TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase Tips: All eyes on Crebilly

Following hot on the heels of the Grade 1s on Thursday will be the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (16:10) over two-miles-four-and-a-half-furlongs and it's a race featuring one of the best-touted handicap hopes of the meeting, Crebilly.

This is an Extra Place Race, so we are paying 5 places instead of 4 at 1/5 the odds for all each-way bets.

Runners

James Du Berlais (Willie Mullins/Daryl Jacob) 12/1

Graded winning hurdler in France but just a Fairyhouse beginners' chase on his CV since joining this top team. Far from disgraced in ultra-competitive Leopardstown handicaps in last two outings but 3lb higher here without winning.

Embittered (Gordon Elliott/Rob James) 50/1

A hit-and-miss character who won a Listed handicap chase at Navan over 2m4f in December but no threat in three runs since and was pulled up in this race last year.

Il Ridoto (Paul Nicholls/Freddie Gingell) 14/1

Doesn't have the best strike-rate (2-17) over fences but three really good efforts in defeat here this season in top handicaps before being held last time over 3m at Kempton. On a fair mark with Freddie Gingell taking 5lb off too.

Glengouly (Willie Mullins/Danny Mullins) 12/1

Beat Telmesomethinggirl in a beginners chase at Thurles in December 2022 before disappointing in three further runs last season. Twice runner-up this term in Listed/Grade 3 handicaps in Ireland over 2m3½f/3m1f. Tough mark but stamina is an asset.

Saint Felicien (Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy) 17/2

Very lightly-raced, pulled up in Coral Cup here in 2022 and missed 612 days after, but has put together a decent body of work in beginners' company in Ireland, winning last time at Gowran Park (2m4f, heavy) on fourth attempt. Opening handicap mark is no gimme, however.

Mars Harper (Gordon Elliott/Jordan Gainford) 33/1

More exposed than some of these and beaten 32-lengths in this race last year off a mark of 138. Hit and miss since and will have to be right on song to defy this rating.

Shakem Up'arry (Ben Pauling/Ben Jones) 9/1

Fine third in this race 12 months ago off 139 and the best of his efforts since came when scoring here on New Year's Day. Temptingly, he's only gone up 3lb for that success on testing ground.

Riaan (Gordon Elliott/Danny Gilligan) 16/1

Beginners' chase winner at Wexford (2m4f, yielding) in August and put up a fine effort when second to Heart Wood in a €90,000 Dublin Racing Festival handicap last month. 5lb higher now but scope for better.

Watch House Cross (Henry de Bromhead/Darragh O'Keeffe) 22/1

Couple of wins in minor events at Wexford last summer and finished sixth in the Troytown at Navan (3m, soft to heavy) in November. Can't be quibbled for Christmas effort at Leopardstown and fell at the first back there last month.

Crebilly (Jonjo O'Neill/Jonjo O'Neill Jr) 10/3

Was giving Ginny's Destiny a real race here in November when falling at the last, then fourth behind that progressive Nicholls inmate in December in a warm race here. Beat two useful rivals in Tahmuras and Trelawne last time at Exeter for first fencing success and there should be more to come, with his mark of 139 nothing to worry about.

Life In The Park (Henry de Bromhead/Mikey O'Connor) 28/1

No win since a beginners chase at Listowel (2m6f, good) in September 2022. Has run some fair races but form this season isn't inspiring. Tongue-tied for the first time now.

Hereditary Rule (John McConnell/Ben Harvey) 40/1

Landed a €60,000 Punchestown Festival handicap over 2m5f last season off a mark of 129 but has struggled badly in three starts this term, latterly when pulled up back over hurdles.

In Excelsis Deo (Harry Fry/Johnny Burke) 11/1

Made a winning start for this yard at Hereford in December 2022 and while 0-6 since, has run some fine races in defeat, including behind progressive Madara here in December. Was going strongly only to unseat at the final fence last time at Sandown.

Theatre Man (Richard Bandey/Harry Cobden) 9/2

Lightly-raced and promising over hurdles, yet to win in three chase starts but they were all laced with promise, including second behind Grade 1 Turners contender Ginny's Destiny on Trials Day off a 3lb lower mark.

Fighter Allen (David Pipe/Jack Tudor) 28/1

Once promising but last season was very disappointing and duly left Willie Mullins after winning a minor contest at Sligo in September. Has undergone a wind op since and now starting out for David Pipe in this tough company.

Ciel De Neige (Ben Haslam/Richie McLernon) 66/1

Another that lost his way after showing initial promise for Willie Mullins and has failed to beat a rival home in two starts for this trainer. Handicapper is easing him but positives are few.

Arctic Bresil (Henry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore) 14/1

Just the three starts over fences and winless thus far, but has run creditably and each of those contests looks reliable in terms of the form. Handicapper hasn't helped with a mark of 135 but that rating is far from insurmountable.

Straw Fan Jack (Sheila Lewis/Sean Houlihan) 40/1

Promising start over fences, winning here and at Ffos Las in October 2022. Has had his fair share of tough assignments since without really looking like winning and despite a declining mark, this appears another one.

Frero Banbou (Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch) 22/1

No win since January 2022 and strike-rate over fences is 3-23, he had a couple of cracking runs over C&D in December and January but lesser efforts since in outings at Lingfield/Musselburgh. Very nicely handicapped now if he finds his best back here and the testing ground is a plus.

Killer Kane (Joe Tizzard/Brendan Powell) 33/1

Exposed handicapper. Ran a sound race for a long way in £85,000 Kempton handicap over 3m last month but needs more in first-time cheekpieces in amongst this strong field.

Torn And Frayed (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies) 40/1

Is now 10 but doesn't have massive miles on the clock. A regular visitor here and has a C&D win on his CV but was soon well behind on New Year's Day in a race won by Shakem Up'arry. Better since at Ascot.

Tips

Crebilly @ 10/3 & Frero Banbou @ 22/1

CREBILLY could easily be one of the best-backed horses in a handicap here this week, all the more so if things go well for Ginny's Destiny in the opening Grade 1 novice.

Jonjo O'Neill's charge is giving that progressive rival weight and ran a real race here in November when he came down at the last. He also ran well in fourth back here in December in a red-hot novices' chase before going to Exeter last month to open his account by beating Tahmuras and Trelawne, two promising sorts.

He's in here off only 1lb higher and, given he has shown himself effective at this track, he looks a very likely sort.

At a bigger price, FRERO BANBOU also had excellent runs here either side of Christmas on testing ground for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch.

He hasn't been as good in two runs elsewhere since but comes back here off a nice mark of 133 and could soon rebound with conditions favourable

Find more Cheltenham Tips here at Betfred Insights