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14:10 Cheltenham
Thursday 16 March 2017
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30
Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
- 5YO plus  |  Class 1  |  2m 7f 213y  |  Good (Good to Soft in places)  |  24 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 14:11Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 5m 49.3s
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Progressive novice who suffered a blip when overturned at short odds at Hereford last month but bounced back in emphatic fashion when forging to an impressive 13L success on his handicap debut at Chepstow (3m, soft). Clobbered by a 15lb rise but remains unexposed over a test of stamina.
Yard captured this event 12 months ago and he looks a live contender on the evidence of a progressive profile which saw him win in good style off a 10lb lower mark at Fairyhouse (2m4f, heavy) last month. Had earlier reached the frame over 3m at Punchestown, so trip no concern, though easier ground preferred.
Good enough to contest the 2015 World Hurdle and only just touched off in a Grade 1 at Auteuil later that year but patchy profile since, going chasing without the same success. Didn't race with any great sparkle back over hurdles last month and drying ground isn't in his favour.
Sprung to prominence when winning at Navan last season before just getting touched off in a 3m handicap at the Punchestown Festival. Just two runs this season, winning again at Navan before chasing home 13L winner, Gayebury, at Chepstow after a break. Likely to be spot-on for this and has to be respected.
Class act who was placed in the Fred Winter and Martin Pipe respectively in the 2013 and 2014 Festivals before going on to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup over fences on this track in 2015. Only victory since came back over hurdles at Aintree in November (5lb lower mark) but dropped away tamely at Doncaster in January and fell at the first in the Ultima here on Tuesday.
Really came good as a novice last season, winning three times up to 2m4f, including readily in a Grade 3 event at Sandown. Has twice failed to complete when travelling well this season but confidence restored by a solid fourth-place effort behind Impusive Star at Exeter latest. Arguable we haven't seen the best of him yet.
Ultra-progressive since switching yards, having won his last seven races with a fair bit in hand. However, he is now 62lb higher in the ratings as a result, having picked up an 11lb rise for his win over 3m (soft) at Newbury last month. Tough, and still unexposed over a test of stamina so no surprise if thereabouts.
Rattled up a five-timer over hurdles between late April 2016 and October 2016 over trips up to 2m5f. Though he was beaten on his first attempt over 3m at Newbury next time, he recaptured the winning thread with a gutsy success over 3m2f (good) at Musselburgh latest. Solid each-way claims despite a further 4lb rise.
A faller when beaten in the Martin Pipe over these obstacles last year but bounced back well to record a good win at Wincanton (2m6f, soft) in the autumn. Flopped in first-time cheekpieces at Sandown next time, then unseated when travelling strongly on his chasing bow last month. Feasibly-treated but hard to know what he'll serve up.
Fell here in the Fred Winter as a juvenile and failed to win over fences afterwards but a revelation since switching back to hurdles earlier this season. Showed his liking for this track when pouncing late to win a 3m event (good) in October and reappears from a break only 3lb higher. Respected.
Lightly-raced and boasts a progressive profile augmented by an impressive win over 3m (heavy) at Thurles last month. Obviously much more to do off a 7lb higher mark in this company and better ground may not be to his advantage but still dangerous to discount.
Little impression made in three previous visits to the Cheltenham Festival, finishing tailed off in the Kim Muir over fences last year but recovered to win over hurdles at Haydock (2m7f, soft) in December (9lb lower mark). Twice beaten since and looks vulnerable.
A credit to connections when rattling off a superb hurdle/chase four-timer as a ten-year-old last summer but the handicapper obviously reacted and he found it tough going in three runs in the autumn. Has been given a break since but doesn't look to have the profile of a winner here.
Has a willing attitude, evidenced by successive wins at Chepstow and Leicester in November. Has shown further improvement to finish a runner-up three times since, including over this C&D (soft) on penultimate outing but mark continues to climb without winning.
