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Festival Plate Handicap

16:10 Cheltenham Festival

2024-03-14

Winner: £67,524

Runners: 21

Going: Soft

No. of hurdles: 17

Distance: 2m4f127y

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The TrustaTrader Festival Plate is a handicap chase over 2m4.5f which takes place on day three of the Cheltenham Festival. It is often the springboard to bigger success and in recent years Road To Respect and The Storyteller have won the Plate before going on to strike at Grade 1 level. Check the TrustaTrader Festival Plate Handicap runners and riders ahead of the race and place your bets by clicking the odds buttons.

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16(0)
U-6007
silk
Ciel De Neige

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J: Richie McLernon
T: Ben Haslam
9
10-11
135
159
Ran well in handicap hurdles at earlier Festivals and has since won three chases at up to 2m4f for Willie Mullins; has not yet settled down for new yard (without regular headgear; cheekpieces refitted today) and best watched in such a warm race.
2(0)
071P03
silk
Embittered

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J: Mr R James
T: Gordon Elliott
10
11-8
146
150
Three chase wins from 25 attempts, ending a two-year losing run at Navan (2m4f, soft) in December; has run really well over hurdles at the Festival but he played little part in the Grand Annual two years ago and was pulled up in this race last March; up against it.
21(0)
1/F656
silk
Torn And Frayed

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J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: Nigel Twiston-Davies
10
10-6
130
155
Acts well here and was a C&D winner (on good; has won on soft) in January 2022; ran as well as could be expected on his first completion after an absence when sixth over C&D in December but subsequent runs, on this track and at Ascot, suggest he needs more weight off his back.
19(0)
3232P6
silk
Frero Banbou

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J: Charlie Deutsch
T: Venetia Williams
9
10-9
133
161
Latest win in January 2022; the step up to 2m4f wasn't a success in last year's Plate but he ran two good races over C&D in midwinter (soft and heavy; effective on good to soft) and now 7lb lower than the latest of them; out of sorts since but not ignored for yard that has won this three times.
7(0)
34-P61
silk
Shakem Up'Arry

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J: Ben Jones
T: Ben Pauling
10
11-5
143
158
Finished an honourable third in this race (soft) last year; had a fair stab at his first run beyond 2m5f when fourth at Aintree next time (3m1f, good to soft) but was a non-stayer over 3m2f at Newbury in December and has since confirmed that 2m4f is his trip when coming clear quite readily over C&D (heavy) on New Year's Day; 4lb higher than 12 months ago but he could now be an improved performer.
12(0)
01-00P
silk
Hereditary Rule

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J: Ben Harvey
T: John C McConnell
9
11-0
138
158
Has course form but was down the field in last year's Plate (50-1) and although he landed a good handicap at Punchestown (2m5f, yielding; wouldn't want it any softer) in April, his subsequent chase and hurdle runs leave him with much to prove.
18(0)
44-230
silk
Straw Fan Jack

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J: Sean Houlihan
T: Sheila Lewis
9
10-9
133
165
Both chase wins at 2m on good ground, one at this track, but he has not looked ahead of his mark in three handicaps at about 2m5f this winter; pulled up when cheekpieces were fitted once previously.
1(0)
43-443
silk
James Du Berlais

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J: Daryl Jacob
T: W P Mullins
8
12-0
152
155
Made a successful switch to fences in early 2023; Grade 1 races generally asked too much of him subsequently although he was anything but disgraced when sixth in the Turners (soft) over C&D last March; in the frame in valuable Leopardstown handicaps since Christmas over 3m (soft) and 2m5f (yielding to soft) but will need more to win this.
15(0)
P-3041
silk
Fighter Allen

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J: Jack Tudor
T: David Pipe
9
10-13
137
154
Ended his time with Willie Mullins by beating the only two other finishers in a 2m5f Sligo chase in September (sold for 21,000gns since) but he had his good and bad days for that yard; this is a big ask back from a break and wind surgery; trainer has won this three times since 2010.
20(0)
3-5338
silk
Killer Kane

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J: Brendan Powell
T: Joe Tizzard
9
10-6
130
160
Some creditable efforts in defeat since his latest win, at Kempton (3m, good; has form on soft) last February, but he's been on much the same mark all that time so it's rather doubtful whether he's well enough treated for this race; cheekpieces are added.
6(0)
211025
silk
Mars Harper

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J: Jordan Gainford
T: Gordon Elliott
8
11-5
143
153
Best chase form when winning a 2m6f Listowel handicap (yielding to soft) in September but he ran moderately behind Embittered at Navan in December when last seen and made no impact in this race last year.
4(0)
FP5-22
silk
Glengouly

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J: Danny Mullins
T: W P Mullins
8
11-8
146
153
Made the running and was never seriously threatened on chase debut (2m2f, yielding) in late 2022 but career went off the rails later; recovered form in handicaps at 2m3f and 3m1f (also on heavy) of late, running up against a course specialist in the former and answering the stamina question with a bold effort since; likely to need extra back down in trip off this mark.
3(0)
P-3230
silk
Il Ridoto

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J: Freddie Gingell
T: Paul Nicholls
7
11-8
146
165
Had stamina limitations over 3m recently; has a fine record in competitive 2m4f handicaps on both courses here but he went back up in the weights after his narrow defeat in December (soft; also effective on good to soft) and had no serious say off today's mark in this race last year.
5(0)
P/3221
silk
Saint Felicien

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J: Jack Kennedy
T: Gordon Elliott
7
11-8
146
152
Hurdle winner on yielding; lightly raced 7yo who was made favourite but was pulled up in the 2m5f Coral Cup in 2022; off the track for 22 months after but has made a convincing switch to fences this winter and strode clear in good style at Gowran (2m4f, heavy) 26 days ago; this race is a big step up but he is a more likely improver than many.
9(0)
13360F
silk
Watch House Cross

