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Previews14 December 2024

Master Chewy up against familiar foes as he bids to bounce back from Tingle Creek fall

Libberty Hunter (left) and Master Chewy: leading Cheltenham contenders
Libberty Hunter (left) and Master Chewy: leading Cheltenham contenders

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As is often the case, second-season chasers provide the backbone to this two-miler. If anything it is a mini rerun of last season’s Maghull Novices’ Chase.

Pre-Aintree starting prices and subsequent handicap marks tell you how the picture has changed. Master Chewy outran odds of 14-1 to take second. Back in third was 33-1 chance Libberty Hunter. Etalon struggled when fancied most among that group (9-1), finishing seventh.

Master Chewy's performance at the Grand National meeting propelled him to a mark of 154 and he maintained that level on his return, when fourth at Ascot, before falling in last Saturday's Tingle Creek.

Etalon will be 17lb better off with Master Chewy on the Maghull run after finishing last on his past two outings, while the returning Libberty Hunter benefits from a 10lb pull with the topweight.

It remains to be seen whether Master Chewy will feel the effects of his spill at Sandown, and Libberty Hunter’s camp should harbour confidence of reversing the Maghull form. He has presumably been ready to run for a while, his connections biding their time in search of softer conditions.

For a horse with standout Racing Post Ratings in Master Chewy's ballpark, Third Time Lucki is interesting if building on his stable debut for Fergal O’Brien when a distant second amid a final-fence faller in the corresponding race at the November meeting. The concern is how much ability he retains and a vulnerability against younger legs.

In a high-class race with a surprising scarcity of recent winning form, Issar D’Airy should appear on any shortlist with cheekpieces applied for the first time. He seemingly needed a stiffer test after getting outpaced when favourite at Newbury last time out and this more demanding track may help. The form of his second to Martator at Ascot two starts back is strong.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders


What they say

Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant trainer to Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Master Chewy
All seems to be well after falling in the Tingle Creek last Saturday. He schooled beautifully on Wednesday. It was a shame what happened at Sandown, but we hope he can pick up some compensation.

Evan Williams, trainer of Libberty Hunter
We've been waiting for the ground so we'll go and see where he is. He ran a cracker at Cheltenham in the Grand Annual. It's his first time back, which is always a challenge, but fingers crossed he can go okay and he's not far behind the others. He's a second-season chaser so we'll find out a bit more about him.

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Third Time Lucki
He ran a great race last time as he'd been off for a while before. Johnny Burke has schooled him since and said he's built on that so we're hoping there's a bit more to come.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Etalon
He's not been in the form I've wanted him to be in this year. He was a winning machine as a novice chaser so it's frustrating he's started this season a bit damp, but I'm sure he'll come right. There's no physical issue, I think we've just got to bear with him. Maybe the handicapper has him too high – I thought he'd cope with it but maybe not.

Gary Moore, joint-trainer of Issar D'Airy
It didn't go right last time at Newbury, but he's got a lovely racing weight and that gives him a chance. The form of his Ascot run on his comeback is working out well too.

Joe Tizzard, trainer of Triple Trade
He's got no weight on his back with 10st 4lb. I thought he ran really well at Ascot last time; we popped the cheekpieces on which helped him to travel. He'll run his race again.
Reporting by Matt Rennie


Read the rest of our Saturday previews:

11.30 Fairyhouse: 'He looks the pick of ours' - Triumph Hurdle hero Majborough makes chasing debut for Willie Mullins  

1.50 Cheltenham: 'This has been the plan for some time' - top trainers on their big December Gold Cup hopes  

2.05 Doncaster: 'He's extremely well handicapped' - Chasing Fire among a host of intriguing runners in ultra-competitive chase  

3.00 Cheltenham: 'I'm not sure where his ceiling level is' - can mega improver Skyjack Hijack make it seven wins in a row?  

3.35 Cheltenham: can Joyeuse live up to her pedigree and prove a class apart for Nicky Henderson off a basement BHA rating?  


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