The Grade 2 Cotswold Chase is the ultimate Cheltenham springboard to the Gold Cup in March. With a field of hopefuls for a variety of Festival races taking part this season, Joe Napier previews the weekend’s showpiece contest and gives his verdict.
Willie Mullins enjoyed a superb year with his runners in Britain last season, with Capodanno a well-backed winner of this race 12 months ago.
L’HOMME PRESSE
(Venetia Williams/Carlie Deutsch)
There are few more admirable horses in training than L’Homme Presse, now in his stalwart days for Venetia Williams. The ten-year-old was a hugely exciting youngster, putting up a scintillating display to justify favouritism in the 2022 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at that year’s Cheltenham Festival.
His promise was stunted at its prime though, as he has only raced seven times in nearly three years since. Nevertheless, he has still found time to finish fourth in a Gold Cup and third in the King George most recently. His form remains very close to top class and Saturday’s conditions play firmly to his strengths with the exception of good ground. However, he can adapt to that perfectly well and is very much the one to beat.
GENTLEMANSGAME
(Mouse Morris/Darragh O’Keeffe)
Having only raced three times in both of his completed seasons over fences, there remains the possibility of more to come from Gentlemansgame. The grey was a game winner of the 2023 Charlie Hall Chase on his first visit to Britain, but was disappointing in last season’s Gold Cup when pulling up.
Good ground may be the key to him however. His two most recent runs, both on such a surface, have been career bests, with a close fourth in the Punchestown Gold Cup followed by a reappearance third behind Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. There is rain forecast, but as long as it remains on the good side of soft, he should put up a much better display at this venue than he did in the Gold Cup.
CHANTRY HOUSE
(Nicky Henderson/Nico De Boinville)
Though his star had appeared to fade in recent years, Chantry House renewed acquaintances with the limelight by winning over course and distance on New Year’s Day. He was top-weight in that handicap, beating some promising types and conceding weight, so he clearly retains the ability to put up a big performance.
He won this three years ago when strongly fancied for the Gold Cup itself. A Festival challenge never truly materialised and he went nearly three years between victories until January 1st. Should the favourites underperform, his renewed vigour could put him in a position to capitalise.
STAGE STAR
(Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden)
With the world at his feet after victories in the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase and the Paddy Power Gold Cup, Stage Star has been one of the latest disappointments on the big stage for Paul Nicholls. His racing has been kept to middle distances around 2m4f though, so perhaps this step up in trip can spark a revival.
He is not without stamina, often seeing out that middling trip stoutly on soft ground, so while his mark has been on the decline after a succession of down-the-field efforts in handicaps, this may actually be an easier assignment. His overall record of three wins from five starts at Cheltenham still speaks positively.
DELTA WORK
(Gordon Elliott/Sean Bowen)
At his Grade 1 winning best, these would have been easy pickings for Delta Work, but the veteran of the field is approaching the twilight nowadays. He still has big performances in him, such as when runner-up in the Grand National, but whether he can do that in a race of this stature is very debatable in 2025.
Gordon Elliott will have the Cross Country Chase as the ultimate aim prior to Aintree. This is not an insurmountable task at this level, but even so, preparation for March will feel more integral connections than a tilt at winning here, unless it is presented to him.
TOMMIE BEAU
(Seamus Mullins/Michael Nolan)
Tommie Beau props up the ratings by 12lb here and is the rightful rank outsider. He has some highly respectable marathon handicap form, and may have challenged for success on his cross country debut here in November but for running out late on. However, his limitations were firmly exposed last weekend in the Fleur De Lys Chase and, like Delta Work, this race is more about preparations for the Festival in March.
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Gentlemansgame has the best recent piece of form, but giving 6lb to L’HOMME PRESSE at a venue the selection has excelled at may be too tough a task. The ground could level the playing field slightly, but in finishing fourth in the Gold Cup and third in the King George, Venetia Williams’ admirable ten-year-old has maintained a high class level of form and can get back to winning ways here. Stage Star is worth a go at this distance and may be the closest pursuer, as this looks easier than his recent weight concessions in handicap company.
- L’Homme Presse
- Gentlemansgame
- Stage Star
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