fifth at Newbury a fortnight ago. Not ruled out.

Form: 151-235

Do Your Job^t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 136| D

22/1

Grade 2 winning novice chaser in his prime. Quiet time of it last season and yet to fire for current stable this term.

Form: 1/655-78

Grandeur D'ame²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 133

22/1

Winning hurdler who has a generally progressive profile over fences, back on the up when landing a 6-runner handicap at Wetherby last month. Could do better still, so merits respect.

Form: 7115-51

Frero Banbou¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 133

9/1

Positive start to last season tailed off but he's firmly back on track now and ran a cracker when second at Newbury last time. That form looks strong and another bold showing is expected.

Form: 4340-32

Torn And Frayed²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 133| CD

28/1

C&D winner in January 2022 and shaped as if retaining ability prior to falling at this track on only subsequent outing last month. Not a forlorn hope.

Form: 322P1/F

Railway Hurricane^b,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: C Stone-Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 129

33/1

Scored at Tipperary in July and has been in reasonable form lately but this looks a stiff task from out of the weights.

Form: 41P223

Forecasts

Thunder Rock (3/1), Monmiral (4/1), So Scottish (5/1), Fugitif (13/2), Il Ridoto (17/2), Frero Banbou (9/1), Fakir D'Oudairies (11/1), Grandeur D'ame (22/1), Do Your Job (22/1), Torn And Frayed (28/1), Jay Jay Reilly (33/1), Railway Hurricane (33/1)

THUNDER ROCK's latest success at Carlisle looks a lot better now that the runner-up ran a big race in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, so he can prove himself ahead of a mark of 146. Monmiral looks capable of better as a chaser on return and So Scottish might well have been lined up for this, so they're also considered.