TimeWise Chronicles

Cheltenham; Analysis of the Timewise top two ranked + The Spotlight Verdicts + Race Stats

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This response details all Cheltenham races scheduled, working through them in chronological order, based solely on the provided source material.

1.15 mallardjewellers.com Maiden Hurdle (2m 87y)

RankHorse (Odds)TrainerTimeWise Rating (Master)
1Act Of Innocence (7-2)N HendersonStill to Run
2Gaelic Pride (11/2)W Greatrex128

Recent Form and Comments

Act Of Innocence

  • Recent Form: 5004 341- (236 days ago).
  • Comments: The horse has a solid bumper record, making the frame in two notable races, including one on soft ground, before winning when dropped in class at Taunton (2m, good). New trainer Nicky Henderson provided a positive review in a Stable Tour last month.

Gaelic Pride

  • Recent Form: 4118-2 (21 days ago).
  • Comments: This horse is a point/bumper winner (including on soft ground) and possesses Grade 2 form. He ran encouragingly on his hurdles/seasonal debut at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft), finishing second behind a useful rival who had performed well in the Champion Bumper previously. He promises to build on this effort.

Spotlight Verdict

Among the runners who already have hurdles experience, GAELIC PRIDE holds particularly strong claims. Hold The Serve (second choice) is an interesting rules debutant for a trainer who operates at a good strike-rate, while Bras d’Or and Act Of Innocence are solid-looking contenders. The verdict notes that they could all be beaten if Ambiente Friendly transfers anything like his best Flat form to this sphere.

Race Statistics

  • Age Groups (W-P-R): 4yo 0-0-2, 5yo 2-1-7, 6yo 0-0-1, 7yo 0-0-1.
  • Fate of Favourites: 31.
  • Trainer Records (w-pl-r): Dan Skelton 1-0-1.

Assessment of the Top Two

Act Of Innocence

  • Strengths: Has a solid bumper background, with success on soft ground. He is considered a major player, benefiting from a positive review from trainer Nicky Henderson.
  • Weaknesses: Returning from a significant break (236 days).
  • Suitability: Considered a major player and solid-looking contender.

Gaelic Pride

  • Strengths: Holds Grade 2 form and demonstrated promise on his hurdles debut, suggesting he is ready to improve. Proven winner on soft ground.
  • Weaknesses: Faces unexposed rivals with high potential (like Ambiente Friendly).
  • Suitability: A strong contender who holds particularly strong claims among those with prior hurdles experience.

1.45 Bottlegreen Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2m 4f 44y)

RankHorse (Odds)TrainerTimeWise Rating (Master)
1Jordans Cross (11/4)A Honeyball150
2Queensbury Boy (4/1)M BowenStill to Run

Recent Form and Comments

Jordans Cross

  • Recent Form: /212-1 (21 days ago).
  • Comments: He is a lightly raced and promising horse who won an Irish maiden point on soft ground. He won his chase debut recently at Aintree (2m, good), asserting after the final fence. This will be his second attempt at 2m4f, and he is carrying a 6lb rise.

Queensbury Boy

  • Recent Form: 211-54 (37 days ago).
  • Comments: He is an Irish point and heavy-ground bumper winner. He was a useful novice hurdler at this distance but failed as the 5-4 favourite in a Chepstow Grade 2 five weeks ago. He has since switched stables, moving from Harry Derham for £75,000. He should make a chaser, although some improvement is needed on his handicap debut.

Spotlight Verdict

The bold show from Jig’s Forge when he was 125-1 in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle puts him on the shortlist. Jordans Cross won his chase debut three weeks ago. However, Joseph O’Brien could have the trump card with his new recruit KIM ROQUE, whose latest French chase effort reads well and who has less to prove in the mud than some of these. Jig’s Forge is second choice.

Race Statistics

  • Age Groups (W-P-R): 5yo 3-1-12, 6yo 4-2-24, 7yo 2-2-10, 8yo 0-2-7.
  • Fate of Favourites: 1P131F1F1.
  • Trainer Records (w-pl-r): Ben Pauling 0-1-3.

Assessment of the Top Two

Jordans Cross

  • Strengths: Unexposed, proven on soft ground (point winner), and won convincingly on his chase debut recently.
  • Weaknesses: Up 6lb for the recent win. The Spotlight Verdict places him behind Kim Roque and Jig’s Forge.
  • Suitability: Worth this attempt at 2m4f.

