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2026 Trust a Trader Plate Handicap Chase

Eggs

Eggs

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ENTRIES FEBRUARY 17th, WEIGHTS FEBRUARY 24th

CHELTENHAM

Thursday, March 12th

THE PADDY POWER PLATE HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE
(Premier Hcap)

For five yrs old and upwards
TWO MILES ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF FURLONGS (2m 4f 127yds)

Penalties, after February 22nd, a winner of a steeple chase 5lb
(No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb)

2025. Jagwar 6-10-10 3-1f Greenhall Guerriero - JJ O’Neil jr RPR 151
2024. Shakem Up'arry 10-11-5 8/1 Ben Pauling - Ben Jones RPR 153

2023. Seddon 10-10-9 20/1 Jon McConnell - Ben Harvey (5) RPR 154

2022. Coole Cody 11-11-2 22/1 Evan Williams - Adam Wedge RPR 157

2021. The Shunter 8-10-5 9/4F Emmet Mullins - Jordan Gainford (7) RPR 154

2020. Simple The Betts 7-11-4 10/3F H. Whittington Gavin Sheehan RPR 158

2019. Siruh Du Lac. 6-10-8. 9/2. Nick Williams. Lizzie Kelly (3). RPR 151

2018. The Storyteller. 7-11-4. 5/1F. Gordon Elliott. Davy Russell. RPR 161

2017. Road To Respect. 6-10-13. 14/1. Noel Meade. B J Cooper. RPR 161

2016. Empire Of Dirt. 9-10-11. 16/1. C A Murphy. B J Cooper. RPR 154

2015. Darna. 9-10-11. 33/1. Kim Bailey David Bass. RPR 148

2014. Ballynagour. 8-10-9. 12/1. David Pipe. T. Scudamore. RPR 156


2025 1st OR 139, 2nd OR 139, 3rd OR 144; 4th OR 136 (High OR 157, Low OR 131) 20 ran
2024 1st OR 143, 2nd OR 140, 3rd OR 133, 4th 139 (High 152, Low 130) 21 ran
2023 1st OR 143, 2nd OR 149, 3rd OR 139, 4th OR 137 - High 157, Low OR 133, 23 ran
2022 1st OR 145, 2nd OR 152, 3rd OR 136, 4th OR 144 - High 155, Low OR 132, 15 ran
2021 1st OR 140, 2nd OR 146, 3rd OR 154, 4th OR 143 - High 154, Low OR 130, 21 ran
2020 1st OR 149, 2nd OR 149, 3rd OR 152, 4th OR 147 - High 157, Low OR 140. 23 ran
2019 1st OR 141, 2nd OR 156, 3rd OR 147, 4th OR 137 - High 156, Low OR 135. 22 ran
2018 1st OR 147, 2nd OR 137, 3rd OR 139, 4th OR 138 - High 155, Low OR 137. 22 ran
2017 1st OR 145, 2nd OR 146, 3rd OR 145, 4th OR 133 - High 158, Low OR 133. 24 ran
2016 1st OR 142, 2nd OR 149, 3rd OR 150, 4th OR 135 - High 157, Low OR 135. 22 ran
2015 1st OR 140, 2nd OR 138, 3rd OR 141, 4th OR 146 - High 155, Low OR 137. 23 ran
2014 1st OR 140, 2nd OR 146, 3rd OR 140, 4th OR 148 - High 157, Low OR 131. 23 ran

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…..2026 TREND ANALYSIS for reference;

The last seven had a course win that season​

11 of the last 12 no more than 12 previous chase runs​

This century only Mister McGoldrick won with more than 16 chase runs​

This century only Mister McGoldrick carried more than 11-05 to win​

None of the last 17 had previously won a Graded Conditions race​

All bar Jagwar on the last 10 had contested a Graded nov chase or hurdle​

The last 12 winners BHA rating 139 to 149​

The Shunter 2021 only headgear winner since 2003​

20 of last 22 had raced within the last 77 days​

Only one winner this century was BF last time out​

Last eleven had all already won that season​

After a gap of 33 yrs, Irish trained have won five of the last ten​

Eight of the last ten were either novices or second-season chasers.​

Seven of the last 10 were making their Festival debut.​

The last seven winning novices had either placed on course or never been here before​

All bar Jagwar of the last seven either 'led' or were 'prominent' throughout.​

Summary​

(Calling it 'The Mildmay' is usually easier although 'The Plate' seems to be coming into vogue. In 2015 the race distance returned to 2m and abt 5f). Since now on Tuesday will be moved to the Old Course.

