The Plate Handicap Chase is a competitive event on day three of at the Cheltenham Festival. Daryl Carter has previewed this race alongside an exclusive Sky Bet offer that provides £20 In Free Bets to new customers when you bet £5.
PLATE HANDICAP CHASE (Cheltenham 4:10pm, Thursday, March 17)
An excellent contest and one that usually favours the Irish, with the visitors taking this contest scoring in four of the last six, but this is generally one for the British.
Key Trends
Eight of the last 12 winners aged between six and eight.
Four of the last 12 winners have been favourites.
Five of the last 12 winners won on their latest start.
Ten of the last 12 winners were rated 136 or higher.
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BUSSELTON
Busselton heads the market having shown consistency this term rather than rapid progression, but he did run well enough to think there is more to come when fourth in the Racing Post Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival. His jumping can be sloppy, and it may be unwise to look to the 2m Novice Chase division for horses for this contest given the below-par year in the Arkle. The step back up to 2m4f will certainly suit, and he does stay further than even that. Its clear connections have been looking to target a handicap, and he is interesting, although a stiff mark awaits from the British Handicapper, no doubt.
BIRCHDALE
Birchdale finally put it all together at the ninth time of asking when scoring over 2m5f at the Dublin Racing Festival under a good ride by a useful seven-pound claimer. Still, this will ask a new question of him, but he is unexposed over this trip over fences, and the way he cruised through that contest at Leopardstown suggests there could be more to come.
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TORN AND FRAYED
Torn And Frayed looks a big player on his demolition job at Cheltenham on his latest start, and a seven pounds rise in the handicap doesn’t look overly harsh. He has a highly progressive profile, and there were lots to like about his attitude with the way he jumped the last and fully went through with his effort up the hill. That race has a good association with the Paddy Power Plate (Siruh Du Lac last horse to do the double in 2019), and he looks primed to go well.
CELEBRE D’ALLEN
Celebre D’Allen needs to be reassessed after his Warwick Castle win, and with the likelihood of a five pounds rise, he could still potentially be very well handicapped judged on his excellent French form. He has done nothing wrong since arriving on British shores and is unbeaten in three starts (two over hurdles). This race, by all accounts, is the intended target, and he is a very useful animal. He could easily be worthy of a rating in the 150s, and the form of his latest win looks rock solid. He is a massive player despite lacking the course experience that is so often needed.
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NOBLE YEATS
Noble Yeats has weakened in the market after heading affairs for much of the season, but to my eye, he looks to have been wound up slowly for a big effort in this contest. He has multiple options, including the Ultima Handicap over 3m, but his trainer is a master at prepping one for a handicap, and he should be watched very closely.
THE SHUNTER
Last term, The Shunter‘s Paddy Power Plate win could not have worked out better, and connections have kept him quiet since. The win was so dominant over Farclas (rated 151) that this 13lbs higher handicap mark could well be within range. He is another from the Emmet Mullins yard that needs a close eye.
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Verdict
There is plenty to be positive about in this race, and it’s exciting, to say the least. I will probably have a few stabs here. CELEBRE D’ALLEN, will be one of those. It’s not easy to come from off the pace at Warwick and he looks miles clear of the handicapper at present and his turn of foot is very taking, but we desperately need the confirmation stage for this race.
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