Queensbury Boy

  • Strengths: Heavy-ground bumper winner suggests suitability for softer conditions. Expected to make a chaser.
  • Weaknesses: Needs improvement on his handicap debut after a disappointing Grade 2 run five weeks ago.
  • Suitability: Should make a chaser, but improvement is required to challenge here.

2.20 Hine Solicitors Talking Sense Handicap Chase (1m 7f 199y)

RankHorse (Odds)TrainerTimeWise Rating (Master)
1Ballybreeze (13/2)S Drinkwater145
2Torneo (10/1)J Snowden144

Recent Form and Comments

Ballybreeze

  • Recent Form: 9P311- (205 days ago).
  • Comments: The 9yo staged a resurgence in the spring, winning two consecutive races over 2m on good ground at Newbury and Chepstow. He has demonstrated versatility regarding ground in the past.

Torneo

  • Recent Form: 131F-2 (32 days ago).
  • Comments: The 5yo was progressive over fences last season, securing novice handicap wins at Taunton (2m, soft) and Chepstow (2m, good). He performed solidly when finishing second on his reappearance last month at Wetherby (1m7f, good). His yard is in-form.

Spotlight Verdict

The 5yo KLASS LANGY impressed when winning his sole chase in France and is taken to make a winning start for Joseph O’Brien. Battle Of Ridgeway is second choice ahead of Torneo, a 5yo who may well have more to offer. Glengouly and Ballybreeze are others to consider.

Race Statistics

  • Age Groups (W-P-R): 4yo 0-0-2, 5yo 0-2-2, 6yo 3-3-14, 7yo 4-4-21, 8yo 2-4-17, 9yo 0-1-16, 10yo 0-1-9.
  • Fate of Favourites: 603152511.
  • Trainer Records (w-pl-r): Joe Tizzard 2-0-2.

Assessment of the Top Two

Ballybreeze

  • Strengths: Shown versatility regarding ground and has potential mileage in his mark following a successful spring campaign.
  • Weaknesses: Reappearing after 205 days off.
  • Suitability: Respected on reappearance. Considered by the Spotlight.

Torneo

  • Strengths: Progressive form over fences, including a win on soft ground. Had a solid second place finish on reappearance and is backed by an in-form yard.
  • Weaknesses: Running off a slightly lower master rating than Ballybreeze.
  • Suitability: On the shortlist and may have further progress to offer.

2.55 Oddschecker Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (3m 3f 71y)

RankHorse (Odds)TrainerTimeWise Rating (Master)
1Protektorat (3/1)D Skelton172
2Tanganyika (7/2)Miss V Williams170

Recent Form and Comments

Protektorat

  • Recent Form: 62142- (226 days ago).
  • Comments: A triple Grade 1 winner who won the Betfair Chase at Haydock (extended 3m1f, soft) in 2022. He has also performed solidly over 3m2f at Cheltenham in 2022/2023, including two runs in the Gold Cup. All his races since March 2024 have been over shorter trips (about 2m4f or 2m6f).

Tanganyika

  • Recent Form: 54112- (246 days ago).
  • Comments: Switched successfully to chasing last season, achieving two 3m wins. He finished the campaign strongly with a tenacious second place in the Midlands National (4m2f). His two latest hurdle wins were on heavy ground, the latest by 25l. All three chase runs mentioned were on good to soft ground.

Spotlight Verdict

Assuming fitness for his reappearance, TANGANYIKA (nap) is a confident selection, as a slog in the mud will suit him and he brings potential. Beauport is the main danger if he proves effective at this track (a significant doubt), so the class act Protektorat and old-timer Sam Brown may be the selection’s biggest challengers.

Race Statistics

  • Age Groups (W-P-R): 6yo 1-2-8, 7yo 4-6-28, 8yo 2-5-26, 9yo 1-3-22, 10yo 1-2-16, 11yo 1-1-6, 12yo 0-0-2, 13yo 0-0-1.
  • Fate of Favourites: 23P4152643.
  • Trainer Records (w-pl-r): David Pipe 1-0-6, Venetia Williams 0-2-3.

Assessment of the Top Two

Protektorat

  • Strengths: Highest TimeWise Master rating (172). Class act, Grade 1 winner, and proven ability over soft and long distances at Cheltenham.
  • Weaknesses: Returning from a break, and recent races have been over shorter trips.
  • Suitability: Expected to be highly competitive, giving Tanganyika most to do.

