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14:10 Cheltenham

Friday 15 March 2024

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 4m 25.1s

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Selected odds by:

Pied Piper^t¹¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: D J Gilligan⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 156| CD

14/1

Placed in the Triumph/this race at last 2 Festivals and highlighted his versatility when second in Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October. Small-field scenario never played to his strengths in Morgiana Hurdle in November and should give it his best shot again back from a break.

Form: 15426-4

Zenta⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| D

10/1

Lightly-raced mare who was 3 from 4 over hurdles as a novice, third in last season's Triumph before landing Aintree Grade 1 on final start. Good third on return/chase debut in December and best effort yet when third in competitive handicap hurdle at Leopardstown latest. Looks tailor-made for this.

Form: 1131-33

Magical Zoe⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 144| BF| D

8/1

Has quickly developed into a likeable mare and returned with success in listed hurdle at Gowran (2m) in September. Stepped up further in defeat since, second of 21 in ultra-competitive handicap at Leopardstown (2m, soft) last month. Expected to give another bold showing.

Form: 125-122

King Of Kingsfield⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| D

4/1

Useful in bumpers and similar form over hurdles, excellent second in Grade 1 Royal Bond prior to comfortably opening his account in Leopardstown maiden. Another creditable effort when third behind Ballyburn and Slade Steel in Grade 1 latest and he's an intriguing handicap debutant for top yard.

Form: 3-22213

Westport Cove^h,t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139

40/1

Bumper scorer and perfect start over hurdles when landing Thurles maiden (16.2f) in November. Struggled in Grade 1 next time but better efforts (fitted with a tongue tie) back in calmer waters more recently. Does need to raise his game again now handicapping, though.

Form: 10-1P24

Bialystok⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139

14/1

Useful on Flat in France and enjoyed good first season over hurdles, winning 2 of his 4 starts. Plenty of creditable efforts to his name last summer and had yet to be asked for his effort when brought down 2 out at Leopardstown (2m) last month. Not discounted.

Form: 1-7324B

Absurde⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138

12/1

Last season's Ebor winner who struggled faced with testing conditions back over hurdles at Christmas but much more like it when fourth behind Ballyburn in Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month. Promises to do better in this sphere, particularly now switched to handicaps. Paul Townend rides.

Form: 16P4

Risk Belle⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: J S McGarvey| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137| BF| D

12/1

Progressive last season and returned better than ever when landing Fairyhouse Grade 3 in December. Creditable third next time and very much caught the eye from an unpromising position when fifth in listed mares' handicap at Leopardstown (18f) last month. Sure to go well.

Form: 316-135

Petit Tonnerre^v1⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: Jonjo & A O'Neill| OR: 136| BF| D

20/1

Useful hurdler who was much better than bare result when seventh in this race 12 months ago. Hasn't totally convinced with his jumping in handful of chase starts so far this term but mark has eased ahead of this return to hurdles and application of first-time visor could put an extra edge on him.

Form: 57-2445

Faivoir⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| CD

7/1

Talented hurdler/chaser who capitalised on much-reduced mark when landing this race 12 months ago from Pied Piper and looks to be coming to the boil at just the right time again, running right up to best when caught on line in last week's Imperial Cup. Has to be respected from the same mark.

Form: 6P2852

L'eau Du Sud^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| D

7/2

Useful hurdler (dual winner in France) who left his reappearance run in the Greatwood in his wake back from a break when runner-up behind Iberico Lord in last month's Betfair Hurdle. 6 lb rise for that effort looks fair and bold showing anticipated for yard who have won this 3 times since 2018.

Form: 1/433-P2

So Scottish^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: D Meyler| T: E Mullins| OR: 133| BF

7/1

Hurdles/chase winner who was still travelling strongly when departing 4 out in December Gold Cup here on penultimate start and ran a solid race when fourth back over hurdles at Leopardstown (2m) in February. That ought to have put him spot on for this and highly respected for shrewd outfit.

Form: 27U-4F4

Samui^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| D

50/1

Fairly useful hurdler who was quickly back to form to land decent pot in listed company at Listowel (2m) in September. Effort proved short-lived when well-beaten in Grade 3 at Tipperary in October. Absent since and yard look to hold stronger contenders.

Form: 212415

Mr Freedom¹¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 125

28/1

Most consistent sort produced another thoroughly likeable display when landing 6-runner Plumpton handicap (15.9f) 11 days ago, leading final 100 yards and responding well. Should give it his best shot again but this understandably a whole lot more demanding under a penalty.

Form: 233U21

By Your Side⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: J Coen⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 129

80/1

Naas juvenile hurdle winner (16.3f) 12 months ago who has plenty of creditable efforts to his name in big-field handicaps, including when filling runner-up spot at Fairyhouse/Leopardstown in December. Not discredited back at latter-named venue 6 weeks ago but this mark demands that bit more.

Form: 260227

Afadil^p⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129

40/1

Comfortable winner of a 2m handicap at the Ayr Scottish National meeting last spring and back on track equipped with cheekpieces in recent months, quickening well to take 13-runner Musselburgh handicap (15.5f) 6 weeks ago. Good value conditional again takes the ride and each-way possibilities.

Form: 1-7P331

Media Naranja⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: J C Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 126

100/1

Flat/dual hurdles winner who dispelled a lesser run at Limerick in December when keeping on for fourth in mares' handicap hurdle at Leopardstown 6 weeks ago. More on her plate operating from out of the weights here, though.

Form: 123584

Non-Runners

Encanto Bruno⁷⁹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: G P Cromwell J: K M Donoghue

Hansard⁸³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: G & J Moore J: N F Houlihan

Aucunrisque⁶²

Weight: 10-9| Age: 8

T: C Gordon J: Rex Dingle

Gin Coco⁹⁰

Weight: 10-8| Age: 8

T: H Fry J: J J Burke

Parramount³⁵

Weight: 10-4| Age: 8

T: C E Longsdon J: G Sheehan

Rare Middleton⁹¹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 5

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Forecasts

L'eau Du Sud (7/2), King Of Kingsfield (4/1), Faivoir (7/1), So Scottish (7/1), Magical Zoe (8/1), Zenta (10/1), Absurde (12/1), Risk Belle (12/1), Pied Piper (14/1), Bialystok (14/1), Petit Tonnerre (20/1), Hansard (20/1), Gin Coco (25/1), Encanto Bruno (25/1), Mr Freedom (28/1), Parramount (33/1), Aucunrisque (33/1), Afadil (40/1), Westport Cove (40/1), Samui (50/1), Rare Middleton (50/1), By Your Side (80/1), Media Naranja (100/1)

Plenty with solid claims and it may pay to take a chance on SO SCOTTISH. Still going well when falling over fences here earlier this term, he teed himself up nicely for a tilt at this with a good fourth over hurdles at Leopardstown 6 weeks ago and his mark looks a workable one for a yard that has already hit the target this week. The improving King of Kingsfield, now handicapping, and Betfair Hurdle second L'eau du Sud are other key players. Risk Belle and Absurde are also shortlisted.