The December Handicap Chase (Friday 15 December) is a Grade 3 Chase run over 3 miles and 2 furlongs at Cheltenham. It’s most famous winner is probably Mon Mome who went on to win the 2009 Grand National.
Major Trends
- The last 10 winners have carried between 10-0 and 11-4
- The last 10 winners have been rated between 123 and 155
- The last 10 winners have been aged between 6 and 11, with four being 8-year-olds
- David Pipe has trained 3 of the last 10 winners
- Tom Scudamore has ridden 2 of the last 5 winners
- Midnight Chase was the shortest-priced of the last 10 winners at 11/4
- Benbane Head was the longest-priced of the last 10 winners at 16/1
Major Contenders
What A Moment
Has won an amateur’s race at Cheltenham on his last two seasonal reappearances, and would look a typical David Pipe trained winner of this race down near the foot of the weights. However, whilst it’s worrying that his form tailed-off after last year’s success, it was hard not to be impressed by the way he travelled last time.
Wotzizname
Won 3 of his 6 races, but this will be the first time this lightly-raced 7-year-old has been pitched into such a tough race. Hard to know what to make of his win last time, when over half the field didn’t finish, but is another who has a nice low-weight.
Robinsfirth
Has run respectably on all three starts at Cheltenham, finishing in the first four each time. Also ran well when second at Haydock last time, and looks sure to win a decent race at some stage. Still get the feeling that the Tizzard Stable is yet to hit the same sort of form as it did last season.
Vicente
Won the last two Scottish Grand Nationals, and ran a cracker on his reappearance over slightly further here at Cheltenham. Had a nice low-weight that day though, and is up in the weights and the handicap again here. Stable in form though.
Virgilio
Trained by the red-hot Dan Skelton, but is usually kept to flat tracks, and was pulled-up on his only previous visit to Cheltenham. Also well-beaten last time having been raised 7lb for an earlier win.
Mysteree
Ran some cracking races last season in the Eider Chase and the Midlands National, and probably wants further than this 26-furlongs. Could still go well, but may have bigger and longer targets ahead.
Ptit Zig
Useful hurdler who tends to fall just short of top-class, and was fancied to make a high-class chaser at some point. However, didn’t really take to fences when last seen over them, and it remains to be seen as to whether he can make the grade over fences.
Summary
A tough looking renewal with most of the contenders having question marks about them. However, it was hard not to be impressed with the way What A Moment travelled here at Cheltenham when winning last time, and his trainer David Pipe has the best recent record in the race.
2017 December Handicap Tip: What A Moment