Tanganyika

  • Strengths: Proven ability over marathon trips and handles heavy ground well based on his hurdle form. Predicted to relish a “slog in the mud” and bring potential.
  • Weaknesses: Reappearing after 246 days off. His three chase wins were on good to soft, not heavy.
  • Suitability: Confident selection (Nap) if in good health.

3.30 Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (2m 87y)

RankHorse (Odds)TrainerTimeWise Rating (Master)
1Cracking Rhapsody (25/1)Ewan Whillans144
2Celtic Dino (8/1)S Thomas143

Recent Form and Comments

Cracking Rhapsody

  • Recent Form: 10171- (218 days ago).
  • Comments: He has wins over hurdles on soft and heavy ground and secured major handicaps over 2m on good to soft in Scotland in the spring. However, he was well beaten in this specific race last year and is now 10lb higher in the weights. He has never won south of Northumberland.

Celtic Dino

  • Recent Form: 1433-1 (35 days ago).
  • Comments: This is a progressive contender who defied top weight to win a notable handicap at Chepstow (2m, good) on his reappearance, beating Alexei. His hurdles record stands at 3-6.

Spotlight Verdict

Attractively treated on Flat form and still open to further progress over hurdles, SERIOUS CHALLENGE may well prove the answer to a typically competitive Greatwood. Castle Carrock (second choice) and Gibbs Island are others to consider. The rematch between improving contenders Celtic Dino and Alexei could go either way.

Race Statistics

  • Age Groups (W-P-R): 4yo 2-2-21, 5yo 5-7-55, 6yo 1-12-44, 7yo 2-1-16, 8yo 0-1-9, 9yo 0-1-7, 10yo 0-0-2.
  • Fate of Favourites: 00F40302O3.
  • Trainer Records (w-pl-r): Alan King 2-1-10, Dan Skelton 2-2-14, Nicky Henderson 1-3-14, Ben Pauling 0-1-5, Fergal O’Brien 0-1-4, Neil King 0-1-1.

Assessment of the Top Two

Cracking Rhapsody

  • Strengths: Proven ability on soft and heavy ground. Has won major handicaps.
  • Weaknesses: Was well beaten in this race last year and returns 10lb higher. Has been off the track for 218 days. Never won south of Northumberland.
  • Suitability: Needs to overcome course and race history, as well as the 10lb rise.

Celtic Dino

  • Strengths: Progressive, recently won on reappearance while carrying top weight.
  • Weaknesses: Soft ground would be a potential negative.
  • Suitability: A key contender, although the Spotlight anticipates a close finish between him and Alexei.

4.00 Three Counties Christmas Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed Race) (2m 87y)

RankHorse (Odds)TrainerTimeWise Rating (Master)
1Bud Fox (11/8)G Cromwell133
2Chicker (5/1)F O’Brien126

Recent Form and Comments

Bud Fox

  • Recent Form: 1-1 (201 days ago).
  • Comments: Unbeaten (2-2), having won a point and then secured a win on his bumper debut in a large field at the Punchestown festival (2m, good to yielding) in April. The Punchestown form is considered strong.

Chicker

  • Recent Form: 11 (22 days ago).
  • Comments: Unbeaten (2-2). Won on debut at Worcester (2m, good) in August and followed up over this C&D (good) three weeks ago despite carrying a penalty.

Spotlight Verdict

Having won a warm race in good style on his bumper debut at Punchestown in April, BUD FOX is taken to maintain his unbeaten record. Chicker, who made it 2-2 when scoring over C&D last month, is third choice behind the non-runner Saint Jeannais. Onlyforfrankie and Sinchi Roca could also be involved.

Race Statistics

  • Age Groups (W-P-R): 4yo 6-8-62, 5yo 4-8-30, 6yo 0-2-5.
  • Fate of Favourites: 4600233414.
  • Trainer Records (w-pl-r): Dan Skelton 1-0-3, Fergal O’Brien 1-2-8, Ben Pauling 0-1-2.

Assessment of the Top Two

Bud Fox

  • Strengths: Highest master rating (133). Unbeaten and comes from powerful Punchestown form, giving him leading claims.
  • Weaknesses: None obvious in the material; high probability of winning according to the verdict.
  • Suitability: Taken to maintain his unbeaten record.

Chicker

  • Strengths: Unbeaten (2-2) and has already proven winning form over course and distance.
  • Weaknesses: Facing a rival with possibly superior bumper form (Punchestown festival winner).
  • Suitability: Has to be in calculations and is considered the next best option among the confirmed runners.

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