There is barely a Cheltenham meeting goes by nowadays without the inclusion of a Grade 2 or Grade 3 handicap chase over 2m5f on either the Old Course or the New Course.
It’s the latter which is being used this New Year’s Day with the Paddy Power Handicap Chase sharing centre stage with the Grade 2 Dipper Novices’ Chase.
Horse Racing Betting at BetVictor
Paddy Power used to sponsor another of the track’s feature handicaps in November but now contributes to the near £40,000 first prize for this less-established race, which is regarded as a stepping stone towards the Ryanair in March.
Previous Winners of the Paddy Power Handicap Chase
2003 | Ballinclay King | 9 | 10–11 | Davy Russell | Ferdy Murphy |
2004 | Whereareyounow | 7 | 10-01 | Carl Llewellyn | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
2005 | Le Duc | 6 | 10-08 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
2006 | Fondmort | 10 | 11–12 | Mick Fitzgerald | Nicky Henderson |
2007 | Too Forward | 11 | 11-04 | Timmy Murphy | Carl Llewellyn |
2008 | Vodka Bleu | 9 | 10–13 | Timmy Murphy | David Pipe |
2009 | Stan | 9 | 11-00 | Aidan Coleman | Venetia Williams |
2010 | Can’t Buy Time | 8 | 11-00 | Tony McCoy | Jonjo O’Neill |
2011 | Tartak | 8 | 11-08 | Paddy Brennan | Tom George |
2012 | Calgary Bay | 9 | 10-04 | Dominic Elsworth | Henrietta Knight |
no race | |||||
2014 | Double Ross | 8 | 11-05 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
2015 | Splash of Ginge | 7 | 11-02 | Jamie Bargary | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
2016 | Village Vic | 9 | 10-10 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
2017 | Shantou Flyer | 7 | 11-02 | Aidan Coleman | Rebecca Curtis |
2018 | Ballyhill | 7 | 10-02 | Jamie Bargary | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
2019 | Aso | 9 | 11-12 | Charlie Deutsch | Venetia Williams |
Paddy Power Handicap Chase Trends
- The last 17 winners had all run over fences at Cheltenham previously.
- 16 of the last 17 winners had run withing the previous nine weeks.
- 15 of the last 17 winners had won at least twice over fences previously.
- 15 of the last 17 winners were either French or Irish bred.
- Nigel Twiston-Davies has trained the winner in three of the last years.
Ballyhill is running in this race for the third year running. The winner in 2017, he was third last year and his trainer’s exceptional record in this race means he demands respect at a general 18/1, even though he’s disappointed in both starts this season.
Cepage wears the same colours as last year’s winner Aso, who was just beaten in the Ryanair last season. He’s not done a lot wrong this season but only time will tell if he’s good enough to win a race like this off a mark of 155. You can get 8/1 with several bookmakers if you think the answer to that is in the affirmative.
MAGIC SAINT has only won over 2m since arriving in this country but did stay further in his native France. His Newbury victory is working out well with second Bun Doran having won the Desert Orchid at Kempton over Christmas. Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old was given plenty to do when fifth in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November on his reappearance and connections may have more faith in his stamina now.
Saint Calvados might not last home, however, while neither Oldgrangewood nor Kalashnikov have had much luck around here in the past. The latter pair finished 1-2 at Newbury recently and are closely matched now but Amy Murphy’s top weight (a general 4/1) may do best this time, though may have to settle for a place again.
Mister Whitaker hasn’t run since winning a similar contest at Cheltenham in April but has a decent record first-time up. It would be no surprise to see him go well at the 10/1 with BetVictor but it’s not hard to imagine that his big target this season will be a race at The Festival.
The Irish raider Ex Patriot (a best 11/1) is probably the pick of the remainder having placed in decent contests at Cork and Punchestown this season as he was in winning form around this time last year. Ok Corral has a bit to prove taking a big drop in distance while Lalor has not built on early promise over fences. The novice Poker Play and Outlander look to be making up the numbers.
Paddy Power Handicap Chase Current Best Odds
Kalashnikov 4/1, Magic Saint 7/1, Saint Calvados and Cepage 8/1, Oldgrangewood 9/1, Mister Whitaker and Ok Corral 10/1, Ex Patriot 11/1, Poker Play and Lalor 16/1, Ballyhill 18/1, Outlander 40/1
(Odds correct at 4.15pm December 31)