Cheltenham Festival: Grand Annual Handicap Chase Tips

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The Grand Annual is one of the races I look forward to each year, as it’s ran at a true pace, and it’s great see horses jumping the fences in full flow. There is a full field, as you’d expect, which makes my life a lot harder to find the winner.

Last year’s favourite, EMBITTERED, returns to this race after being a faller in the 2021 renewal, and you’d have to say that he has another great chance in this. I was keen on him last year, so to see him fall was a bit of a disaster.

It’s interesting that connections have opted for this race again this year, and to be honest off a mark of 145 I can’t blame them. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him go and win. ANDY DUFRESNE is the current favourite, and he has form with Embittered, so it’s not great surprise to see them both towards the front of the market.

What is interesting with this horse is that Gordon Elliot was quoted saying that he needed 2m 4f after a race a year or so ago, so to see him favourite for a 2m handicap chase at Cheltenham is a bit bizarre, and at the prices I’ll be swerving him.

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As a mentioned at the start, there will likely be a burn up for the pace, with many front runners in this. To name a few, EXIT POLL, BEFORE MIDNIGHT, EDITEUR DU GITE and a few more. For the names I’ve mentioned, the latter will struggle to win this, but will put up a good effort in my opinion. He is now 11lbs heavier than he was for when he won her last time out, and that’s when you take into consideration the 5lb claimer who used to ride him, who is no longer on him.

I’m going to have a small play in this race on a front runner, and it’s only a small bet as he is a bit of a nutter, but if the others let him crack on, which I think they might, he might be a runaway winner. FOR PLEASURE is my first take in this race, and when you consider the races he’s contested this season as a novice, you can forgive him massively.

This is his first handicap and I think a mark of 138 is low and underestimating his ability. He is a nutter who has one way of running, but he has ability and has to be taken seriously. He has bumped into some of the top novice chasers from the UK this year, so will find this easier.

There is a strong chance he’ll run out of steam, or even fall, as he is prone to mistakes. But on the off chance, I think he could spring a surprise, similar to Croco Bay who won this race in 2019 at odds of 66/1 benefiting from a front running ride.

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Arguably, my main fancy in this race is THYME WHITE who looks ideal for this kind of race. Bryony will have him prominent, but settled in behind the leaders, and the quick pace will allow him to settle and get into a nice rhythm. Good ground is what he wants and is what he should get. I was taken by how easily he won at Doncaster last time out, and it was visually very impressive.

I’m not going to lie, but the odds on offer are slightly shorter than I anticipated, but people must have the same opinion as me. He comes into this race very fresh and primed for a big run. Paul hasn’t sent many runners to the Festival this year, so the ones he has, need to be noted.

Grand Annual Handicap Chase Tips

• Thyme White 10/1 (Each Way) @ The Pools
• For Pleasure 22/1 (Each Way) @ The Pools

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No

Silks

Runner

Jockey/Trainer

Odds

5

Exit Poll
211326

J: S F O'Keeffe
T: Mrs J Harrington

11/4

---

9

Elixir De Nutz
7/2-4211

J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
T: C L Tizzard

9/2

---

19

Hasankey
42U111

J: Lewis Dobb
T: L Morgan

5/1

---

8

Buddy Rich
222214

J:
T: G Elliott

5/1

---

14

Frero Banbou
4-43312

J: Charlie Deutsch
T: Miss V Williams

5/1

---

21

Destined To Shine
22-3521

J: Reserve 1
T: Kerry Lee

7/1

---

2

Andy Dufresne
3/113P-2

J:
T: G Elliott

10/1

---

6

Before Midnight
11-1142

J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: S Thomas

11/1

---

16

Gumball
403-482

J: P J Brennan
T: F O'Brien

11/1

---

12

Il Ridoto
F2-31P3

J: H Cobden
T: P F Nicholls

12/1

---

4

A Wave Of The Sea
5062F1

J:
T: J P O'Brien

14/1

---

11

Dancing On My Own
416/13F

J: D J O'Keeffe
T: H De Bromhead

16/1

---

3

Editeur Du Gite
P11-U11

J: Joshua Moore
T: G L Moore

16/1

---

7

Embittered
121365

J: B J Cooper
T: J P O'Brien

16/1

---

18

For Pleasure
5-F31F4

J: Harry Bannister
T: A M Hales

20/1

---

1

Sky Pirate
1-24324

J: Nick Scholfield
T: Jonjo O'Neill

25/1

---

13

Thyme White
907-2U1

J: Bryony Frost
T: P F Nicholls

28/1

---

10

Amarillo Sky
6412F1

J: Brendan Powell
T: C L Tizzard

33/1

---

15

Poseidon
2U1PU5

J: D E Mullins
T: C Byrnes

40/1

---

17

Capuccimix
769-1F8

J: J C Gainford
T: H De Bromhead

NR

---

20

Global Citizen
P-92023

J: Kielan Woods
T: B Pauling

NR

---