'He was unlucky not to win last year' - who fancies their chances at Cheltenham?

888Sport Is Made To Play Handicap Chase | 3m1f (Old) | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

This race has often acted as a starting point for big names – Frodon won this in 2020 and Cloth Cap reappeared in the race 12 months ago.

This year is different, as topweight is the 142-rated Neville's Cross. He is the lowest-rated topweight in the race for more than a decade and is often campaigned in summer.

It is still a competitive race in its own right, with plenty who are coming here at the right time of year for them. Three of Neville's Cross's seven wins have come in September or October and a large number of the rest have put up their best form away from the mud.

It is unsurprising that The Hollow Ginge is favourite. He is a horse that tends to run well when fresh and he shaped best in this race last year, when he travelled so well he probably got to the front too soon and was reined in by Definite Plan. He is 10lb lower in the weights now and, importantly, has been off since April.

Equally unsurprising is that the form of certain spring marathons is strongly represented among the field. Although it does not technically come under that banner, being run in February, the Edinburgh National is often a target for doughty stayers who do not want the mud and the first two from the most recent running, Captain Cattistock and The Wolf, turn up here.

As he showed when second here on New Year's Day, the issue with The Wolf is often jumping and the same goes for the otherwise interesting Coeur Serein. The latter is at least inexperienced enough that he may yet learn.

Of those at bigger odds, Lord Accord is worth your attention. He did his best work as a novice chaser at around this time of year, winning twice including off a 5lb higher mark than he runs off today. Things have not gone quite so well since, but he will come here race-fit after a run over hurdles at Worcester and this may have been identified as his best chance of running a big race at Cheltenham.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

Ginge can go one better off 10lb lower mark

Turn back the clock 12 months, and you may remember The Hollow Ginge running an absolute belter in this race.

After cruising into the lead at the third-last, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained chaser appeared to have matters in safe-keeping when clear between the final two fences, but he idled up the hill and was mugged in the final strides by Definite Plan.

Watch the video replay of that run and you’ll see The Hollow Ginge was back in front just after the line.

Look at his current mark, and you’ll note that he is now 10lb lower in the weights off an attractive mark of 127.

Twiston-Davies runners never lack fitness first time out, and it’s a safe bet four-time scorer The Hollow Ginge has been meticulously laid out for this race for some time.

“He was second in the race last year, and was unlucky not to win,” Twiston-Davies said. “He’s come down the handicap now and should run well.”

The Hollow Ginge was officially rated 144 two years ago, and has contested major staying events such as the Ladbrokes Trophy, Welsh Grand National and Scottish Grand National.

What they say

Tom Lacey, trainer of Neville’s Cross
I don’t want too much rain for him. He likes good ground. He’s on a career-high mark, but is in good shape. The horses are going well, and I’m looking forward to seeing him run.

Olly Murphy, trainer of The Wolf
He’s in good form, and has an each-way chance. Ideally he’d like the ground a bit slower, but it’s a good place to start him, and there’s nice prize-money.

Charlie Longsdon, trainer of Almazhar Garde
He’s at the top end of the handicap, and it’s never easy in these type of races. He did extremely well without winning last season, and is in great form.

Richard Phillips, trainer of Organdi
She likes good ground, and I was very pleased with the way she jumped and performed when winning at Warwick last month. She’s gone up in the handicap, and it’s her stiffest test yet. This mare has given her syndicate of owners so much fun, and I’m delighted to be running her at Cheltenham.

Fergal O’Brien, trainer of Captain Cattistock
He’s in great form. As long as the rain gets in he’ll take his chance.

Neil Mulholland, trainer of Lord Accord
He seems in good form. I’m happy with him. He enjoyed a nice reappearance run over hurdles at Worcester last month and, fingers crossed, that will have put him right for this race at Cheltenham.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Motown Maggie
She's a likeable mare who never lets us down. She won well at Listowel and I'd say he bumped into a nice horse at Tipperary last time.
Reporting by Richard Birch

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