17:30 Cheltenham
Thursday 14 March 2024
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (Sponsored By JRL Group) (GBB Race)
- 5YO plus | Class 2 | 3m 2f | Soft | 22 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 7m 13.43s
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Selected odds by:
Useful hurdler and better form over fences this season. Excellent third to Gaelic Warrior in Faugheen Novices' Chase at Limerick before not knocked about after a first-fence blunder when ninth of 25 in 2m5f Leopardstown handicap last month. Very much one to be interested in with O'Connor booked.
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Very capable chaser/hurdler on his day who looked as good as ever when landing a good pot in SBK Great Yorkshire at Doncaster (3m) in January. This course winner needs considering if on his A-game again (eighth in this a year ago).
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Dual-chase winner in 2021/22 (up to 21.7f) who resumed from 19-month absence with an excellent third in Troytown Chase at Navan (3m) in November. Pulled up in Thyestes at Gowran (25f, heavy) last time though so needs to get back on track.
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Big career best when taking this event 12 months ago and she got back on the up returned to fences when third of 18 in handicap chase at Gowran (25f, heavy) 49 days ago, faring best of those held up. Very much one to consider again.
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Hard to predict but talented on his day and far from disgraced when fifth in Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in December and then third in 25f handicap here las time. Could be vulnerable to younger legs.
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Ended last season unbeaten over fences, easily winning 2½m Perth handicap on final start of that campaign. Fourth-place finish at Doncaster in December flanked by lesser efforts and he's not really crying out for this trip. Cheekpieces quickly shelved.
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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 both starts since however and has never really shaped as though in need of this far.
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Cruised clear in a 25f Aintree veterans' event in October and has shaped better than distance beaten suggests under very testing conditions both runs since, fifth in 3m Exeter handicap last time. Huge effort required to land this at this stage of his career.
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Handicap chase winner in first-time headgear at this venue in January 2023. Got back on track when second of 9 in handicap chase at Ascot (3m, good to soft) 26 days ago but given his overall profile, backing that up is no formality.
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Made a very good start over fences last term, landing a Grade 2 Wetherby novice. Hasn't kicked on this term though, coming in a below-par sixth in Classic Chase at Warwick last time. Needs to step forward though cheekpieces may sharpen him up a touch.
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Possesses more that share of talent but fleeting appearances for both Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins suggest he's hard to keep sound. On the retreat when falling at Leopardstown last month and this test of stamina is surely going to be beyond him.
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Useful handicap chaser for Joseph Patrick O'Brien, in frame in Galway Plate and Munster National this season. Come down the weights after seriously low-key start for Ben Haslam but headgear is back on for this so a revival isn't out of the question.
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Useful winner at 24f over hurdles. Went close in Limerick maiden chase on return and while he was back on track switched to a handicap at Leopardstown last month, he'd have finished worse than fourth had others stood up. Goes up in trip.
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Showed much improved form to open his account as a chaser in 15-runner handicap at Punchestown (27f, heavy) 25 days ago. New mark perfectly fair and he's totally unexposed as a staying handicapper. Shortlisted.
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Dual hurdle winner in 2021/22. Yet to score over fences but recorded his best effort of the season when third of 12 to Forward Plan in handicap chase at Kempton (24f, soft) 19 days ago. Yard among the winners but he does flatter to deceive a touch.
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Unlike some of these, stamina is his forte but he was held when unseating rider on November's reappearance and also failed to complete at Leopardstown a month later. Lots to prove.
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Reached a fairly useful level over fences in France and made light of a 32-month absence on his yard debut when easily landing 20f handicap chase at Ludlow. Not disgraced (lost ground with final-fence mistake) when third at Newbury since and could still do better, for all this trip is an unknown.
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Point winner who resumed with a third chasing success (6 wins under Rules in total) in 3m Lingfield handicap in November. Not disgraced off a career-high mark when sixth at Ascot (3m) since and deteriorating ground no bother to him.
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Three-time hurdles winner for Charles Byrnes last season when also off the mark over fences at Downpatrick. Runner-up first two outings for current stable but only sixth in 3m Sandown handicap last time.
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On the up when last seen chasing, landing 3m1f handicap here in October. Off 4 months before coming in seventh over an inadequate 2m in Naas handicap hurdle last time. Merits serious consideration back under more suitable conditions.
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Useful winner at 22f over hurdles. Tongue tied and left previous chasing efforts well behind switched to a handicap when scoring at Down Royal (3m) in January. Lacks experience for a race like this but he's going the right way.
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Shaped well a couple of times before putting up a career-best effort to score in the Sussex National at Plumpton in January (28.5f), going clear impressively. Matched that form from revised mark at Sandown and this thorough test of stamina will suit.
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Non-Runners
5
Amirite78
Weight: 11-11| Age: 8
T: H De Bromhead J: Mr N McParlan
NR
22
Back On The Lash118
Weight: 10-13| Age: 10
T: M Keighley J: Mr Sean P O'Connor
NR
Forecasts
Inothewayurthinkin (13/8), Daily Present (11/2), Where It All Began (8/1), Whacker Clan (17/2), Amirite (10/1), Cool Survivor (11/1), Angels Dawn (14/1), Bowtogreatness (18/1), Dom Of Mary (20/1), Chavez (20/1), Git Maker (28/1), Annual Invictus (28/1), Demnat (33/1), City Chief (33/1), Back On The Lash (33/1), Cloudy Glen (33/1), Rapper (33/1), Fakir D'alene (33/1), Grozni (50/1), Celebre D'Allen (50/1), A Wave Of The Sea (66/1), Cepage (80/1), Whistleinthedark (100/1), Flash De Touzaine (125/1)
INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN hasn't been missed in the market and with good reason on the back of an eye-catching first foray into handicaps at Leopardstown last month. He lacks experience for a race like this but his third-placed finish in Grade 1 company in Ireland suggests he can outclass these. Angels Dawn was a smooth winner of this a year ago and a bold repeat bid is on the cards, even from 11 lb higher. Irish raiders look set to dominate, with Where It All Began completing the shortlist.
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £36,668.002nd: £18,330.003rd: £9,165.004th: £4,582.005th: £2,295.006th: £1,148.00
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