Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase Preview - Cheltenham Festival

Published on: 12/03/2020

Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase Preview- Cheltenham Festival

March 12, 2020 16:10pm - Cheltenham

Distance: 2m 4f 166y

Grade: (Grade 3) (Class 1) (5yo+)

Runners: 23

Winner: £61,897

Going: Soft

This 2m 5f handicap chase has been difficult to call in recent year and this year`s renewal is no exception. Recent winners include Road to Respect and The Storyteller and Siruh Du Lac who returns to defend his crown.

Last year`s winner has only featured once since, pulling up in the Grade Three Gold Cup Handicap Chase here in November. As a result, he arrives his as a bit of an unknown quantity in terms of form but everything suggests he has been targeted for this, so don`t be surprised if he pulls another big performance out of the bag. It should be noted that he pulled up at Kempton in 2017 before going on the win six from seven races. A price of 14/1 looks great value even with 9lbs more on board.

Simply the Betts has looked solid and continues to improve over fences. Has three wins and a second-place from his last four starts including a course and distance win in January. That form has been enough to earn him the favourite tag for this race.

Other contenders include Deyrann de Carjac who has had a decent campaign and Spiritofthegames who likes the track and can make each-way claims after some strong performances in good company this year.

Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase Winners - past six years:

2014: Ballynagour (8) - Tom Scudamore (David Pipe)

2015: Darna (9) - David Bass (Kim Baily)

2016: Empire of Dirt (9) - Bryan Cooper (Colm Murphy)

2017: Road to Respect (6) - Bryan Cooper (Noel Meade)

2018: The Storyteller (7) - Davy Russell (Gordon Elliott)

2019: Siruh Du Lac (6) - Nick Williams (Lizzie Kelly)

Latest Betting odds:

Simply The Betts (3/1), Deyrann de Carjac (10/1), Ben Dundee (11/1), Oldgrangewood (12/1), Blazer (12/1), Robin Des Foret (14/1), La Bague Au Roi (14/1), Siruh Du Lac (14/1), Not Another Muddle (16/1), Springtown Lake (16/1), Spiritofthegames (16/1), Death Duty (20/1), Mister Whitaker (20/1), Happy Diva (25/1), Vision Des Flos (25/1), Livelovelaugh (33/1), Charmant (40/1), Highway One O One (40/1), Snow Falcon (40/1), Louis` Vac Pouch (66/1), Royal Village (66/1), Imperial Presence (66/1), Kauto Riko (66/1),

By Neil Morris

Published on: 12/03/2020

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (12/03/2020 12:03:25) but are subject to change.