TO CLOSE BY NOON ON FEBRUARY 20th
CHELTENHAM
Thursday, March 14th
THE PADDY POWER PLATE HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1)
(Grade 3)
TOTAL RACE VALUE GBP 120,000
Distributed in accordance with Stakes and Prize Money Code
GBP 67,524 to the winning horse
The second to receive GBP 25,440,
the third GBP 12,732,
the fourth GBP 6,360,
the fifth GBP 3,192,
the sixth GBP 1,596,
the seventh GBP 792
and the eighth GBP 408.
for five yrs old and upwards
TWO MILES ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF FURLONGS (2m 4f 127yds)
Enter by noon, February 20th and pay GBP 130 stake
Confirm by noon, March 8th and pay GBP 395
Declare by 10.00 a.m. March 12th
Weights published on February 27th
Penalties, after February 25th, 2024, a winner of a steeple chase 5lb
(No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb)
PLEASE NOTE: A novice horse shall only be qualified to run in this race if it has run a minimum of three times in Steeple Chases in Great Britain, Ireland or France in accordance with paragraph 15 of the Weights and Handicapping Code
2023. Seddon 10-10-9 20/1 Jon McConnell - Ben Harvey (5) RPR 154
2022. Coole Cody 11-11-2 22/1 Evan Williams - Adam Wedge RPR 157
2021. The Shunter 8-10-5 9/4F Emmet Mullins - Jordan Gainford (7) RPR 154
2020. Simple The Betts 7-11-4 10/3F H. Whittington Gavin Sheehan RPR 158
2019. Siruh Du Lac. 6-10-8. 9/2. Nick Williams. Lizzie Kelly (3). RPR 151
2018. The Storyteller. 7-11-4. 5/1F. Gordon Elliott. Davy Russell. RPR 161
2017. Road To Respect. 6-10-13. 14/1. Noel Meade. B J Cooper. RPR 161
2016. Empire Of Dirt. 9-10-11. 16/1. C A Murphy. B J Cooper. RPR 154
2015. Darna. 9-10-11. 33/1. Kim Bailey David Bass. RPR 148
2014. Ballynagour. 8-10-9. 12/1. David Pipe. T. Scudamore. RPR 156
2023 1st OR 143, 2nd OR 149, 3rd OR 139, 4th OR 137 - High 157, Low OR 133, 23 ran
2022 1st OR 145, 2nd OR 152, 3rd OR 136, 4th OR 144 - High 155, Low OR 132, 15 ran
2021 1st OR 140, 2nd OR 146, 3rd OR 154, 4th OR 143 - High 154, Low OR 130, 21 ran
2020 1st OR 149, 2nd OR 149, 3rd OR 152, 4th OR 147 - High 157, Low OR 140. 23 ran
2019 1st OR 141, 2nd OR 156, 3rd OR 147, 4th OR 137 - High 156, Low OR 135. 22 ran
2018 1st OR 147, 2nd OR 137, 3rd OR 139, 4th OR 138 - High 155, Low OR 137. 22 ran
2017 1st OR 145, 2nd OR 146, 3rd OR 145, 4th OR 133 - High 158, Low OR 133. 24 ran
2016 1st OR 142, 2nd OR 149, 3rd OR 150, 4th OR 135 - High 157, Low OR 135. 22 ran
2015 1st OR 140, 2nd OR 138, 3rd OR 141, 4th OR 146 - High 155, Low OR 137. 23 ran
2014 1st OR 140, 2nd OR 146, 3rd OR 140, 4th OR 148 - High 157, Low OR 131. 23 ran
Clearly it seems that this race has had a boost in the quality of the runners with the lowest ratings rising in the last six years and 140+ horses taking over the winning from 130+.
The cancelling of the Novice Handicap Chase could lead to more novices rated above 140 targeting this race, which could drive up the Lowest OR required to get a run up by a 1lb or 2.
----------
…..2023 trend analysis for reference;
THE LAST 10 WINNERS;
- Had won at least 1 Chase but no more than 5.
- Were running off a career high H’cap rating, or no more than 3lb lower.
- Average H’cap rating of 142.
- Were not top weight, only 3 finished top 4.
- Had won on a course described as ‘galloping’.
- Finished 1st or 2nd in one of their last 3 outings (true for 39/40 horses finishing in 1st 4).
9 OF THE LAST 10 WINNERS;
- Were aged 6-9
- Had won no more than 3 H’cap chases, 3 winning 0.
- Last ran in a Nov Ch or H’cap Ch on a galloping track, 5 at Chelt (The Shunter won a H’cap hurdle).
8 OF THE LAST 10 WINNERS;
- Were carrying less than 11st.
- Last ran no more than 70 days ago, including the last 7 winners.
- Had run at least 3 times that season, inc the last 7 winners who had won at least once that term (4 winning LTO, inc last 3).
- Had never won a chase at Chelt before.
KEY TRIALS;
Chelt PP H’cap Trophy in Jan & PP Gold Cup in Nov are useful trials, as are RP Gold Cup & PP New Years Day Chase.
TRAINER TRENDS;
- Henderson has won 4, the last coming in 2006.
- Pipe has 3 since 2010 & saddled 4 places.
- Elliott has only had a few runners but has 1 winner & 1 placed.
JOCKEY TREND;
- Bryan Cooper has won twice.
--------
58 Early Entries in the Plate Handicap Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival:
Adamantly Chosen (IRE)
Arctic Bresil
Ash Tree Meadow (FR)
Bill Baxter (IRE)
Chavez (IRE)
Ciel De Neige (FR)
Classic Getaway (IRE)
Cool Survivor (IRE)
Crebilly (IRE)
Demnat (FR)
Do Your Job (IRE)
Embittered (IRE)
Excello (FR)
Fighter Allen (FR)
Firm Footings (IRE)
Flanking Maneuver (IRE)
Flegmatik (FR)
Frero Banbou (FR)
Ga Law (FR)
Gemirande (FR)
Glengouly (FR)
Grandeur d'Ame (FR)
Hardy du Seuil (FR)
Hereditary Rule (IRE)
Idalko Bihoue (FR)
Il Ridoto (FR)
In Excelsis Deo (FR)
Jamaico (FR)
James du Berlais (FR)
Killer Kane (IRE)
Le Milos
Letsbeclearaboutit (IRE)
Life In The Park (IRE)
Lounge Lizard
Madara (FR)
Mars Harper
Meetingofthewaters (IRE)
Minella Drama (IRE)
Pembroke
Pinkerton (IRE)
Presentandcounting (IRE)
Raffle Ticket
Riaan (IRE)
Sa Fureur (IRE)
Saint Felicien (FR)
Saint Roi (FR)
Seddon (IRE)
Shakem Up'arry (IRE)
Shan Blue (IRE)
Shantreusse (IRE)
Sharjah (FR)
Straw Fan Jack
The King of Prs (IRE)
Theatre Man (IRE)
Torn And Frayed (FR)
Triple Trade
Unexpected Party (FR)
Watch House Cross (IRE)
Comment