Was still largely unexposed when winning this race in 2014 from an 8lb higher mark but has never won since despite several decent efforts, mainly over fences. Hasn't looked the force of old since reverting to hurdles this season but his mark is sliding all the time.
Lightly-raced novice who suffered his only reverse in four hurdle starts when fourth behind Wholestone in a Grade 2 event over C&D (soft) in November. Warmed up for this by staying on resolutely to win at Exeter last month (2m7f, soft) and a 10lb rise shouldn't prevent another bold showing.
Only five hurdle runs to his name but has scored twice, including on his only previous foray over 3m at Leopardstown (good to soft) in December. Seemed to run too bad to be true off a higher mark at Thurles next time but questions to answer all the same.
Very lightly-raced for his age and made it three wins from six for his master handler when delivered from off the pace to seemingly score with a fair bit in hand at Punchestown (3m, soft) last month. Raised 11lb but every chance there is still more to come, so worth shortlisting.
Made it five hurdle wins from just ten attempts when winning off a 5lb lower mark at Sandown (2m7f, good to soft) in December but pulled up at Chepstow next time and has been chasing without success since. Prefers easier ground and looks vulnerable.
Won a bumper and a couple of novices' hurdles with plenty of cut in the ground last season and has achieved a similar rating over fences since without winning. Improved in first-time blinkers back over hurdles at Haydock last month, finishing third to Dadsintrouble, but this looks a big ask.
Outclassed in the Champion Bumper here last year has adapted seamlessly to hurdles this season, beginning the campaign with four wins from five starts over this sort of trip. Third behind Impulsive Star and Rocklander at Exeter last time and clearly no margin for error.
A three time winner over hurdles (twice at staying trips) for Warren Greatrex, and joined this new trainer for £20,000 at the Doncaster November 2016 sales. Second over an inadequate 2m3f on his stable debut at Catterick, he shaped ok when fifth over 3m2f (good) last month but is patently vulnerable off current mark.
Dual winner last season and very unlucky not to add to his tally this term, finishing runner-up for the third time when chasing home Call To Order over C&D (good). Tends to go well here and is suited by 3m on decent ground, so big run anticipated even though he is rated 18lb above his last winning mark.
Scored twice last season in the mud and confirmed his liking for testing conditions when winning over 2m5f here in November (7lb lower mark). Twice put in his place since though and better ground unlikely to be ideal. Cheekpieces now reached for.
Forecasts
Impulsive Star (8/1), Jury Duty (9/1), For Good Measure (10/1), Tobefair (10/1), Presenting Percy (11/1), Ballymalin (12/1), Rocklander (12/1), El Bandit (14/1), Isleofhopendreams (14/1), Barney Dwan (16/1), Sutton Manor (16/1), Clondaw Cian (16/1), Golden Doyen (18/1), Electric Concorde (20/1), Caid Du Berlais (25/1), Gayebury (25/1), Alzammaar (25/1), Theo's Charm (33/1), Splash of Ginge (33/1), Arctic Gold (50/1), Fingal Bay (50/1), Mr Mix (50/1), The Tourard Man (66/1), Aubusson (66/1)
No horse has improved more this season than Tobefair and Debra Hamer's remarkable seven-year-old is bound to have his supporters as he bids for an eighth successive handicap win but this ultra-competitive affair may prove a bridge too far. Impulsive Star is similarly progressive and is a strong-travelling type who should relish the hurly-burly of this contest more than most, whilst Philip Hobbs saddles two live contenders in the shape of Golden Doyen and For Good Measure. Preference, however, is for the lightly-campaigned JURY DUTY who very much caught the eye returning from a break at Chepstow last month when shaping as though there is more to come from him off his present mark.
- Jury Duty
- Impulsive Star
- For Good Measure
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £54,321.002nd: £20,586.003rd: £10,222.004th: £4,674.005th: £2,346.006th: £1,406.00
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