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14:10 Cheltenham

Friday 15 March 2019

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

Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 4m 4.85s

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Selected odds by:

Mohaayed^p,t⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 153| CD

40/1

Impressive winner of this last year. Not the most consistent type, as seen last time out when failing to back up a Grade 3 success at Ascot when well beaten at Haydock. 14lb higher than last year's renewal and vulnerable to more progressive types.

Form: 31-4714

We Have A Dream²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152| D

14/1

Enjoyed a remarkable 2017/18 season, unbeaten in five starts culminating in a Grade 1 success at Aintree. Hasn't been in the same form this term but got back on track last time when dropped in class and not one to rule out now he gets his ground.

Form: 11-3441

Western Ryder^b1⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 150| BF| CD

20/1

Course winner last year and went on to finish a respectable sixth in the Supreme. Has been running some fair races this term but looks vulnerable from this mark. Wears first-time blinkers.

Form: 65-5333

Mr Adjudicator¹²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149

10/1

Won first two hurdles including a Leopardstown Grade 1 (soft). Runner-up three times since but the form of his latest run franked emphatically in the Champion Hurdle and he can go well for a yard that have won this race four times in 10 years.

Form: 1122-2

Ch'tibello⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 146| DWS

12/1

Hasn't won since a heavy ground Haydock success in 2016 but can run well at a price, as seen last time out when runner-up at Aintree. Needs to build on that now on first start since a wind operation.

Form: 80-5692

Lisp²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 145

25/1

Three wins from nine starts over hurdles to date and he produced a career best when runner-up at Ascot in December. Can be forgiven a subsequent effort when halted at a crucial stage and the ground has seemingly come in his favour.

Form: 3F-1228

Whiskey Sour¹³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144| BF| D

5/1

Grade 1 winner over hurdles last season and in excellent form through the remainder of that campaign. Unsuited by Flat racing throughout the summer but conceivably on a nice mark on return to this sphere.

Form: 14342-7

Leoncavallo^b¹⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 144| BF| D

20/1

Struggled for Ben Pauling but made a winning debut for this yard at Ludlow and he was an excellent third in the Galway next time out. Beaten over fences last time at Worcester when odds-on but remains on a nice mark over hurdles.

Form: 00/6-132

Mister Fizz^p¹²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss I Pickard| OR: 144

100/1

Dual purpose performer who rattled off a hat-trick over hurdles in the summer. Not at his best last time at Bangor and while he's been freshened up subsequently, the ground has surely gone against him here.

Form: 3-71116

Mitchouka⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 142

33/1

Won four last season including a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse. Didn't take to life over fences and showed nothing on return to hurdles last time. Handicapper has given him a stiff task off this sort of mark.

Form: F54450

Pingshou^b1,t1⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 142| CD

33/1

Won the Grade 1 Novice Hurdle at Aintree in 2017 but has shown nothing in three starts this season following a prolonged absence and yard form is a concern. Wears first-time blinkers and tongue-tie.

Form: 013/455

Sternrubin^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 140| D

25/1

Has won twice over fences this season and put up an excellent effort in defeat at Taunton last time back over hurdles. Not consistent but he's capable from this handicap mark.

Form: 016132

Crooks Peak¹³^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 133| C| D

8/1

Arrives here bidding for a four-timer after his Newbury success last time out. Won with a bit in hand that day and only has a 5lb penalty to carry. Claims if he can settle better.

Form: 10-4111

Capitaine^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137| D

12/1

Got the better of Sternrubin in a battle at Taunton last time out and has his second start since a wind operation here. All his wins have come with good in the ground so may not want the ground to get too testing. Yard flying at present.

Form: 1F5-041

Cut The Mustard^h⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: N D Fehily| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

20/1

Only has a maiden hurdle success to her name but she's been running well in defeat on recent starts. That hasn't gone unnoticed by the handicapper though and looks vulnerable from this handicap mark.

Form: 6P0-722

Eclair De Beaufeu⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 136

8/1

Seemingly doesn't know how to run a bad race and while he was beaten in a hat-trick bid last time, he ran well enough in defeat. A return to more cut in the ground should suit, as will this stiffer test. Interesting contender.

Form: 233114

Due Reward⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 136

33/1

Won at Punchestown in December but the form of that race hasn't worked out well and he's been beaten up in class since. While he's still lightly raced, he may not be able to overcome this sort of handicap mark.

Form: 1F2167

Storm Rising^b⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 135| C| D

33/1

Has looked progressive since joining this yard with back-to-back career best efforts at the start of the campaign, including a win here. Returned to action with a good fourth at Sandown last time and may still be capable of better.

Form: 151194

Countister³⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 133| D

18/1

Mutliple Grade 2 winner in French bumpers and she made a promising start for this yard last season, winning twice before a fifth in the mares' novice hurdle here. Trainer can ready one off an absence and she could be leniently handicapped.

Form: 11/2115-

High Expectations⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| D

40/1

Last win came at Sedgefield and returned with a promising enough effort in a 17 runner Leopardstown handicap (Cut The Mustard runner-up). Interesting if he comes on for that run.

Form: 452103

Monsieur Lecoq⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 132

13/2

French recruit who has improved with every start for this yard and ran a huge race when out of the handicap at Sandown last week. Looks sure to go well and will relish a return to testing conditions here.

Form: 3-3F112

Thistle Do Nicely¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 132

28/1

Won his first two starts over hurdles and has been running well in defeat subsequently. The concern would be all his better efforts have come on better ground but still lightly raced and there may be more to come.

Form: 8-11422

Brex Drago^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 129

66/1

Was running well at the end of the summer and rattled off a hat-trick but he's completely lost his way subsequently and hard to fancy after he was tailed off after a mid-season break last time.

Form: 12F005

Chieftain's Choice^b⁹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 123| D

100/1

Won twice this season but beaten last time out in a far weaker race than this and he's a long way out of the handicap for him to be considered here.

Form: 123714

Non-Runners

Magic Dancer²⁷

Weight: 10-3| Age: 7

T: Kerry Lee J: R Patrick

Ar Mest²⁷

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Whiskey Sour (5/1), Monsieur Lecoq (13/2), Crooks Peak (8/1), Eclair De Beaufeu (8/1), Mr Adjudicator (10/1), Ch'tibello (12/1), Capitaine (12/1), We Have A Dream (14/1), Ar Mest (14/1), Countister (18/1), Cut The Mustard (20/1), Leoncavallo (20/1), Western Ryder (20/1), Magic Dancer (20/1), Lisp (25/1), Sternrubin (25/1), Thistle Do Nicely (28/1), Due Reward (33/1), Storm Rising (33/1), Pingshou (33/1), Mitchouka (33/1), Mohaayed (40/1), High Expectations (40/1), Brex Drago (66/1), Mister Fizz (100/1), Chieftain's Choice (100/1)

Lizzie Kelly had a winner here on Wednesday and she could get a good spin round from MONSIEUR LECOQ who looks well-handicapped after his effort at Sandown last week when out of the handicap. It's a wide-open renewal but We Have A Dream should appreciate the return to soft ground; he's got the class to win this and ran well last time out. Countister looks like an exciting mare to follow and could make her presence felt if she's ready to go on return.