'He's in the form of his life' - Milton Harris bullish about Jacamar's chances

Saturday: 1.55 Cheltenham
Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 2m4½f | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

With £100,000 in guaranteed prize-money, it’s not surprising this looks a fiercely competitive handicap chase.

Siruh Du Lac, winner in 2019, went on to land the Plate at that year’s Cheltenham Festival, while 2018 winner Frodon secured the Ryanair the following year.

The Giant Bolster, successful in 2012, finished a gallant 50-1 second to Synchronised in the Gold Cup two starts later.

Whether there is a festival winner among the 11 runners this year is open to conjecture, but one of the youngest, Farinet, continues to go the right way.

He was impressive under 12st 2lb at Sandown last time when slamming Luckofthedraw by five and a half lengths.

A subsequent 6lb rise may prove less of a problem than the much drier ground at Cheltenham as he seems particularly well suited by deep mud.

Nick Williams, who trained Siruh Du Lac, has another prime candidate in Galahad Quest. Winner of the Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at this meeting two years ago, he has dropped 3lb in the weights since the start of the season. His handler doesn’t believe good ground will pose any problems.

Magic Saint, down 7lb since the beginning of the season, won’t mind the ground, and has winning Cheltenham form.

The admirable Coole Cody, winner of the Racing Post Gold Cup over course and distance in December, is now off a career-high 147 and it’s surprising the handicapper hasn’t dropped him for his eighth of 16 behind Vienna Court at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

Perhaps one of the less exposed runners like Jacamar or Torn And Frayed, who has been well backed since Wednesday, could prove the solution to the puzzle.

Torn And Frayed has had just four chases and might prove fairly treated off 131 if reproducing his seven-length Cheltenham second to now 155-rated My Drogo.

'He was a big price at 12-1'

Milton Harris is enjoying a cracking season with 38 winners and he believes the bookmakers made a mistake in offering his progressive seven-year-old Jacamar at double-figure odds in midweek.

Plenty of punters have already taken a similar view and it would be no surprise if Jacamar started at around 7-1.

The trainer said: “Jacamar is an improving young horse. We had the option of the novice handicap, but I’d rather take on the more exposed runners in this race. The one downside, of course, is he lacks the experience of many of the others.

“He’s in the form of his life and off a good mark – I’m sure 133 isn’t the ceiling of his ability. I saw he was 12-1 on Thursday night – that was a big price.”

What they say

Evan Williams, trainer of Coole Cody
The handicapper hasn’t moved him at all for his last run when he finished eighth. He’s an 11-year-old who went to the biggest jumps track in the country, made the running, finished well beaten, and didn’t get dropped for it. He’s a warrior who wears his heart on his sleeve. We’ll give it another go and we’ll be bold and brave, but I feel sorry for the old horse, I really do.

Henry Daly, trainer of Whatmore
He’s been in since the beginning of October, but has got very fresh and we need to get the gas out of him. I can’t run him over three miles, which is what he needs, first time back as he’d be too keen. This trip round Cheltenham should suit him well.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Spiritofthegames
He’s always good around Cheltenham. We were too aggressive with him over three miles last time, so he’s coming back down in distance. He runs well in this type of race.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Farinet
He’s not going to get his favoured soft ground, but the forecast doesn’t hold out much hope of that happening for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, he’ll be able to take his chance. He got his ground at Sandown, but this will be more difficult for him. It’s a good prize, and you’re not always going to have everything in your favour.

Nick Williams, trainer of Galahad Quest
It’s his time of year and I’m hopeful for a big run. The ground will be fine and he has plenty more to offer. It’s time he won this season.

Read more Saturday previews . . .

2.30 Cheltenham: 'He's got to come through this' – D-day for big Gold Cup hope Chantry House

2.45 Doncaster: will the River Don prove an 'easy route' for Unanswered Prayers?

3.05 Cheltenham: 'Any criticism of him is surely harsh' – Graeme Rodway on Cleeve favourite Champ

3.20 Doncaster: Fusil Raffles and Cap Du Nord among leading fancies in wide-open Sky Bet Chase

3.40 Cheltenham: does Nicky Henderson hold winning formline in clash of two potential stars?

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