15:00 Cheltenham

Sunday 18 November 2018

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 1  |   2m 87y  |   Good (Good to Soft in places)  |   18 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:01  |   Winning time: 3m 49.7s
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1
Horse silk
Old Guardp15
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Williams(5)| T: P F Nicholls| OR:  152| CD
16/1
Was conceding lumps of weight when second to Verdana Blue at Kempton, and again ran creditably upped to 3m at Wetherby last time. Won this contest in 2015 and ran when third last year, so should be on the premises.
2
Horse silk
Verdana Blue8(ex 5)
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-11| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR:  146| D
7/2
Better than ever this autumn, winning listed hurdle at Kempton and Elite Hurdle at Wincanton. Penalised for latest success, but still brings strong form claims.
3
Horse silk
Mohaayedt29
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-6| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR:  146| BF| C| D
16/1
Caused a shock in heavy-ground County Hurdle here in March. but handicapper has reacted, and he was only fourth in the Welsh Champion Hurdle last month.
4
Horse silk
Charli Parcs211
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-5| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR:  145| D
12/1
Big reputation, but sole win for connections came on hurdles debut. Clearly has plenty of ability, as he showed when fourth in Scottish Champion Hurdle in April, but not entirely convincing.
5
Horse silk
Western Ryder218
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR:  145| C| D
6/1
Smart novice last season, staying on well when sixth in the Supreme over C&D. Type to thrive in handicaps, and respected for all he might prefer softer ground.
6
Horse silk
Silver Streak29
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR:  145| D
13/2
Has an excellent win record in valuable handicaps, and added the Welsh Champion Hurdle to his tally last month. Stiffer task here, but probably still improving.
7
Horse silk
Caius Marciusp15
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR:  142| D
25/1
Won a Listed handicap hurdle at Market Rasen in September, but raised 13lb for that, and that seemed to find him out when third at Ascot last time. Others better treated.
8
Horse silk
Midnight Shadow32
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: Mrs S J Smith| OR:  141| BF| D
12/1
Career-best effort when winning Scottish Champion Hurdle in April, proving himself on good ground, and ran well when second to Innocent Touch in handicap at Wetherby last month. One to bear in mind.
9
Horse silk
Le Patriotep15
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR:  141| D
14/1
Non Runner
10
Horse silk
Irish Roep115
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-13| J: Henry Brooke| T: P Atkinson| OR:  139| CD
16/1
Listed bumper winner at this meeting in 2016, and has won four from nine over hurdles. Good effort when third of 6 to Lady Buttons in listed mares' hurdle at Wetherby last month, and sure to run her usual honest race.
11
Horse silk
Storm Risingb16
Age: 5|  Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Hammond(5)| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR:  137| CD
10/1
Ran out an easy winner of a C&D conditional jockeys' contest here last month, and unpenalised when having plenty to spare at Wetherby recently. Not dismissed, although raised 14lb for those wins, which makes life harder.
12
Horse silk
Nube Negra220
Age: 4|  Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR:  135WS
8/1
Won twice in juvenile hurdles last term, and good third in Fred Winter here in March. Has had wind surgery prior to this return, and may do better, for all this represents his stiffest task.
13
Horse silk
Equus Amadeus30
Age: 5|  Weight: 10-6| J: T Scudamore| T: T Lacey| OR:  132WS
50/1
Didn't take to chasing on penultimate outing, but back to winning ways over hurdles at Wincanton last time. Had a bit in hand there, and no forlorn hope despite a 4lb rise.
14
Horse silk
Brianstorm218
Age: 6|  Weight: 10-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss V Williams| OR:  132| D
25/1
Couple of soft-ground wins at Taunton and Sandown for Warren Greatrex in early months of the year, and joined current yard (which has yet to really get going) after poor run in Grade 1 at Aintree. Forecast conditions a concern.
15
Horse silk
Mad Jack Mytton23
Age: 8|  Weight: 10-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR:  130| D
50/1
Not running badly at the moment, but handicapper seems in charge and he's struggled in two previous attempts in this race.
16
Horse silk
Vado Forte35
Age: 5|  Weight: 10-3| J: R T Dunne| T: T Lacey| OR:  129| D
20/1
Improved to win three of his last four starts in the spring with a hood fitted, and ran well when third after a break at Chepstow last month. Headgear missing now, but not impossible that he will progress again without it.
17
Horse silk
Deyrann de Carjac36
Age: 5|  Weight: 10-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR:  128| D
16/1
In frame on all starts over hurdles, winning a novice at Warwick in May. Good second at Chepstow last month, and makes handicap debut off a fair mark. Unexposed, although inexperienced the flip-side of that coin.
18
Horse silk
Not That Fuisse17
Age: 5|  Weight: 10-0| J: William Marshall(10)| T: D Skelton| OR:  125| D
25/1
Dual novice hurdle winner in the spring but ran below par when behind Vado Forte on handicap debut at Chepstow. Better effort when second at Stratford since, but something to prove, especially at this level.
19
Horse silk
Nietzschet16
Age: 5|  Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin(7)| T: B Ellison| OR:  123| D
50/1
Disappointing since finishing third in the Fred Winter here in March 2017, but much better signs when second after a break on the Flat earlier this month. Lively outsider for shrewd connections.
20
Horse silk
Man Of Plentyp,t23
Age: 9|  Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Houlihan(5)| T: Mrs S Leech| OR:  123| D
25/1
Plenty of solid efforts in defeat in recent times, but the bottom line is that he's on a losing run of 23, and it's very hard to see him snap that from out of the handicap.

Forecasts

Verdana Blue (7/2), Western Ryder (6/1), Silver Streak (13/2), Nube Negra (8/1), Storm Rising (10/1), Charli Parcs (12/1), Midnight Shadow (12/1), Le Patriote (14/1), Old Guard (16/1), Mohaayed (16/1), Deyrann de Carjac (16/1), Irish Roe (16/1), Vado Forte (20/1), Not That Fuisse (25/1), Man Of Plenty (25/1), Caius Marcius (25/1), Brianstorm (25/1), Nietzsche (50/1), Mad Jack Mytton (50/1), Equus Amadeus (50/1)

Verdict

Soft ground would be preferable, but WESTERN RYDER ran a cracker in the Supreme Novices' over C&D in March, and is the type to thrive in handicaps this season, so gets the verdict over Old Guard, who has a similar chance to Verdana Blue on Kempton running, and has twice run very well in this race before, winning in 2015. Silver Streak is another with an excellent record in similar races, and looks best of the rest in a competitive renewal.
  1. Western Ryder
  2. Old Guard
  3. Silver Streak

Previous Winners

2017
Elgin
Weight: 10-8  |Age: 5
10/1

Prize Money

1st: £56,270.002nd: £21,200.003rd: £10,610.004th: £5,300.005th: £2,660.006th: £1,330.007th: £660.008th: £340.00

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