16:40 Cheltenham Tips: Ambition can pay off for Pauling in Plate Handicap Chase

It's another of the Festival handicaps for the penultimate contest on day three at Cheltenham with a field of 20 runners set to contest the Plate Handicap Chase over the extended two-and-a-half-miles. 

Last year's winner Shakem Up'arry is amongst them and below is Edna's Runners Guide along with a couple of Plate Handicap Chase Tips...

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Plate Handicap Chase Runners Guide

Conflated (Gordon Elliott/Rob James) 20/1 

Won the Irish Gold Cup in his pomp in 2022 but a lot of signs this season suggest that time is catching up and hard to fancy, even with the 7lb claimer. 

Ginny's Destiny (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) 9/1 

Three-time winner here last season as a novice and lost nothing in defeat in a Grade 1 at this meeting behind Grey Dawning. Much less promising in three starts this term and needs to rebound. 

Jordans (Joseph O'Brien/JJ Slevin) 17/2 

Grade 3 Punchestown winner in October and comes here fresh after finishing second behind Impaire Et Passe in Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over Christmas. Handicapper asks a big question now. 

Fugitif (Richard Hobson/Sean Bowen) 14/1 

Regular visitor to this course and has won here. Finished second in this contest in 2023 off 149 but found the Ryanair too hot last season. Not without a chance from this mark if producing his best. 

Path D'oroux (Gavin Cromwell/Keith Donoghue) 14/1 

Justified favouritism to hold off Jazzy Matty over 2m here in October and two good runs in defeat since. Looks to be on a fair mark and promises to be suited rising in trip for top connections. 

Shaken Up'arry (Ben Pauling/Kielan Woods) 18/1 

Never far off the pace and dominated up the hill when bagging this prize a year ago. He is only 2lb higher now and while he's been quiet this season, this contest has probably been the target. 

Il Ridoto (Paul Nicholls/Freddie Gingell) 16/1 

Beaten in this last year (eighth) but gained a valuable win over C&D at the November Meeting. Not as good since in two further visits and may rely on new headgear to perk him up. 

La Malmason (Gavin Cromwell/Sean Flanagan) 20/1 

Mare won on seasonal reappearance at Fairyhouse over this sort of trip in December and has twice run well since Listed handicaps against her own sex. Drops in trip here and gives Gavin Cromwell a strong hand. 

Masaccio (Alan King/Tom Cannon) 9/1 

Has taken well to chasing this season, winning at Newbury (2m4f) on comeback and tackling graded races at that venue and Kempton afterwards before running third behind Jagwar over C&D on Trials Day in January. Cheekpieces added now. 

Gemirande (Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch) 11/1 

Always close to the pace and showed a willing attitude to win the December Gold Cup over C&D but twice held since in competitive handicaps here. Needs to brush up on his jumping. 

Seddon (John McConnell/Alex Harvey) 18/1 

Won this race two years ago and is rated 2lb lower now. He has been competitive in both visits here this season but the 12-year-old would still be a shock winner. 

Tahmuras (Paul Nicholls/Jonathan Burke) 33/1 

He has done his best work in small fields, but was in good form prior to being pulled up in a big handicap at Kempton last month. On a fair mark if he can leave that behind. 

Jagwar (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero/Jonjo O'Neill Jr) 4/1 

He's 3-4 since going chasing this season and looked good when scoring over C&D on Trials Day in January. A young horse with more to come, he's just 6lb higher now and could have more to offer. 

Thecompanysergeant (Gavin Cromwell/Conor Stone-Walsh) 8/1 

Possesses some really good form over fences in beginners'/graded novice company and shaped well over hurdles at Navan (2m4f) having switched to this trainer in January. Opening handicap mark looks about fair. 

Personal Ambition (Ben Pauling/Ben Jones) 20/1 

He's 0-4 since going chasing this season but has mixed it in some fairly decent company along the way. Step back up in trip should suit here and may improve in first-time headgear. Could be a big prize in him as his jumping improves. 

Riaan (Gordon Elliott/Danny Gilligan) 25/1 

He was pulled up in this contest 12 months ago and is only rated 6lb lower by the UK handicapper despite three defeats since. His latest Leopardstown fifth was a step in the right direction, however. 

Mars Harper (Gordon Elliott/Sam Ewing) 50/1 

Another Elliott runner that failed to cut any ice in this race 12 months ago and is returning now. No win since September 2023 but ran a better race at Leopardstown 11 days ago. 

An Peann Dearg (Paul Nolan/Sean O'Keefe) 14/1 

Back-to-back wins at Leopardstown since Christmas, keeping on strongly over 2m1f to beat My Mate Mozzie in the Listed Ryanair Handicap Chase at last month's DRF. He's 12lb higher in the ratings here but cannot be dismissed. 

Demnat (Venetia Williams/Ned Fox) 50/1 

Won at Ludlow in February 2024 after a mammoth absence and finished midfield in the Kim Muir here, has posted two solid runs in defeats this season. Handicapper hasn't taken any chances. 

Individualiste (Gavin Cromwell/Patrick O'Brien) 40/1 

Scored at Thurles and Navan in the winter but beaten 45 lengths at Naas in January and faces a tough challenge running from out of the handicap in this company. 

Verdict 

Personal Ambition @ 20/1 & Path D'oroux @ 14/1 

Favourite Jagwar fully merits that position for Nicky Henderson and is a major contender, while last year's winner Shaken Up'arry should go well again and Dublin Racing Festival winner An Peann Dearg should not be written off. 

PERSONAL AMBITION has run some pleasing races in defeat, and may have won over 2m3f at Ascot in December bar a mistake late on. He has been running in small fields this season and could be well suited to this scenario, while a mark of 137 with first-time cheekpieces added looks workable for Ben Pauling's charge. 

Gavin Cromwell plays a strong hand and PATH D'OROUX could be the best of his quartet. He was third in the Grand Annual here last season and has been running well in defeat this term. He's still lurking on a fair mark and this extra distance could be a major plus-factor.