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J: Darragh O'Keeffe
T: Henry De Bromhead
7
11-3
141
153
Faded in the 2m5f Coral Cup last March; won small-field novice chases at Wexford (2m, yielding; 2m4f, good to yielding) later but has found 3m on testing ground beyond him in competitive handicaps since; the return to 2m4f should suit but he needs to put a subsequent early fall behind him.
11(0)
-33050
silk
Life In The Park

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J: Mike O'Connor
T: Henry De Bromhead
7
11-1
139
155
One win from nine chase runs, in a 2m6f beginners race at Listowel in September 2022; has been vulnerable in handicaps since last April and there is little reason to think he's well enough treated to play a part today either, unless the first-time tongue-tie makes a big difference.
17(0)
P4-442
silk
Arctic Bresil

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J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
7
10-11
135
148
Won hurdle debut (2m1f, yielding to soft) last midwinter but promotion to a Grade 1 next time didn't come off; not an immediate hit over fences and he wasn't the strongest finisher in the field when upped to 2m4f at Gowran (heavy; similar weights chance to runner-up Saint Felicien) in January; probably capable of better if stamina holds out.
10(0)
61-F41
silk
Crebilly

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J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr
T: Jonjo O'Neill
7
11-2
140
163
Improving hurdler last spring; has kept up the good work since switched to fences and was pressing a smart one hard when falling two out on chase debut (2m4f, soft; has won on good to soft) here in December; had even more to prove in a particularly strong C&D novice next time and he gave best only on the run-in; had plenty in the tank when forging home at Exeter (2m3f, heavy) last month and looks sure to be in the thick of it.
14(0)
21-232
silk
Theatre Man

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J: Harry Cobden
T: Richard J Bandey
8
10-13
137
161
Made all for two hurdle wins, at 2m3f and 2m5f (also on soft); started chase career with two useful efforts in 2m7f handicaps and he laid down a strong marker for this race when runner-up in a warm C&D event (good to soft) in January, taking time to pick up but racing up the hill in great style; up 3lb but open to improvement and has solid claims with Harry Cobden a rare booking (0-1) for yard that has been among the winners of late.
8(0)
P-1442
silk
Riaan

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J: Danny Gilligan
T: Gordon Elliott
7
11-4
142
148
Pulled up in the Coral Cup last March (40-1); has taken well to fences, making most on first run and running well for a long way when second of 25 at Leopardstown (2m5f, yielding to soft) last month to one on a good mark; others have achieved more but he's still near the start of his career.
13(0)
32-32U
silk
In Excelsis Deo

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J: Jonathan Burke
T: Harry Fry
6
10-13
137
155
Both wins, in a French hurdle and on handicap/chase debut for new yard, were at about 2m1f; kept to similar trips this season, finishing close up in both completions here, but he showed some potential for 2m4f at Chepstow (soft; acts on good) last March when not disgraced, after a serious mistake at the last, behind two who have gone on to better things; has a squeak.

RACING POST TIP

circle_v2
silk
Theatre Man
There is a lot to be said for the market leaders Crebilly and THEATRE MAN who have both done really well against up-and-coming novices over C&D this winter and preference for the latter is only slight. Although generally a neat jumper he lost some valuable momentum four out here on his latest start but his finishing was impressive up the final hill and on that run there are unlikely to be many who come home better. Crebilly can be the main danger ahead of Shakem Up'Arry, who was better than ever on this track last time, and Saint Felicien, with In Excelsis Deo also of interest.

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TrustaTrader Festival Plate Handicap PREVIOUS WINNERS

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Year Horse Previous form Age Price Trainer Jockey
2023 Seddon 2311 10 20-1 John C McConnell Ben Harvey (5)
2022 Coole Cody 2F187 11 22-1 Evan Williams Adam Wedge
2021 The Shunter 114131 8 9-4F Emmet Mullins J Gainford
2020 Simply The Betts 4-1121 7 100-30F Harry Whittington Gavin Sheehan
2019 Siruh Du Lac 13-111 6 9-2 Nick Williams Lizzie Kelly
2018 The Storyteller 1-2137 7 5-1F Gordon Elliott Davy Russell
2017 Road To Respect 14322 6 14-1 Noel Meade Bryan Cooper
2016 Empire Of Dirt F-F2P1 9 16-1 Colm Murphy Bryan Cooper
2015 Darna F7/157 9 33-1 Kim Bailey David Bass
2014 Ballynagour 9P18-P 8 12-1 David Pipe Tom Scudamore

TrustaTrader Festival Plate Handicap KEY TRENDS AND STATS

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Key trends

  • Won between 2m3f and 2m5f, 10/10
  • No more than 11 runs over fences, 8/10
  • Won a Class 3 or higher, 8/10
  • Officially rated 140 to 145, 8/10
  • Carried no more than 10st 13lb, 7/10

Other factors

  • Only two of the last ten winners placed in one of the big 2m4f-2m5f handicaps at Cheltenham that season (Siruh Du Lac and Coole Cody). 
  • Irish trainers have won five of the last eight runnings (their last winner before them was Doubleuagain in 1982).
  • Five winners scored last time out but four of the other five failed to place.

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WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - FESTIVAL PLATE 2023

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SEDDON absent since an easy win at Leopardstown at the end of December. That came off an Irish mark of 123 but he shrugged off his hefty rise to take this. Fugitif, not ridden as prominently as the winner, looked a big threat early on the run-in before having to give best, while Shakem Up’arry saw out the trip better than he had here on New Year’s Day and clung on to third. Favourite Datsalrightgino was never travelling and reportedly would have prefered a better surface.