The abandonment of the Bechers Chase at Aintree last weekend means that the top two that headed that market have been re-routed here.

But today will be a different test to what they would have faced over Grand National fences.

I suspect none will be finishing up the Cheltenham hill like Sonic, but who has it in them to find their way to victory in what is sure to be a true test of stamina?

Here, I will take you through all eight runners to help you make your betting decision easier.

You can also get the best online horse racing bookmakers with the best sign-up offers and betting promotions.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap Chase runner by runner betting guide

Now it’s time to take a in-depth look into runners of the Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap Chase and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.

🏇 1 Chianti Classic

• Age: 7
• Weight: 12st 0lb
• Form: 1214-1
• Rating: 157
• Jockey: Ciaran Gethings
• Trainer: Kim Bailey
• Odds: 2/1

Their main aim for Chianti Classico this season has been the Aintree Grand National in April, but if he is to win this off twelve stone, then they may have to change the plan.

He won the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival off a 14lb lower in March and has since made a successful comeback off 152, for which he has been put up another five pounds.

I have great time for Chianti Classico, but if he is to win this, there will be no room for error.

If he does pull off this feat of winning off a mark of 152, carrying top weight, and conceding a minimum of 11 lbs to all his rivals, then we may be looking at a potential Grade 1 horse in the making.

Given what he has shown already and the increasing likelihood of more coming from him, there is every reason to think he can do it, but will the weight prove too much?

My head says yes, it will be too much for him today, and it’s better to make decisions with your head over your heart.

He can and should go close, but the weight may be too much here.

✅ Course and distance winner
✅ Impressive winner of seasonal return
✅ Won’t mind what the underfoot conditions are

❌ Has to concede lumps of weight

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐

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🏇 5 King Turgeon

• Age: 6
• Weight: 10st 4lb
• Form: 52B-11
• Rating: 133
• Jockey: Jack Tudor
• Trainer: David Pipe
• Odds: 3/1

Something has clicked with King Turgeon since returning from his summer break.

He followed up a ten-length win at Chepstow over three miles and two furlongs with a win in the Grand Sefton over the Grand National fences at Aintree.

He went from a mark of 118 to 133 for those two wins. But given the manner of his wins, you would be foolish to think that he is anywhere near the ceiling of his improvement.

The step back up in trip will not be an issue; if anything, it is another positive.

He will likely track Chianti Classico and more for most of the race, and given his staying ability, he may be able to take full advantage of the 24lbs weight concession from Chianti Classico.

✅ Back-to-back wins this season
✅ He should have a lot more to offer off this mark
✅ Steps back up in trip

❌ No Cheltenham experience

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️⭐

🐎 Bet on King Turgeon with Sky Bet 🐎

🏇 4 Ballygrifincottage

• Age: 9
• Weight: 10st 10lb
• Form: 27-34F
• Rating: 139
• Jockey: Harry Skelton
• Trainer: Dan Skelton
• Odds: 7/1

One win over fences from ten starts, which came on chase debut, dampens the enthusiasm for Ballygrifincottage’s chances.

For all that he has run well in some big staying handicaps, such as the Scottish National, his return this season has been less than inspiring.

After a well-beaten fourth on his comeback was followed by a fall at the fourth fence when having his first run over fences at Cheltenham.

He is at an age now where it is hard to see where any more improvement is to come from, and he has been seen not to find as much as you would expect in the closing stages.

He should run his race, but I would be disappointed if he was good enough to win.

✅ Ground conditions will be ideal
✅ Trainer is in top form

❌ Poor strike rate

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️

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🏇 4 The Newest One

• Age: 9
• Weight: 10st 2lb
• Form: 733-14
• Rating: 131
• Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
• Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
• Odds: 7/1

The Newest One has been somewhat of a late developer in his career.

He has gone from a horse who flattered to deceive to one that has shown consistent form since February of last year.

This season started with a win on the old course in a competitive amateur handicap chase and arguably bettered that performance with a two-length fourth off a five-pound higher mark last time out.

