Several changes to this year's Cheltenham Festival include the reintroduction of this race, which originally ran from 2005 to 2020. Paul Nicholls landed it in 2009 and his CALDWELL POTTER (nap) gets the vote 16 years on. The selection is the only Grade 1 winner in this field, has a very attractive chase mark and looks well worth another crack at this trip judged on breeding. Switched to handicap level, he could well win his first major prize since being purchased for a huge sum at the Caldwell dispersal sale. Springwell Bay, who ties in with that rival and was impressive last time, is second choice ahead of interesting types Nurburgring and Asian Master. Firefox, Answer To Kayf, Pic Roc and Moon D'Orange have solid claims.[Steve Boow]
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Highly progressive contender who beat Insurrection at Chepstow (2m3f, good; Listed) on debut over fences and has solid form at Cheltenham since, most recently producing an impressive performance in an open handicap over C&D (soft) on New Year's Day when breezing into contention then scooting clear on the run-in; could still be well treated even after 9lb rise; big player in a novice handicap.
Unraced on heavy, otherwise looks versatile ground-wise; smart, consistent and has several pieces of Grade 1 form, including good third in the Supreme at this meeting 12 months ago despite meeting trouble; chase record features creditable efforts in the Drinmore (2m4f) and the Irish Arkle (2m1f); brings class to this first handicap attempt and has to be feared.
Grade 1 novice hurdle winner over 2m in Ireland and sold for 740,000euros at the Caldwell dispersal sale; hasn't strictly lived up to that price tag for new connections, notwithstanding an easy win on chase debut, and he finished weakly over C&D (good to soft; behind Springwell Bay on worse terms) in December; beaten favourite in Grade 2 since; however, gets into this handicap off an attractive mark (5lb lower than hurdles rating) and the return to 2m4f is worth exploring judged on pedigree; interesting.
Opened his chase account in Leopardstown contest (2m5f, good to yielding) in December, showing no ill-effects from a fall the time before; seemed a non-stayer over 3m1f on heavy ground last time and this drop back in distance is a positive; however, he doesn't look favourably treated.
Useful sort whose two handicap attempts have resulted in a good fourth in the Martin Pipe here 12 months ago and an easy success over fences at Naas (2m4f, soft) last time; still has fairly low mileage for a 9yo and could improve further; solid claims returned to the Cheltenham Festival.
Always ridden by Thomas Costello; creditable fourth in the Supreme at this meeting last year; point winner in 2023 and ran creditably, in third place, behind notable stablemates in beginners chases at Fairyhouse the last twice; campaigned only at about 2m since joining Willie Mullins but should be as effective back up in trip; potentially ahead of his mark and looks interesting.
Good second to Springwell Bay at Chepstow on chase debut and resumed improvement with an emphatic win in Musselburgh handicap (2m4f, good to soft) most recently; faces a stiffer assignment off revised mark in this much deeper field and Harry Cobden sides with stablemate Caldwell Potter.
Respectable fourth in the Triumph here 12 months ago and landed the Galway Hurdle (on good ground) in August; never got into a rhythm in latest chase start but looks ready for a crack at this new trip (first go beyond 2m1f) and the reapplication of cheekpieces (second attempt) is another possible aid; has a very attractive mark judged on hurdles form; one for the shortlist returned to the Cheltenham Festival.
Fairly useful but he is well down the pecking order at the Willie Mullins yard and finished behind a couple of stablemates when managing to complete at Gowran Park (2m4f) most recently; late faller in his other two chase attempts; not particularly solid and doesn't look well handicapped.
Best results on good/good to yielding; ties in closely with The Other Mozzie on Galway running (chase debut) but isn't particularly solid judged on subsequent form; held by Nurburgring and Dee Capo on last two efforts and appears poorly handicapped in this hot contest.
Registered two novice wins (including Grade 3) in September; made a couple of errors here in November (still ran respectably) and took a fall at Christmas, then had a confidence booster (won AW maiden) back on the Flat; useful but a safe round of jumping isn't guaranteed.
Took well to first-time cheekpieces in Naas handicap (2m, soft) when last seen, adding to his Galway win (2m2f, good; chase debut); not certain to remain in the same form, having lacked consistency and bearing in mind that his record at about 2m4f is far from solid; headgear retained.
Respectable sixth in the Martin Pipe here 12 months ago and, having been largely consistent, may bounce back from a below-par run over fences last time; however, he rather lacks progression and is out of the winning habit, being on a nine-race losing sequence that goes back to November 2023.
Unraced on heavy, acts on any other ground; rather a frustrating sort, having registered just one win (over hurdles) and finished second lots of times, most recently behind Lord Of Thunder at Newbury (third attempt in this sphere); however, has steadily progressive RPRs and is certainly threatening to double his tally; enters calculations.
Less consistent than stablemate Pic Roc and has one standout performance since switched to fences, namely his comfortable win at Wetherby (2m3f, good) on penultimate start; had wind surgery (his third) since last run; wears first-time cheekpieces; faces a stiffer assignment in this field and isn't a solid option.
Form figures of 33421 since switched to chasing include three runs at Cheltenham; came from last to first under Sean Bowen in open handicap over C&D (soft) most recently, making a rapid move after the home turn then showing grit after making a bad error at the final fence; player returned to novice company.
All wins on soft/heavy but has form on good; solid performances since wearing a tongue-tie, finishing second (behind subsequent Grade 1 winner) in 2m3f Grade 2 at Ffos Las then beating Pic Roc in 2m7f handicap at Newbury; possibilities with further progress plausible.
Creditable third in notable novice handicap over C&D last term; record of 2-4 this season includes a solid win at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft; beat a subsequent scorer) last time; however, the age stats are against this 10yo, as veterans have rarely contested this prize and no horse older than nine has won it; 2lb out of the weights.
Has gained all rules wins at 2m; 3m point winner who is bred to stay well but failed to get home, albeit on soft going, in C&D novice handicap last time (beaten about 15l); may see his race out better if the ground is faster but others have less to prove; 4lb out of the handicap.
Creditable third in the Coral Cup here on final start last term; not in anything like the same form over fences this season and the application of cheekpieces (retained today) had no effect last time; 5lb out of the weights; the return to Cheltenham needs to spark a big revival.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4,5
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
