December 14 / 14.25 Cheltenham

14.25

Good To Soft

BetMGM Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £20812
  • 2m 0f 62y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
BetMGM Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: F1123- CD

Last run: 245 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
C&D winner on New Year's Day (2m, heavy) and a clear second in the Grand Annual back here (soft) in March; Grade 1 novice assignment on good to soft at Aintree proved too tough (Master Chewy 11l ahead) but that was career-best form and he brings potential back at Cheltenham assuming fitness on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Libberty Hunter

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Evan Williams

In touch and still going okay when falling three out in this race last year but it's difficult to ascertain where he'd have finished with a clear round; overall record at Cheltenham is 121FU, both wins in handicaps on the New course; ran creditably, one place behind Saint Segal, in the Game Spirit most recently; at the age of ten he's unlikely to find the major improvement that's needed on ratings.

66/1

3rd

5

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:45 Newbury

Libberty Hunter

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Evan Williams

Acts on heavy ground; continued his progress with a good second to Master Chewy in this contest 12 months ago and he meets the winner on better terms in this rematch; subsequent form comprises two non-completions at Cheltenham and a remote fourth, albeit facing stiff assignment, in the Tingle Creek; return to this scenario puts him in calculations.

7/1

5

12th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Libberty Hunter

11st 10lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Has form figures of 112312 in completed chase starts and 121 (three handicaps) at Cheltenham; good second in the Grand Annual on this card 12 months ago and filled the same position in the Game Spirit at Newbury most recently; progressive but has the lowest rating of the field.

33/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 155-24 D BF

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Started this second campaign over fences with a good second at Ascot, two places in front of Master Chewy; got messed around at various stages up the straight when below-form favourite at Newbury two weeks ago, a run that's perhaps best forgiven but connections also now turn to cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

12

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Issar dAiry

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Favourably treated with Martator on his beating of that rival in late 2023 and, when second to the Williams horse in this last year, he committed a good way from home; didn't really fire back in the spring but he's very able when fresh and worth a second look despite being 2lb wrong; Freddie Mitchell aboard for five of his last six races.

9/1

8th

12

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Issar dAiry

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Favourably treated with Martator on his beating of that rival in late 2023 and, when second to the Williams horse in this last year, he committed a good way from home; didn't really fire back in the spring but he's very able when fresh and worth a second look despite being 2lb wrong; Freddie Mitchell aboard for five of his last six races.

9/1

7

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 2

14:05 Fontwell

Issar dAiry

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Form: 4F2-4F D

Last run: 7 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
In place contention when falling two out in the Arkle here in March and went close in another Grade 1 novice at Aintree in April; made a creditable handicap reappearance at Ascot but fell at halfway when 14-1 for the Tingle Creek at Sandown last Saturday; his sights are lowered again after that top-level assignment and he should put up a bold show barring mishaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Master Chewy

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Finished a creditable close second of three finishers in a Grade 2 at Kempton (about 2m4f, good) in January but he's an infrequent winner and it's two years since he ran well in a Grade 1 (not far away when falling two out in the Arkle here, then touched off at Aintree); well adrift in this race last year and there's no reason to expect much better today.

100/1

5th

1

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:45 Newbury

Master Chewy

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Landed this prize last year but incurs a bigger penalty this time, making him worse off with runner-up Libberty Hunter, and concedes weight to some other notable rivals that include a very promising 5yo; outgunned by 12yo Edwardstone at Kempton most recently; chance of doing the Game Spirit double partly depends on how well he responds to first-time headgear.

11/1

2

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Master Chewy

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Unproven at this trip but kept on well to win Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury (2m, soft) in February and his two subsequent defeats came in Grade 1s; likes it here, with course form figures of 122, and he's fine on good ground; from in-form yard and can play leading role if seeing out the trip.

4/1

Form: 585-64 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
The first of last season's two wins came at this track (2m) and the second came off 5lb higher than today (Ascot 2m3f); he's not fired on either start this term, however, first tried in cheekpieces on latest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Triple Trade

10st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Still on a good mark despite winning twice this season (2m/2m4f; soft/good) and was 11-2 for the veterans' final over C&D earlier this month, only to depart early; has a lot in his favour so merits each-way consideration.

16/1

12

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Triple Trade

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Two wins this season (2m/2m4f, soft/good) and 10l third behind an 8yo and a 7yo at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in January; 20l fourth in another competitive handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) in February but that form is working out well and he's back against fellow veterans today; chance.

11/1

4th

9

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Triple Trade

10st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Has a solid record (1313) over 2m/2m4f this season but gained the wins in Class 3 and finished 10l behind a couple of younger rivals, albeit not disgraced, in Class 1 at Cheltenham most recently; the 10yo looks under some pressure kept to this level.

12/1

15/2

Form: 117-59 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Impressive in three handicaps on soft ground last winter; however, he flopped behind two of these in Grade 1 novice at Aintree in April and has taken two further backward steps this term, so best watched at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Etalon

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Fitting of cheekpieces sparked a revival in December, when landing a fifth success over fences at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft); followed that up with a career-best RPR when third off this mark there (2m5f) the following month; respected but he'll need to leave behind a lesser effort last time.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 3149/2 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Smart when with Dan Skelton (peak mark was 11lb higher than today's) and had a good record at Cheltenham; bought for £190,000 in August 2023 and had his first run since when a remote second here four weeks ago, a run he may well have needed but he does not exactly have pressing claims after that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

24th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 199y

Class 2

15:35 Cheltenham

Third Time Lucki

10st 5lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Had his troubles after such a promising start over fences for the Skeltons but he's back in the good books after small-field handicap wins at Bangor and Uttoxeter (both on good ground; effective on softer); returns to far classier company here and may be found wanting.

9/1

1st

2

29th Jun 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 2

16:20 Uttoxeter

Third Time Lucki

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has regressed since showing such smart form for the Skeltons but looked back on good terms with himself when comfortably accounting for Fringill Dike at Bangor (2m1f, good), having led from halfway; back up 9lb but might well have turned a corner.

3/1

1st

5

17th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 2

14:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Third Time Lucki

10st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Very well handicapped on old form but, following a long absence, did not really fire on any of five starts for new stable last season; not beaten far when last of five in Ascot race won by Coastguard Station in March and another 5lb lower here but still needs to up his game.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.00
Straight Forecast £12.79
Trifecta £29.90

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Master Chewy

SPOTLIGHT:

Libberty Hunter

RP RATINGS:

Issar d'Airy

The Times:

Third Time Lucki

POSTDATA:

Issar d'Airy

Telegraph:

Issar d'Airy

Daily Mirror:

Master Chewy

The Sun:

Master Chewy

The Star:

Master Chewy

TOPSPEED:

Libberty Hunter

D Express:

Libberty Hunter

Daily Record:

Libberty Hunter

Daily Mail:

Third Time Lucki