15:30 Cheltenham

Thursday 15 March 2018

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

The Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1)

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 1  |   2m 7f 213y  |   Soft (Heavy in places)  |   15 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:31  |   Winning time: 6m 20.4s
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1
Horse silk
Bacardys77
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR:  145| BF| D
14/1
Smart in bumpers and over hurdles, he looks to have his chasing career curtailed for now to switch back to hurdles. Still very much unexposed as a staying hurdler and it should be remembered that he's a Grade 1 winner over hurdles.
3
Horse silk
L'Ami Sergeh47
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR:  159| BF
14/1
Failed to take advantage of a lenient mark over fences last time and returns to hurdles. Has won at this level in France but suspicion he will come up short here; travels well but can find little off the bridle and hard to win with.
4
Horse silk
Lil Rockerfellerp82
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-10| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR:  160| BF
33/1
Tough sort who posted a career best in this last year. His subsequent runs haven't proved as good although a return to this trip will help. Showed his well-being at Fontwell last time over shorter and could give a good account at a decent price.
6
Horse silk
Penhill323
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR:  153| BF| CD
12/1
Built on a solid Flat career over hurdles going from strength-to-strength and producing his best performance when winning last year's Albert Bartlett. Only seen once since then so will have a long absence and testing conditions to overcome.
7
Horse silk
Sam Spinner82
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-10| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR:  139| D
9/4
New kid on the staying block this year, he's made rapid strides in staying contests, graduating out of handicap company at Ascot in December. Tough and genuine sort who finds plenty for pressure and a leading contender as he faces his biggest test.
8
Horse silk
Supasundae40
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR:  159| C
6/1
Proved himself at the Festival (won Coral Cup last year) and has continued to progress in graded events since. Produced a career best to win the Irish Champion Hurdle (2m) last time but proven as a stayer; has a touch of class and much respected.
9
Horse silk
The New One54
Age: 10|  Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR:  163| C
18/1
Champion Hurdle regular and a high class hurdler, connections now decide to change tack and try him over further. Never tried over this far but does have plenty of form around here and his class may be enough to see him there in the closing stages.
10
Horse silk
The Worlds End47
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR:  149
33/1
Progressed well over staying trips making up for a Festival fall when scoring in a similar race at Aintree. So far hasn't managed to quite bridge the gap to this level but ran with credit here last time and may yet do better if the ground dries up.
11
Horse silk
Unowhatimeanharryt82
Age: 10|  Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR:  167| BF| CD
8/1
Improved dramatically when first joining this stable, winning eight in a row including a Festival success. Placed in this contest last year but he's not quite been at his best of late and has work to do with Sam Spinner on their Ascot run.
12
Horse silk
Wholestone47
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR:  155| CD
14/1
Consistent sort who has run well here before winning over 2m4f on his penultimate start. However he may not quite stay this far despite the fact that he travels well and acts on this track; merits consideration for the places.
13
Horse silk
Yanworth73
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: A King| OR:  163| C
6/1
Victorious against Supersundae last year over a staying trip at Aintree that capped a fine season over hurdles. Tried over fences this year (won twice) but not really taken to that sphere and reverts to hurdles; a big chance of landing this prize.
15
Horse silk
Augusta Kate49
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-3| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR:  143
20/1
One of four runners for this yard, she is a Grade 1 winner in the past and looks to have her career back on track now after a couple of disappointments. Career best effort last time (lost out to a stronger stayer); may be better against her own sex.
16
Horse silk
Colin's Sister47
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-3| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR:  142| BF| D
33/1
Beat Wholestone earlier in the season highlighting her progressive nature although her career has gone sideways rather than forwards since then. Stays well and deserves to take her chance here but the Mares' Hurdle may have been a better option.
17
Horse silk
Let's Dancep149
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-3| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR:  145| BF| C
33/1
Smart hurdler and already a Festival winner, she bounced back from a bad fall to show her best at Leopardstown on her penultimate start. Turned in a poor effort last time out when tried over 3m for the first time; more than lack of stamina to blame.

Non-Runners

5
Horse silk
Old Guard73
Weight: 11-10|  Age: 7
T: P F Nicholls  J: H Cobden
NR
14
Horse silk
Apple's Jade77
Weight: 11-3|  Age: 6
T: G Elliott  J: J W Kennedy
NR

Forecasts

Sam Spinner (9/4), Supasundae (6/1), Yanworth (6/1), Unowhatimeanharry (8/1), Penhill (12/1), Apple's Jade (12/1), Wholestone (14/1), L'Ami Serge (14/1), Bacardys (14/1), The New One (18/1), Augusta Kate (20/1), Colin's Sister (33/1), The Worlds End (33/1), Lil Rockerfeller (33/1), Old Guard (33/1), Let's Dance (33/1)

Verdict

A strong renewal with plenty that can be given a chance of taking this prize with the vote going to SUPERSUNDAE to follow up his 2017 Coral Cup win having shown plenty of class and versatility of late. Sam Spinner and Yanworth will prove worthy adversaries though the former could still be improving while the latter is closely matched with the selection on their Aintree running last season returned to hurdles. The New One would be a popular winner on his first try at the trip with Unowhatimeanharry bidding to go two better than last year. If there is to be a relative upset then the unexposed Barcardys could be the one to provide it.
  1. Supasundae
  2. Bacardys
  3. Yanworth

Previous Winners

2024
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 7
5/4
2023
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 11
33/1
2022
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 7
4/1
2021
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 6
12/1
2020
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 7
50/1
2019
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 7
11/8
2017
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 7
10/1

Prize Money

1st: £185,088.002nd: £69,452.003rd: £34,775.004th: £17,322.005th: £8,710.006th: £4,355.00

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