1:10 Cheltenham
This Class 3 novices' limited handicap steeplechase at Cheltenham over 2m4f44y on good to soft ground brings together an interesting mix of lightly-raced progressive types and more experienced campaigners. With a field of 11, the KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Sogna In Grande on 67, just ahead of O'Moore Park and Rockonliam on 66, with De Temps En Temps on 65 completing a strong quartet of principals. The race features several horses dropping in class and others stepping up or down in trip, while many remain unproven on the surface or at the course.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape points to a lone leader with high confidence, suggesting one horse will secure an uncontested lead that could prove difficult for those racing from off the pace to reel in. De Temps En Temps is the clear front-runner and should be allowed to dictate from the outset, while As Legends Have It is likely to race prominently just in behind. Most of the field, including the selection Sogna In Grande, O'Moore Park, Rockonliam and Spectacularsunrise, prefer to settle in mid-division or be held up, setting up a race where the key question will be whether the leader can maintain the advantage or if the closers can bridge the gap on this stiff track.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Sogna In Grande KTB Selection67/100
Sogna In Grande stands out as a high-class prospect who has won three of his four starts over hurdles and now makes his chasing debut off an official rating of 128. Lightly raced, he drops in class here and his full brother Grand Sabre won once from 13 starts while the dam has produced two other runners including one winner. Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls hold an 18% strike rate at Cheltenham from 11 runs, though jockey Ciaran Gethings is on a 1% record from 89 rides at the track. Typically settling in mid-division, he is unproven on good to soft ground and has no previous course form, while the drop back from 3m to this untried 2m4f trip introduces fresh questions. His progressive profile nevertheless makes him a major player.
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2O'Moore Park66/100
O'Moore Park is a high-class performer with solid placed form at Cheltenham, having finished sixth, second and third from three runs at the track without winning. He steps up in trip today, having won once over this distance from five attempts, though his recent form of 067-93 indicates he will need to improve on those last two efforts. Trainer Martin Keighley has a 10% strike rate at Cheltenham from 282 runs while jockey Sean Bowen posts a 9% record from 307 rides here. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he has been placed once from four starts on good to soft without winning on the surface. His course experience gives him a solid foundation in a race where the pace may not collapse.
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3Rockonliam66/100
Rockonliam arrives in top form having reeled off three straight wins and now carries a high-class official rating of 129. He drops back from 3m1f to a trip at which he has won twice from four starts, though he remains unproven on good to soft ground. Henry de Bromhead's yard records a 12% strike rate at Cheltenham from 362 runs, in line with their record elsewhere, while jockey Darragh O'Keeffe has an 8% strike rate from 96 rides at the course. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he has no previous course form to call upon. His current winning streak nevertheless marks him out as a serious danger.
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4De Temps En Temps65/100
De Temps En Temps is a high-class performer who has already won at Cheltenham from just two runs at the track. He steps up in trip today having won at this distance on his only previous attempt and holds a solid record on good to soft with one win from two starts plus two placed efforts. Martin Keighley's yard has a 10% strike rate at Cheltenham from 282 runs, in line with their record elsewhere, while claiming jockey Freddie Keighley has an 8% record from 13 rides here. A confirmed front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he drops in class and his proven course record and ability to dictate could be significant assets given the expected uncontested lead.
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5Spectacularsunrise58/100
Spectacularsunrise is a high-class performer who showed his ability with a clear-cut win last time to add to an already solid recent record. He has won on good to soft ground and at today's trip from just one attempt. Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies operate at a modest 3% strike rate at Cheltenham from 33 runs, below their 17% at other tracks, while jockey Sam Twiston-Davies has a 10% record from 779 rides here. Usually held up and producing his effort late, this is his first run at the course. His latest success nevertheless keeps him firmly in the picture.
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6Kahavari57/100
Kahavari is a smart performer who arrives in solid form after winning last time out and has already scored over today's trip. Competitive on good to soft without winning on it, he holds an official rating of 118. Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero record an 18% strike rate at Cheltenham from 33 runs while this is his first run here; usually held up, he drops in class.
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7As Legends Have It55/100
As Legends Have It is a high-class performer who showed his ability with two wins from his last three starts before a break. He has already placed here over course and distance on good to soft, and he is 1 from 3 at today's trip. Ben Pauling operates at a 6% strike rate at Cheltenham from 241 runs, below his 16% at other tracks; usually races prominently.
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8Sony Bill54/100
Sony Bill is a high-class performer on his day but has failed to fire in two runs at this track. He steps up in trip today having shown no win or place from three runs on good to soft ground and two previous tries at this distance. Faye Bramley holds an 8% strike rate at Cheltenham from 13 runs; usually held up.
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9Lisbane Park51/100
Lisbane Park is a high-class performer who showed strong form last season with a win and two seconds from five runs. He finished fourth on his only previous visit to Cheltenham and now steps up in trip having been placed without winning at this distance. Joe Tizzard's yard has a 9% strike rate at the track from 87 runs, in line with their record elsewhere; typically settles in midfield.
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10Palamon48/100
Palamon is a high-class performer on his day with a solid recent record that includes two wins this season. He has won at today's trip but pulled up on his only previous run at Cheltenham and his trainer's 12% strike rate at the track sits below their overall figure. Goes well on good to soft but remains only 1-5 in that going; usually held up.
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11Ballykinlar46/100
Ballykinlar is high-class on his day yet has failed to fire in two recent runs after a long break. He has won at today's trip but showed little at Cheltenham on his only visit and is 0-1 on good to soft ground. First-time headgear is now tried by a yard with a 0% strike rate from 15 runs at the track; typically settles in midfield.
KTB verdict
Sogna In Grande is the KTB Selection. A high-class prospect with three wins from four starts, he drops in class for a top yard that performs well at Cheltenham, and his progressive profile leaves him with plenty of scope despite being unproven on the ground and at the trip. The drop back from 3m will ask a question but his ability should allow him to cope. The main dangers are headed by De Temps En Temps, who can take advantage of the expected lone-leader pace shape from the front having already won at the course and over the trip, and Rockonliam, who brings strong current winning form. O'Moore Park's course placings also make him a live contender if he can rediscover his best.
KTB Selection Sogna In Grande
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 1:04am, 24 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Sogna In Grande | 12/1 | Bet365, 1:04am |
| O'Moore Park | 22/1 | Bet365, 1:04am |
| Rockonliam | 5/1 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| De Temps En Temps | 11/2 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| Spectacularsunrise | 9/2 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| Kahavari | 33/1 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| As Legends Have It | 8/1 | Bet365, 1:04am |
| Sony Bill | 28/1 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| Lisbane Park | 10/3 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| Palamon | 14/1 | Bet365, 1:04am |
| Ballykinlar | 22/1 | William Hill, 1:04am |
This is the narrative read of the 1:10 Cheltenham. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Cheltenham racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Cheltenham results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Cheltenham racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is likely to take the uncontested lead?
De Temps En Temps, as the confirmed front-runner in a pace shape that features a lone leader with high confidence.
How many previous wins does Sogna In Grande hold?
Three wins from four starts, as reflected in his recent form figures of 1/114-.
Which principals are unproven on good to soft ground?
Sogna In Grande and Rockonliam have no runs on good to soft.
Who has the strongest trainer strike rate at Cheltenham among the principals?
Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls with an 18% strike rate from 11 runs.
Which runner is having its first run at Cheltenham?
Spectacularsunrise has no course form on record.
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