Bonus hunter The Shunter bids to bag £100,000 on return to fences

3.40 Cheltenham
Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 2m4½f | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

It will be great once the pubs reopen, won't it? Escape from the same four walls for a bit of time with a load of familiar faces.

Until then, there is the Paddy Power Plate. More than any other Cheltenham Festival race, it is influenced directly by races at Cheltenham earlier in the season. Anyone who watches jump racing beyond the festival will see races like the Paddy Power Gold Cup, December Gold Cup and so on, most of which involved some of the same horses who appear in this field.

Mister Whitaker, Huntsman Son, Oldgrangewood, Happy Diva, Coole Cody and Champagne Court have all run in multiple races over this course and distance, or the Old course equivalent. A good handful besides have isolated course form.

There is usually one who stands out as a particular old favourite, a sort of father of the house, and at the moment it is probably Happy Diva. She won the Paddy Power Gold Cup in 2019, finished second to Simply The Betts in this last year and was going to place in the latest Paddy Power before falling two out.

A couple of runs since in mares' company have not seen her to best effect, but in small fields that was never truly likely. She also shaped as though her latest run at Warwick would tighten her up, and if it was not for a return to this course and distance then you would struggle to guess the true intent.

Happy Diva: has a fine record at CheltenhamCredit: Grossick Racing

On her best form she looks well handicapped on a mark 4lb lower than last year. Similar comments apply to Champagne Court and Mister Whitaker, whose recent best has also been in similar contests.

Such old hands are rarely fashionable – at the time of writing you could support all three and still be on at a bigger price than favourite The Shunter – but have a tendency to turn up at the finish in this race. A similarly recognisable type has filled at least one of the places in each of the last four years. If you are playing each-way (with plenty of firms offering six places, you should consider it), keep course experience high among your priorities.

Novices are naturally more immediately attractive and they have supplied three of the last four winners, albeit two as relatively short-priced favourites for a maximum-field handicap. The Shunter qualifies as a novice, having failed to complete in his chase starts before this season, and it is a sensible move by connections to target this race rather than the handicap hurdles in which he also held entries.

Handicap chases at the Cheltenham Festival are generally not as red-hot as the equivalent hurdles and The Shunter's connections have an added interest. They are on a £100,000 bonus for winning the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso 12 days ago. On his hurdles form (he won the Greatwood here in November) he would be competitive off 140 and Jordan Gainford's 7lb claim makes things easier still, in theory.

Gainford has ridden only once before in Britain, in an amateur riders' chase here in October 2019, but has made waves already in Ireland and The Shunter is just one of three high-profile rides at this Cheltenham Festival, the others being Chosen Mate in the Grand Annual and The Bosses Oscar in the Pertemps Final.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Mullins holds no fears about return to chasing

Emmet Mullins, aided by his owner Paul Byrne, has transformed the fortunes of The Shunter since acquiring the horse last year and the pair’s bank balance could look a whole lot healthier if successful in this competitive contest.

The Shunter, who won the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle here in November, will collect a £100,000 bonus if following up on his Morebattle victory at Kelso 12 days ago.

There were a multitude of options for The Shunter at the festival, with Mullins choosing this race on the basis that the horse has probably reached his peak over hurdles.

Emmet Mullins: 'It's very exciting'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He explained: “It’s very exciting. It’s going to be a difficult task to back up after such a hard race at Kelso. We haven’t asked him to do much at home since but we couldn’t be happier with what we have seen from him.

“It’s not too often a horse can win three big handicap hurdles in a season and we probably maxed ourselves out over hurdles. He’s only had one run in a handicap over fences so hopefully he should be entitled to improve. Fingers crossed we can get the job done.”

Asked if he holds any fears about The Shunter being equally as effective over fences as he is over hurdles, Mullins responded: “He jumped very well at Leopardstown in an ultra-competitive handicap chase. Jumping around there was not a bother on him. You wouldn’t have too many worries about his jumping if you took that run into consideration.”

The trainer added: “We have a big swing at the weights with A Wave Of The Sea, who beat us at Leopardstown. We said we'd take any way we could help the horse after the quick turnaround, which is why we have called on Jordan Gainford claiming 7lb. Jordan seems to be riding very well and hopefully he can strike up a good association with the horse.”

What they say

Jack Channon, assistant to his father Mick, trainer of Mister Whitaker
He was third in the race last year and is very much a spring horse. He loves running here and we're hoping for another big run.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Assemble, Fils D'Oudairies and A Wave Of The Sea
A Wave Of The Sea won well at Leopardstown last time and has come out of it nicely. Assemble needs to sort out his jumping. He has schooled very well of late, though. The drop in class will suit him so hopefully he can run a respectable race. Fils D'Oudairies has been running well all year. Experience is the question mark hanging over him, but we're still hoping for a good run.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Oldgrangewood
He always runs well at Cheltenham, but he's had no luck this year and nothing has gone his way. Hopefully that will change and I'm really happy with his form.

Denise Foster, trainer of Farclas
He's come back to form really well this season. He's put together a series of very good runs in quality handicaps and a repeat of those entitles him to be thereabouts.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Laskalin
He's a horse we bought quite recently and this will be his first start in David and Carol Shaw's colours. I don't think drying conditions are all that helpful.

Jeremy Scott, trainer of Champagne Court
He's slipped down the handicap a little bit and does seem to run quite well at Cheltenham. It would be a bit of a leap of faith on what he's done this season but this is his time of the year and and I think he will love the ground. He's got an each-way chance.
Reporting by Brian Sheerin

Cheltenham Festival Thursday previews:

Punters have penetrated deep into enemy territory – now for our biggest weapon (Members' Club)

A changing of the guard in the Stayers' Hurdle – but one familiar face remains (Members' Club)

1.20 Cheltenham: Keith Melrose believes there is only one viable alternative to Envoi Allen

1.55 Cheltenham: can conditional Jordan Gainford be the boss in a wide-open punting puzzle?

2.30 Cheltenham: classy and deep Ryanair field could lead to championship race of the week

3.05 Cheltenham: Paisley Park primed in search for 'very special' second Stayers' Hurdle success

Can Paisley Park run below form and still win? Graeme Rodway dissects the data (Members' Club)

4.15 Cheltenham: Peter Fahey confident Royal Kahala can end Willie Mullins mares' monopoly

4.50 Cheltenham: Keith Melrose fancies a pair of novices to come to the fore in a tricky contest

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