Johnny Henderson GRAND ANNUAL Challenge Cup Handicap Chase

[taylorch1990]

Gentleman de Mee will be another interesting one in this. He was actually sent off a shorter price than Galopin de Champs in the Martin Pipe last year and was a real talking horse before the Festival. Has kept the highest company in novice chases so far and its a race JP has done particularly well in. Needs one more run for a mark but would be surprised if this wasn't his target.

Been mentioned before he had a similar profile as Thedevilscoachman both are entered in a 2 mile novice chase next week to get there third run in, be interesting to see if both are declared.

[Stormez]

Just got the Willie in handicap chases stat to avoid, but I’m happy to take that on with Gentleman De Mee

[nortonscoin200]

A good case was made for Buddy Rich earlier, who I have covered.

And I would just add, embarrassingly, that having tried every year since 1989 I am still yet to have the winner of this race...

Reckon this could be the year Ista - just hope it's with Buddy Rich, I jumped in on him this morning too.

[Stormez]

Gentleman De Mee put up for this 12/1 by Mark Howard on Sporting Life……

https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/cheltenham-festival-tips-mark-howard-portfolio-part-five-grand-annual/198304?dcmp=sl_social_link_article_bottom

[On The Fringe]

Gentleman De Mee put up for this 12/1 by Mark Howard on Sporting Life……

https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/...article_bottom

Gentleman De Mee declared for his 3rd Chase run at Thurles on Thursday. Thedevilscoachman does not take up his engagement in that same race after being among the entries.

[Birds Nest]

Quite like the look of frero banbou for this, took in the 2miler @chelt dec same as ibleo did b4 finishing 2nd last year.seems like venetia has a ready replacement for him with frero, loved the way he and eclair dainey came right away at Lingfield , frero is progressive and off a mark of 141 would have a great chance in this..

[AaronLad]

Dolos raised only 5lbs to 148 for his win at Sandown. Ran in this race in 2018 as a 5yr old off 147 finishing 7/22. Since then he reached a peak chase rating of 161, winning handicaps off marks of 149, 154 and 157. Clearly Paul Nicholls decided to get the weight off him, get him well handicapped for saturday, and he did just that, impressively.

I can't see him priced up for this but with only 5lbs rise it's My opinion dolos is still well handicapped at least half a stone, enough for him to be competitive.
Can someone please get him priced up with either sky or unibet please.

Any thoughts anyone?

[Odin]

Dolos raised only 5lbs to 148 for his win at Sandown. Ran in this race in 2018 as a 5yr old off 147 finishing 7/22. Since then he reached a peak chase rating of 161, winning handicaps off marks of 149, 154 and 157. Clearly Paul Nicholls decided to get the weight off him, get him well handicapped for saturday, and he did just that, impressively.

I can't see him priced up for this but with only 5lbs rise it's My opinion dolos is still well handicapped at least half a stone, enough for him to be competitive.
Can someone please get him priced up with either sky or unibet please.

Any thoughts anyone?

He's a much better horse at Sandown than anywhere else. I agree that he's still well handicapped given the stinking form of the Nicholls horse at the moment, but would be surprised and disappointed if Magic Saint wasn't Nicholls Grand Annual horse off 145, having gone off 9/2f off 149 the year Croco Bay won. If Dolos was mine, I'd be looking at right handed handicaps - maybe even waiting as long as the Hurst handicap at Ascot if there's nothing else suitable until then?

[Stormez]

One of the main stats for this race use to be that the winner hadn’t won a race in the same season, does this stat still stand up against recent renewals?

[Nwfb89]

One of the main stats for this race use to be that the winner hadn’t won a race in the same season, does this stat still stand up against recent renewals?

Think sky pirate defied that stat last year.

[Stormez]

Think sky pirate defied that stat last year.

Ah yeah of course he did.

[Evesham Road]

He's a much better horse at Sandown than anywhere else. I agree that he's still well handicapped given the stinking form of the Nicholls horse at the moment, but would be surprised and disappointed if Magic Saint wasn't Nicholls Grand Annual horse off 145, having gone off 9/2f off 149 the year Croco Bay won. If Dolos was mine, I'd be looking at right handed handicaps - maybe even waiting as long as the Hurst handicap at Ascot if there's nothing else suitable until then?

Horses returning who were a previous year's favourite for the race also have a good record. Le Prezien is one from memory, there are at least a couple more.

I also like Magic Saint here.

[Stormez]

Think Next Sensation was close to being fav the year before he won?

[darlojim]

Well fuck me.. Has he just blew his mark there?

[PresentingPercy]

"He got his jumping right. He galloped to the line which was very pleasing and we'll keep him at that trip for the time being. He is very hard on himself and mightn't be ready to go across the water just yet." Willie Mullins on Gentleman de Mee