GB - Cheltenham - Race 7

Thoroughbred

18 Runners

25f

Handicap Chase

Turf

Good to Soft

27.5K

VIEW

Verdict

KELCE enjoyed an excellent first season as a chaser and is fancied to continue his progression on reappearance. He gets the vote ahead of Smugglers Haven who is one the least exposed in this field and could progress again on just her fourth start over fences, while The Newest One merits respect racing off a 1 lb lower mark than when successful in this contest last year.

numberFire Picks

Horse Stats

#/Silk	Horse#/Horse	Power Rating	High Speed	Win %	Top 3%	Win Prob
13	Much improved switched to fences with cheekpieces applied, easily getting off the mark in a 3m handicap at Market Rasen (soft) in December and steadily improved thereafter, ending his season on a high with victory at Wetherby (24.2f). Unlikely we've seen the best of this progressive sort. 1st Pick 13 Kelce (Ire) Jockey: Mr A. P. Ryan Trainer: Neil Mulholland J: Mr A. P. Ryan T: Neil Mulholland	100	-	-	-	10%
Analysis Much improved switched to fences with cheekpieces applied, easily getting off the mark in a 3m handicap at Market Rasen (soft) in December and steadily improved thereafter, ending his season on a high with victory at Wetherby (24.2f). Unlikely we've seen the best of this progressive sort.
15	Progressive three-time winner over hurdles and has shaped with promise over fences, runner-up for the third consecutive race when bumping into a handicap blot in a 3m chase at Warwick last month. Still early days as a chaser and she remains one to be interested in. 2nd Pick 15 Smugglers Haven (Ire) Jockey: Miss Lily Bradstock Trainer: Sara Bradstock J: Miss Lily Bradstock T: Sara Bradstock	99	-	-	-	25%
Analysis Progressive three-time winner over hurdles and has shaped with promise over fences, runner-up for the third consecutive race when bumping into a handicap blot in a 3m chase at Warwick last month. Still early days as a chaser and she remains one to be interested in.
7	Made a winning return in this race in 2024 but saw his form tail off, pulled-up in the Welsh and Edinburgh Nationals at Musselburgh and failed to justify support in a veterans chase at Doncaster on final start of the campaign. 1 lb lower than last year and likely to have been targeted at this race. 3rd Pick 7 The Newest One (Ire) Jockey: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell Trainer: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies	99	-	-	-	12%
Analysis Made a winning return in this race in 2024 but saw his form tail off, pulled-up in the Welsh and Edinburgh Nationals at Musselburgh and failed to justify support in a veterans chase at Doncaster on final start of the campaign. 1 lb lower than last year and likely to have been targeted at this race.

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Horse Racing Basic Terms

Stewards

The officials watching every race at a meet to enforce the rules.

Show Wager

Betting on a horse to finish in the first three spots, which pays out the same whether they win or run second or third.

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A sudden veering to the inside or outside rail, often caused by the horse spooking or shying from something.