Cheltenham 2019 antepost: Three to watch in the handicap chases

With Cheltenham Festival just around the corner, we preview three horses that could play a part in some of the big handicap chases throughout the week.

Scoir Mear

Owner JP McManus usually has some well-handicapped sorts ready to tackle the Cheltenham Festival and there’s a particularly interesting chaser who has been shaping like a return to form could be imminent.

Scoir Mear may not have won for more than two years, a Galway success in October 2016, but he’s been a shade unlucky on a number of occasions subsequently including an excellent fifth in 2017’s Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

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Tom Mullins’ charge progressed to a chasing career the following season and while he didn’t appear to be a natural of the discipline in his novice season, the gelding has shaped with much more promise on recent starts.

The nine-year-old was in the process of running a big race when last sighted in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, making an eye-catching mid-race move on the turn for home. However, stamina appeared to find him out that day on his first try at three miles and he ought to prove more effective somewhere around two and a half miles.

With that in mind, a race such as the Grade 3 Handicap Chase on day three of the Festival could be the target or if connections choose to drop back down to two miles in trip, the Festival finale (Johnny Henderson Grand Annual) could be where he ends up; either way, he will be a big price wherever he turns up at the Festival and there’s every chance he will be underestimated in the betting markets.

Kilfenora

Another runner in the famous green and gold hoops who might be worth keeping an eye on is Kilfenora.

The seven-year-old, rated 127 over fences, made a hugely encouraging seasonal return at Navan in December before his run at Cork on January 5^th. Backed in from around 6/1 into 9/4 favourite, it’s fair to say the son of the mighty Yeats disappointed, only able to finish fifth of 11.

He made a couple of mistakes at his fences that day, but he did shape like a step back up to three miles could really suit and he looks very well-handicapped on the pick of his hurdles form.

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The Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase (final race on day three of the Festival) could be a possible destination if he can get a win under his belt in the next week or two in order to qualify for the race and the yard have enjoyed success in the contest before with the likes of Cause Of Causes. He’s another who will be available to back at a working man’s price.

Singlefarmpayment

Singlefarmpayment may not be the more reliable horse when it comes to his finishing effort but there’s little doubt he deserves to be favourite for the Ultima on the opening day of the Festival after some huge performances at Cheltenham already this season.

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While he’s a horse that thinks his job is done when he hits the front, meaning he must be delivered right on the line and making him a particularly difficult sort to win with, there’s no doubting his talent. He rates as the type of horse who is a Graded level performer lurking in a handicap and it would be no surprise if connections went for a tilt in the Aintree Grand National if he remains competitive at Cheltenham.

He deserves to be favourite for the race and rates as another fascinating each-way prospect at around 16/1.