Bet With Your Mobile At Victor Chandler Chase (Grade 3 Handicap) 2011

2.10 Cheltenham

Bet With Your Mobile At Victor Chandler Chase (Grade 3 Handicap) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner £22,780

Advice: 1 pt each/way Calgary Bay (8/1 Bet365), Havinggotascoobydoo (6/1 general, 7/1 Skybet)

The Nightingale: Lightly raced and holds major potential based on his three wins over fences, two by long margins as a novice and one his impressive Grade 2 victory at Down Royal; Satisfactory comeback there when third in Champion Chase, having looked as if he was going to play a big part in the finish (stamina ebbed away); Comes here after fall in Peterborough Chase and while he as a lot of weight to carry, not without a chance if running to his best.

Hell’s Bay: Won the Grade 2 novice chase on this card last year (form worked out well since) and first run of this season since then when pulled up at Ascot behind Aerial; Probably not right on that occasion but if back to best has big chance on the handicap with in form claimer on his back taking off 7lbs.

Ghizao: Made into a very useful novice chaser last season, twice beating Arkle winner Captain Chris with lot in hand; Didn’t perform well at big spring festivals thanks to poor jumping, but that again the problem when fourth in Haldon Gold Cup; Same problem again when blundering twice in C&D handicap, but this probably easier on face of it; If stamina can be held, decent chance.

Crescent Island: First completed run since Racing Post Chase fifth when second to Chance Du Roy at Newbury (winner since second in gruelling Chepstow test) last time out; 6lbs rise only fair treatment but respected nevertheless.

Hidden Keel: Made up into a very smart novice, winning three times (twice by wide margins) last season; Well held on both starts this season and this drop into handicap company no easier, with a mark of 147 not giving much room for manoeuvre.

Calgary Bay: Plenty of talent (as shown in his novice days) and good efforts at this time last year, coming fourth in the December Gold Cup and then second improving Novice in trials day event; Good fifth in December Gold Cup from some way back and should go well here.

Cape Tribulation: Holds some useful form over fences (second to Wayward Prince in the Towton) and his chase mark is fair in relation to his hurdles mark; Huge disappoint in Tommy Whittle after promising hurdles run and tricky to rate after that; Others just feel more solid.

Duke Of Lucca: Very useful hurdler who was once bordering on top class in novice season; Jumped well enough on chasing debut at Chepstow but caught a tartar in Soilx next time out; Had decent rival beaten when he fell at Wincanton and interesting here for all this is a steep rise in class.

Hector’s Choice: Resumed progress from summer when winning on seasonal debut at Aintree and solid effort when third behind Chance Du Roy and Crescent Island; Not weighted to turn that form around (4lbs better off for a 6 length beating) so advantage presumably with Crescent Island of the two.

Mathui: Was in form of his life earlier last season, having beaten very useful yardstick by 9 lengths at Ascot before splitting well-handicapped/unexposed types in a strongly run race at Newbury (winner favourite); Plenty of promise after last two runs (going well enough when brought down at the last in Galway Plate, although whether he’d have won is another matter); Disappointing when beaten in the December Gold Cup and needs to do better here. 

Michael Flips: Useful over hurdles and made very encouraging chase debut when second to Cue Card; May have had race given to him by poor jumping of others at Ascot but not to be discredited for that, although he was beaten all ends up in Grade 2 there; Needs more today and while 7lbs claimer interesting, passed over.

Havinggotascoobydoo: Massively improved this season and shaped as if much more to come for step up in trip, first when second behind Tanks For That and then when staying on third behind Astracad, both in strong two mile contests; 4lbs “wrong” at weights but appeals as improver for the step up in trip.

Renard: Rounded off hat – trick with bold win at Exeter but then beaten in bid for four timers last time out, shaping as if further needed (last fence mistake did not help matters in any way) ; Feeling that this is another better race and maybe others preferred.

Pickamus: Hopelessly out of form last season but something like his best when close Stratford second, but once again well beaten when fourth at Kempton having been as short as 100/30 and this a far stronger event.

VERDICT: The presence of The Nightingale is a fascinating poser as he has a genuine chance at his best, and also gives a great weight to Ghizao. Paul Ncholls’s runner is fancied in this company, but needs to improve on his jumping and was beaten fair and square by CALGARY BAY in the December Gold Cup. Henrietta Knight’s charge seems to be at his best around this time of year and a bit run here would be no surprise, while HAVINGGOTASCOOBYDOO has the potential to improve for a longer trip.