'She has a very bright future' - who rates his chances highly in the handicap chase?

This race carries two-thirds of the value of the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but do not expect its competitiveness to live up to that.

The comparison with the Paddy Power is raised because two of the likelier sorts in this race might be working up to it. Scarface rounded off an excellent spring with a third-placed finish in the Silver Trophy over two and a half miles here.

Arclight was a quick learner over fences last season and showed her best form at around that same distance. She does have a little reputational damage to undo, however. She was never travelling nor jumping when last seen in the Pendil at Kempton in February. Whizzing around Cheltenham's shortest chase distance will test those attributes as much.

Matata is undoubtedly taking on an easier task than he was generally assigned last season. After running in a couple of strong novice handicaps, he was second to JPR One in a Grade 2 and essentially found out in Grade 1s at Cheltenham and Aintree.

That Matata is bred mostly for the Flat makes it less likely this six-year-old has made any more physical development over the summer. At least he is likely to be fit, with his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies still firing. 

Champion jockey Harry Cobden is having a solid October, with eight wins so far. Although he is likely to fall short of previous season's totals for the month, that owes most to his boss Paul Nicholls being a couple of weeks further behind than usual. 

Cobden was on non-runner Madara at the five-day stage and is now on last year's second Triple Trade. He is a stablemate of Scarface and it would be logical to think he is the more fancied of the Joe Tizzard runners. 

On the surface, jockey bookings might not agree as Brendan Powell rides Scarface. Cobden has at least ridden Triple Threat before, so that might have been the tie-breaker. It would certainly be hard to imagine the champion jockey was happy to take the ride on a second string.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to Nigel, trainer of Matata
The track and trip will suit him well and he goes well fresh, so there’s plenty to like. This looks a nice starting point to his season.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Calico
He's got a good chance and will love the ground. He was second on his seasonal debut there last year at the November meeting on similar ground. He doesn't hide a lot from the handicapper, but he's fit and ready to go.

Dan Skelton: runs CalicoCredit: Dan Mullan

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Arclight
It was Nico’s [De Boinville] idea to try her over fences last season, which I thought was a brave shout, but she was absolutely brilliant and won three out of four. Was it not for an injury, she would have been out in the spring, and she has a very bright future.

Joe Tizzard, trainer of Triple Trade and Scarface
They are very similar and there’s not much between them. They had cracking seasons last year and this looks a good starting point for them. I gave Brendan Powell the choice and he’s picked Scarface, but it wouldn’t be a massive surprise if Triple Trade finished in front.
Reporting by David Milnes

Read more Cheltenham previews:

1.50 Cheltenham: 'He's run some cracking races and has plenty of experience' - can Path D'Oroux finally open his account over fences?    

3.00 Cheltenham: Can Gale Mahler continue her remarkable run or will a short break have stalled her progress?    

3.35 Cheltenham: 'We go there very hopeful' - key quotes and analysis for the amateur riders' handicap chase     

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