Junior Account Executive Teddie Bateman previews Friday’s squareintheair.com Handicap Chase on the first day of Cheltenham’s William Hill Showcase Meeting.

1. JPR ONE

The multiple Grade 2-winning chaser was last seen finishing second behind Edwardstone in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase at Sandown back in April. The nine-year-old comes here carrying top-weight but has the credentials to overcome that, as he showed when landing the Scottish Champion Chase in January off just a few pounds lower. He goes well fresh and looks the class horse in the race.

2. CALICO

Calico arrives here fresh off a break and the Skeltons should have him primed for this, as they have done in the past two renewals of the race. An impressive seven-length winner last year, this will have been their long-term target for Calico. That fact, as well as his record in this, entitles him to major respect. He might not want conditions too soft, though.

3. SOUL ICON

Not seen in the winners’ enclosure since landing the Desert Orchid Chase in 2024, where he had Traprain Law and Sans Bruit behind him. He began this season with no luck over hurdles and subsequently on the Flat at Salisbury. Those runs should have brought him forward, but he’ll have to be back to his best over fences to be considered here.

4. TRAPRAIN LAW

Fourth in the race last year and also beaten three lengths in third behind JPR One in the Scottish Champion Chase. Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore have booked Lucas Murphy who claims seven pounds and with last season’s form figures reading 42133, Traprain Law holds decent claims off a featherweight of 10st 3lbs.

5. PALACIO

One trainer who would be foolish to overlook is Sam Thomas, who has shown himself to be adept at targeting valuable handicaps like this. Palacio was an impressive winner over fences at Newbury last season and still has scope for improvement over fences. His progress was halted by a couple of bad mistakes last time out, but, if his jumping is back on song, there’s no reason why he can’t be competitive here on his season reappearance.

6. SKY LORD

Henry De Bromhead’s chaser comes here with a win and a place from his last two starts. His run at Listowel in September means he has the advantage of a recent outing over most of his rivals. At seven-years-old, he’s the youngest horse in this line-up, but Sky Lord’s profile suggests he’s got plenty of improvement to come and he could be a threat to the market leaders.

7. SANS BRUIT

The once renowned pairing of Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden will be reunited with Sans Bruit, who beat Calico to win a Grade 3 at Aintree in 2025 and on his next start had JPR One back in fifth in the 2025 Sussex Champion Chase. Those are his best pieces of form, but he is without a win in seven starts since then. However, returning from a long break which included a wind operation, he is down to a competitive mark and cannot be safely dismissed.

8. IN THE AIR

With two wins and a second in his last three starts, In The Air may be a curveball in this field. He shoulders a seven-pound penalty coming into this race, and has to run from out of the weights. This is a tougher test than he’s used to, but he’s progressive, and if his form is anything to go off, we can expect him to run a solid race.

9. DUKE OF LUCKLEY

One of the more experienced chasers in the race with eight wins from 24 starts over fences. He began his season in August with back-to-back wins at Stratford and Kelso followed by a fourth at Southwell on his most recent start. He’s got a bit to prove here, and this level of competition requires him to take a step forward.

Verdict:

JPR ONE is my selection to win the Squareintheair.com Handicap Chase. While he needs to run up to his best carrying top weight of 12-stone, he sets the standard as a multiple Grade 2-winning chaser who also has experience at Grade 1 level. He has won when fresh in the past, is the classiest horse in the race, and I think he’ll be up for the challenge. Joe Tizzard’s runner might offer a bit of value against the likely favourite, Calico.