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The second part to the Winter Handicap at Cheltenham and another race that will give strong clues to the festival handicaps, such as the William hill handicap on day one of the festival. The Paddy Power Gold cup is well represented with Palarshan, Il Duce, Knowhere and Patman Du Charmil, who ran a very fetching race from the race in the paddy power gold cup and is steadily improving.

The Nigel Twiston Davies pair are most probably best represented by Knowhere, who stayed on well, and if given a much more positive ride in to his fences, he could have a strong chance of going close again,, where this will be his 3rd Cheltenham run this season. Stiff tracks clearly suit the horse, as his jumping can be a little slow at times, yet he stays on powerfully up the Cheltenham hill. He is likely to be on the premises again today, if putting in a clear round of jumping. Il Duce, who ran a cracker in the paddy power, and was only denied by a very well handicapped progressive horse that day, may benefit today in a field that may just lack a horse with that little bit of extra unexposed class. Palarshan is 3lb better off with Il Duce for that run, but is a horse to best caught fresh and he may struggle to reverse the form, with both carrying more weight this time around, it may just open the door for another to benefit.

New Little Bric is bidding to make it another super Saturday for the dominant force of Paul Nicholls who has the trainers title all but wrapped up for yet another season. With his chasers beating all before them, his grade 1 winner in a handicap must be in with a big chance, receiving weight from a few of his rivals. In the grade 1 novice chase he won at Sandown, there are holes you can pick, in terms of genuine grade 1 form. He needs to prove himself as a top quality chase at that level, as a established chaser for the grade 1 winner to stand up in my eyes. A beautiful looking chaser, he, like so many Paul Nichols runners, gets into a good rhythm with his jumping and super Sam Thomas should just let him have an inch of rein to jump within himself, around a course that his previous run in the Jewson at the festival (went off fav over L'Antartique) was a little on the disappointing side. Kept mostly to right-handed tracks, he has a few things to prove with the Ascot form maybe a little below what's required, where he stayed on to good effect, showing this extra trip is very much needed.

Roman Ark has been rather consistent as well of late and his top weight carrying performance in the mud was just as good a piece of form as many in this race. The fact that this is a higher grade of race shouldn't have to much of a negative effect, given that he actually carries less weight in this race today. The ground however, may be more lively than that hoped for, given that he is a mudlark. He is likely to be outpaced today when the screw is turned and there are likely to be better days for this horse. One horse that may well be suited to the ground today on his return to the larger obstacles, is the very talented Faasel, who has ran in the top races over 2M and then over fences at the same trip, before running the highly regarded Black Jack Ketchum close in a staying race. Even though he's a strong traveller, he still has that air of a horse who doesn't like winning when asked to come off the bridle for an effort. All his major wins have come on a sharper test, where his travelling is suited well, or on a galloping track, where it is in the main flat. However, he has gone well at this track before, and the extra distances he has been trying of late, could be the making of this horse. The 2nd to Aces Four stands up well at this level and the extra weight he has to carry than the level weight contests he has been in, shouldn't be too much of a problem for this horse. The 10yo Copsale lad, is always going to be interesting from the foot of the weights, but he has showed little so far this season to suggest that he is ready to win again. He may need a drop in class. While New Alco, a consistent horse last term, looks a shade below that this season. Abragante looks a typical Pipe chaser that doesn't carry on his form from his first run over fences in the season.

Tissue Prices - New Little Bric 6/1, Faasel 7/1, Il Duce, Palarshan 8/1, Knowhere 10/1, Patman Du Charmil 11/1, Abragante, Roman Ark 12/1, Idole First, Tarminbleu 14/1, Knight Legend, Yes Sir, Magic Sky 16/1, Copsale Lad, New Alco, Le Volfoni 20/1, Black Hills 25/1,

Verdict – The usual style of handicap you come to expect from this course and one that could give us a pointer to a horse being handicapped for March. It's brilliant racing ground once again from Cheltenham for this time of year and New Little Bric could well be ahead of the handicapper, now he is given the correct trip. However, there is basically quite a lot of established handicappers in this field and quite a few look to be in need of being dropped a few pounds off there backs. Nicky Richards Faasel, could end a barren spell over fences here for his trainer today, and land a big prize to help in his quest to finish top northern trainer. Il Duce is likely to go close here for the second time over fences and looks an each-way bet.

Selection – Faasel 2 pts win @ 14-1 & 3pts Place @ 3-1.

Well Chief