JPR One heads into Cheltenham feature with solid recent form
Joe Tizzard will bring JPR One back to Cheltenham this Friday as the gelding bids to make an impact in the squareintheair.com Handicap Chase, a race in which Dan Skelton’s Calico seeks a third consecutive victory.
JPR One arrives having finished a narrow second to Edwardstone in the Celebration Chase at Sandown in the spring and was kept on a relatively straightforward preparation after plans for a possible trip to the United States were shelved. The Tizzard yard believe the nine‑or‑ten‑year‑old stays in good order and will handle the expected ground at Prestbury Park.
Calico, trained by Skelton, is the headline name after back‑to‑back victories in the £100,000 contest and a notable success at Ascot last season. He reappears carrying 6lb more than when last successful in the race and remains a clear reference point for form in the division.
Handicap dynamics and key challengers
The race book presents a competitive field. JPR One will race off the top of the weights but connections are encouraged by his recent work and previous Cheltenham performances. Tizzard has opted to start him in this contest rather than pursue international targets.
From Ireland, Henry de Bromhead has entered Sky Lord, who holds a low mark in the handicap and will be partnered by Mike O’Connor with regular jockey Darragh O’Keeffe suspended. Sky Lord comes into the race off an emphatic win at Wexford and a solid effort at Listowel, form that connections feel gives him a live chance.
Other contenders include Traprain Law for Lucinda Russell, Palacio for Sam Thomas and Sans Bruit for Paul Nicholls, each bringing staying experience and proven ability in handicap company.
Novice chase and hurdle prospects on the card
The Catesby Estates “Chasing Excellence” Novices’ Chase features several intriguing younger chasers. Gordon Elliott’s Bowensonfire, a consistent performer over hurdles, attempts to win over fences after a trio of earlier unsuccessful chasing outings. He meets a line of promising rivals, including Dan Skelton’s Ice Jet, who impressed over fences at Uttoxeter and benefits from the four‑year‑old allowance.
Willie Mullins sends Jarrive De Mee as his first Cheltenham runner of the season in the novices’ chase, with Patrick Mullins taking the ride. Ben Haslam’s Passing Diamond, successful over both hurdles and fences through the summer, and Nick Scholfield’s Glen To Glen complete the principal British and Irish entries.
In the McCoy Contractors Novices’ Hurdle, Mr Hollywood appears among the leading names. The six‑year‑old has run and won over hurdles at Galway and has recent international experience from ParisLongchamp. Joseph O’Brien’s Kingstonian and Gordon Elliott’s Cosmos D’Ainay also provide strong Irish opposition, while Datstheholyallofit represents the local challenge.
Festival context and what to watch
For racegoers who follow both the major festival meetings and the high‑profile handicaps around the country, Friday’s card offers a mixture of seasoned performers and younger recruits stepping up in class. Calico’s Ascot form underlines the link between course success and festival ambitions, while JPR One’s Sandown performance and Cheltenham experience make him a notable absentee from earlier festival speculation.
Connections on both sides will be keen to see how their charges handle the unique test of the Cheltenham track returning from a summer programme, and the results will shape plans for the autumn and winter campaigns at the major meetings.
- Race: squareintheair.com Handicap Chase, Cheltenham (Friday)
- Notable entries include Calico (Dan Skelton), JPR One (Joe Tizzard), Sky Lord (Henry de Bromhead), Traprain Law (Lucinda Russell)
- Supporting action includes the Catesby Estates Novices’ Chase and the McCoy Contractors Novices’ Hurdle
This article may have been prepared in whole or in part with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