Watch for Irish trained especially if coming from Graded races. Novices, second season chasers and French breds to be checked. Not carrying over 11st unless previous placed Festival form or a compressed h'cap. Rated at least 139. Not older than nine years or has solid course form. Older horses do get placed. Course win this season in vogue. Will either have competed in a previous festival race or will have less than 12 chase runs. Has run a total of between 3 and 16 times over fences or course winner. Has run between 3 and 8 times this season. May have gained a place in one of this season’s course 2m 5f Graded Handicap Chases. Headgear unlikely unless fav. Consider Venetia Williams. Not P Nicholls. Wasn't beaten favourite last time. Hasn't been seen for at least 35 days.
 
Last edited:
Reserved for entries and weights.
 
Top of my list for this at the moment is Will The Wise - was pleased to see Cromwell suggest this is the likely target (instead of the JR novice race) in his latest stable tour.

Has Cheltenham experience from the Pertemps final last year (after winning the Naas qualifier). Regarding his chase career, had a couple of non-consequential runs at the back end of last season before reappearing in October with two runs over 2m2f at Galway. One ending in a v narrow defeat to Ol Man Dingle and the other in an impressive front running victory. Followed these up with a decent enough 4th place in the Troytown, which had been his target, according to Cromwell’s pre-season stable tours. He then finished in the pack (10th) in the Paddy Power at Xmas. Worth remembering Cromwell’s were generally running really poorly throughout this time, so his Troytown effort can possibly be marked up a bit.

Cromwell seemed to think he’d be a staying chaser at the start of the season but now thinks he doesn’t stay well enough. As a result, is dropping him back in trip for Cheltenham. I really like this plan and fancy him over the mid distance trip, as Cromwell says, it will allow him to maximise his efficient jumping. I think he’ll race prominently in the Plate and will have enough stamina to keep going up the hill.

Ticks a lot of the ‘trend’ boxes for the Plate. Has run in graded races over both hurdles and fences, Cheltenham experience, and won once this season. From a value perspective, has only gone off bigger than 8/1 once in his whole career (14 races). Currently 25/1 for the Plate NRNB.
 
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….trends updated in post #1.
 
….well supported @jrjr, cut across the boards. Will the Wise now a best 16-1NRNB.
 
Eggs said:
….well supported @jrjr, cut across the boards. Will the Wise now a best 16-1NRNB.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I saw he’d been cut during my evening scroll though oddschecker. Was contemplating a top up but will leave for now and shift my attention to a few others on the handicap shortlist!

Would imagine someone on social media or a racing site has tipped him.
 
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….O’Moore Park, 33-1; interesting one if still in after today’s stage, put up by ATRs John Blance;


Sent off a 66-1 shot in the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase last year, he jumped and travelled well on the front end of an albeit slightly tepid gallop to finish a highly creditable third behind Caldwell Potter. He backed up that effort with another good run at Cheltenham's April meeting when trainer Willie Mullins was peppering the UK with runners in his attempt to steal away the trainers' championship. O'Moore Park has still yet to win over fences, so he qualifies to come back for another crack at the Jack Richards, or he may go to the Plate, run for the first time on day one on the Old Course. That would very much suit his run-style and I like his chances in either event.
 
No Donnacha which is disappointing, was one of my stronger handicap fancies!
 
Luke95 said:
No Donnacha which is disappointing, was one of my stronger handicap fancies!
Click to expand...
Urgh. Me too, maybe the ground, is a proper mud lark and unlikely to get anything near that unless the heavens open the day before.
 
Hopefully a good reason donnacha not running
They could have left him in and waited on the ground
Cos if not they might find they get raised for not running if Jagwar goes well in the ultima.
 
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Kauto’s star said:
Urgh. Me too, maybe the ground, is a proper mud lark and unlikely to get anything near that unless the heavens open the day before.
Click to expand...
Hard to believe it was ground as they could have waited a little longer. Most winning form on soft, but plenty of reasonable efforts on good to soft, and they always try to make it good to soft on the opening day.
 
Have backed Zurich now
Hopefully he gives it a shot
Looks to have better form and profile with a win at the course than Henry’s other entry
 
Slade steel taken out might mean he ends up Henry’s main dart in jack Richards now if koktail goes graded
 
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….W Mullins;

O’Moore Park
We've swerved a novice race and decided to let him take his chance in open company. Sean O'Keeffe knows him well. There is a big race in this guy and he has good place form around this track. His pedigree suggests that he would be better over a longer trip, however, he's by Walk In The Park and he's very keen and a difficult ride and is probably his own worst enemy. So, maybe this trip, for the time being, suits him. Any time we go a longer trip, he doesn't seem to get home but I think that's more his temperament than his pedigree or his ability. We're letting him go at this trip and if he ever settles down over fences, I think there's a big day in him somewhere.
 
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