He gets in here off the same mark, and on a course that he enjoys, it’s hard to rule out a big run, especially with Sam Twiston-Davies getting the leg up.

Considering the weight he receives off Chianti Classico and his course record, he becomes a big each-way player.

✅ Acts well at this course
✅ Has been in good form this season
✅ In receipt of nearly two stone

❌ Won’t want to get into a pace battle up front

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐

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🏇 6 Java Point

• Age: 9
• Weight: 10st 2lb
• Form: 4145-2
• Rating: 131
• Jockey: Jonathan Burke
• Trainer: Henry Oliver
• Odds: 13/2

Java Point is one of those horses who runs to a consistent level year in and year out and made a more than pleasing comeback at last month’s November meeting.

He finished just over two lengths in front of The Newest One when conceding six pounds to that rival but now runs off the same weight as him today.

In theory, that should be enough to hold that form, but this trip has stretched his stamina on his three previous attempts.

He shouldn’t be good enough to win but can run into the places if his stamina holds out for this extra furlong.

✅ Runs very consistent
✅ Finished ahead of The Newest One last time out

❌ Would prefer a bit of cut in the ground
❌ This trip seems to stretch his stamina

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐

🐎 Bet on Java Point with bet365 🐎

🏇 2 Chambard

• Age: 12
• Weight: 11st 2lb
• Form: 21P88-
• Rating: 145
• Jockey: Miss Lucy Turner (5)
• Trainer: Venetia Williams
• Odds: 16/1

It looked as if everything was falling into place last weekend for Chambard to run a massive race in the Bechers Chase, only for the race to be abandoned.

The switch to Cheltenham is not a negative, as he previously won the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the 2022 Festival and has since shown some of his best form at this track.

The only negative I have here is the ground.

It has always been a case of the softer the ground, the better Chambard’s chances.

The slower ground these days helps slow down his younger rivals and back on the ground that is, as of now, good to soft; his chances have dissipated with the drying of the ground.

If there was rain to fall and conditions became soft, then he became more interesting.

But as of now, you have to take him on, given the ground conditions and his age.

✅ Runs well at this course
✅ Runs well when fresh

❌ Drying ground is a concern
❌ Age may catch up to him

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️

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🏇 3 Our Power

• Age: 9
• Weight: 11st 0lb
• Form: 10/7F-
• Rating: 143
• Jockey: Dyland Johnston (3)
• Trainer: Sam Thomas
• Odds: 20/1

Our Power was set to make his seasonal comeback at Ascot at the start of November, but he was taken out due to unsuitable ground, and it looks like he may have the same issue with the ground here.

Even if the ground was to his liking, he looks high enough in the weights given his past exploits.

He has shown that he can run well when fresh, but this is a tough race to make your seasonal return off this mark.

✅ Runs well when fresh

❌ Drying ground is a concern
❌ Looks high in the weights

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on Our Power with SBK 🐎

🏇 Izino d’Airy

• Age: 6
• Weight: 10st 2lb
• Form: 113322
• Rating: 131
• Jockey: Alexandre Seigneul (3)
• Trainer: Guilaume Fabre
• Odds: 80/1

After reading through Izino d’Airy’s form in France, it’s hard to make a credible case for him.

His form isn’t anything to get excited about, and he has been on the go since March, running 15 times.

To say it would be a shock for him to get involved in his first run outside of France would be an understatement.

❌ First run outside of France
❌ All his best form has been on ground soft or worse

Star rating: ⭐️

🐎 Bet on Izino d’Airy with BetMGM 🐎

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap Chase verdict

Chianti Classico has a chance to stamp himself as much more than a handicapper here today if he goes and wins off 157. But given that he must concede so much weight away to his rivals, it may be too much, and he may have to be overhauled by KING TURGEON.

Since he has returned from his summer break, and with the wind surgery clearly a big plus, he looks like a horse who can improve past this mark.

King Turgeon should prove hard to beat, getting 24lbs off Chianti Classico.

The Newest One and Java Point can battle it out for place money.

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