Paul Stewart Ironspine Charity Challenge Gold Cup 2012

2.30 Cheltenham

Paul Stewart Ironspine Charity Challenge Gold Cup (Grade 3 Handicap Chase) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £56,950

Advice: 1 pt Notus De La Tour (7/1 general), 1 pt win Cristal Bonus (6/1 general)

Cristal Bonus: Very useful novice chaser bar one poor effort back here at Festival, winning Grade 2 with ease before 7 length second to Menorah at Aintree; Deeply impressive return at Down Royal in Grade 2 Chase (never in any trouble) and no problem at all with heavy ground, so has to be very high on the list here.

Quantitiveeasing: Winner of this last year in hard fought finish, that coming just after his second in Paddy Power, but disappointing after that; Should come on plenty for seasonal debut and can’t be judged on that, but feeling is that he must have good ground to be at his best.

Walkon: Formerly top class juvenile hurdler who has shown flashed of that talent since comeback from injury, showing best effort over fences when three length runner up to Al Ferof in Paddy Power Gold Cup (ground was soft but closer to heavy, 13 lengths clear of Nadiya De La Vega); Only been raised 5lbs for that so still lower over fences than hurdles and best in at weight by a mile, but worry that he’s not backed up two performances in close succession since injury.

Tatenen: Talented as ever when landing big Ascot handicap over this trip for second years running; Only seventh in this last year on return and likely to perform in similar fashion given the ground.

Tartak: Won C&D handicap on New Year’s Day 2011 but not found same form since for all that first run for new yard bought an encouraging fifth at the Festival (then broke blood vessel); Comeback here in October was enoruaging and does have heavy ground form in France but needs more to get involved here although old mark sees him thrown in.

Nadiya De La Vega: Only had the 9 chase runs since coming from France but her four wins mark her down as a very useful horse and can’t fail to be impressed with how she drew away from very useful filed on seasonal debut, and backed it up in great style when clear third in Paddy Power; Worry that the heavy ground will just stop her and others preferred.

Astracad: Won 2m handicap chase at this meeting last year and still on competitive mark despite being well held on next two occasions (no response to Edgardo Sol at Aintree) but still has something to offer based on his fourth when last seen over 2 miles; Not sure that he wants it this soft although always threatened to do better at this trip.

Notus De La Tour: Useful hurdler who has already quickly proven at least as good as a chaser, winning twice at beginning of last season before creditable efforts in better grade (beaten 8 lengths by Walkon at Exeter but giving 8lbs, and then second and third in Irish Grade 1’s over 2m); Fell early in Bryne Group Plate but plenty to recommend him otherwise; Seasonal debut.

Michael Flips: Twice found 2m1f too short for him off this mark (much more suited towards this trip) but couldn’t cope with the going when things got tough in the Paddy Power and the ground is arguably worse here; One to wait for better ground despite the addition of a 7lbs claimer.

Renard: Struck a four timer in handicap chases last season, two in the South West (one at Exeter, one at Taunton) and same kind of form this season in decent handicap chases; This looks set to be a touch too good here.

Golden Chieftain: Very talented and big engine when it all comes together, as he showed when bolting up by 14 lengths at Wincanton; That kind of performance would make him interesting in what’s likely to be a gruelling test, but barring that others make more appeal from a handicapping point of view.

De Boitron: Last win at this track in April 2010, fourth and sixth in last two editions of the Grand Annual ; Always given impression that he’d be much better over 2m4f when running such big races but best efforts on firmer ground and can’t be backed on this surface.

Hell’s Bay: Grade 2 novice winner here for Colin Tizzard but last season was nothing like that after absence of nearly a year; Thrown him on old form here but no guarantee he can even come half close to his best here and much more needed.

Have You Seen Me: 24 lengths behind Hell’s Bay in that Grade 2, although he then went onto post a good front running second here in novice handicap over 2m5f; Acts on at least soft ground but had 611 days off.

Unioniste: Good chasing debut at Aintree when jumping well and going on from long way out to fight to victory and no shame in being readily putsped by Dynaste on second start over fences; 5lbs out of the handicap and ridiculously inexperienced for what’s going to be such a big test (only 4 years old) but tons of potential and must be respected still with ground not seen to be a problem.

VERDICT: With the ground severely testing and plenty of front runners in the field, this could well go to the ‘last man standing’ just as it could the best horse in the race. If one could be more certain about Walkon’s ability to back up his fine effort in the Paddy Power then he’d be the main danger, but the last two seasons tell different and he, along with Unioniste (who looks far too young for such a test) are reluctantly left. This is a massive ask on his seasonal debut but NOTUS DE LA TOUR has pretty much everything else going for him otherwise and with an 8 length third (gave 8lbs) to Walkon a year ago looking very strong now, he’s taken to give David Pipe yet another big winner here this season. Next best is CRISTAL BONUS, a graded class chaser who put up a new career best when storming home in a Down Royal Grade 2 that doesn’t mind heavy ground. Astaracad and Nadiya De La Vega were very tempting but such ground put me off the pair.