'He's firing on all cylinders' - key analysis and quotes for competitive handicap chase

It is likely that there will be a weaker Premier handicap run over fences at Cheltenham this season. This race has attracted a winner of a Premier handicap here from last season, the first two from the Grimthorpe, a former Coral Gold Cup winner and a Grand National second.

The difficulty today will be parsing the ready from those limbering up for a bigger prize. The Showcase meeting presents a rare opportunity for good-ground horses to win at Cheltenham. It is likely that those horses in this field will be closest to peaking.

Some Scope would be favourite on my tissue. He improved all through 2023-24, mostly on good ground. When he was second in a muddy Grimthorpe, it was partly the conditions that beat him. The softer the ground, the more front runners tend to be favoured and he conceded the run of the race to the more prominently-ridden Does He Know. He shaped much the better and is one to follow in the first half of the season.

Also likely to be closer to full fitness than most returners is Unanswered Prayers. He won a novice handicap chase here two years ago and was in his best run of form since that win when last seen in the spring.

It would be a mistake to fixate on the established sorts in the field. There is extra interest provided by a group of young chasers who are new, or newish, to the trip. Chasing Fire got his chasing career back on track when winning over three miles at Perth in April and has potential. Kansas City Star is going up a mile in distance, but he is bred for it and occasionally shone at two miles. He has already had a run, which did look very much like it was needed.

Pepe Le Moko had a fine first season over fences around two and a half miles. His most recent fifth at Kempton was much better than his finishing position implies. Not only was it another step forward on Racing Post Ratings, but he had only just been headed when walking through the last.

Like many of these, the question with Pepe Le Moko is how fit he will be today. Putting that to one side, it says a lot about the depth of this race that a progressive six-year-old who is bred for the trip is available at well into double-figure odds.
Analysis by Keith Melrose

Some Scope primed for Cheltenham return

Richard Hobson is hopeful Some Scope can show his true ability on his preferred good ground at Cheltenham as he makes his seasonal reappearance in the 3m1f handicap chase.

The six-year-old won two of his five starts last term but faced testing conditions when second behind the reopposing Does He Know in the Grimthorpe in March.

His final outing came when fourth at Cheltenham a month later, and Hobson reports him to be in excellent form for his return.

Some Scope and Gavin Sheehan win at Haydock

Some Scope: makes his seasonal return under Gavin SheehanCredit: John Grossick

Hobson said: "He's all good and he's got his ground. The Grimthorpe was terrible ground and it's not what he's about – it just caught him out in the end really.

"I'd like to have seen him run in that race on better ground as only two completed the race. We also had Docpickedme, who pulled up, and he didn't get over the race and finished his season off there.

"Some Scope had a hard enough race at Doncaster and although he ran quite well at Cheltenham, he was a bit flat and he was only beaten just over four lengths. I rode him out this morning and he's firing on all cylinders."

What they say

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Broadway Boy
He's doing really well. He had a few lung infections at the end of last season, but he's seems to be 100 per cent now and I'm expecting a really good run.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Le Milos
He never really got going last year, it just didn't happen for him at all. I feel like he's as well as we can get him right now, I don't think the track is an issue and he won the Coral Gold Cup on decent ground. I'm looking forward to running him.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Chasing Fire
He's in very good form and has a good record fresh. If he stays the 3m1f he's got a good each-way chance.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Captain Morgs
His last three wins have been on good ground, the latest in a handicap chase at Aintree in May. We gave him a little break this summer as suitable races were few and far between for horses rated as high as he is, but he's ready to run.

Harry Derham, trainer of Kansas City Star
He's fine, but he's got to stay the distance and it'll be a tough task, although the ground will suit him.
Reporting by Liam Headd

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