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17:30 Cheltenham
Friday 13 March 2020
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 2 | 2m 4f 56y | Soft (Good to Soft in places) | 23 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 5m 3.73s
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Wasn't beaten all that far (fifth) in last year's Grade 2 Mares' Novices' Hurdle; arrives off the back of a 6L Listed win at Warwick (2m5f, gd/sft); 8lb higher than when beaten 4½L by the Coral Cup winner Dame Du Compagnie over C&D in December.
Turned over at short-odds on debut for Willie Mullins (Tramore); back on track since (2-2); ultimately a striking winner of a Grade 3 novice at Thurles (2m5f, soft) three weeks ago - beating Front View & Assemble; noteworthy on handicap bow.
Consistent albeit did take time to break his duck over hurdles, easily winning a 2m4f maiden at Punchestown (soft/hvy) in January; close third to Treacysenniscorthy on Leopardstown (3m, yld) handicap bow; market suggests he's the pick of Elliott's.
Lightly raced (2-4); short of room close home when third in the French Furze Novices' at Newcastle (2m6f, heavy) in November; hit by a 10lb rise for winning by 6½L on handicap debut at Warwick (2m4f, soft); stablemate of Happygolucky.
Navan winner (2m6f, good); finished fourth (a couple of places behind Braid Blue) in a Class 2 novice contest here (2m5f, gd/sft) in October; hard pushed to draw too many positives from his subsequent efforts (0-3); others readily preferred.
Scored for the third time over hurdles (first handicap win) when springing a minor surprise in a Class 2 event at Sandown (2m, soft) early in the New Year - beat Eldorado Allen by ¾L; always in rear in the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle subsequently.
Useful bumper/dual novice hurdle winner (2m-2m½f); yet to really threaten to make his mark in handicap company (0-2) and it's debatable as to whether or not wind surgery has had any benefit; low-mileage but risky sporting various newly-applied aids.
Successful in three of his four starts over hurdles in Australia (Ballarat, Casterton & Warrnambol); has his sights lowered fractionally (into a handicap) after struggling in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle (Kempton) & the Grade 3 Limestone Lad (Naas).
Well-supported (4-1f) when a comfortable winner of a 3m Grade B handicap at last year's Punchestown Festival (gd/yld); hasn't done a great deal wrong this season (runner-up to stablemate Elfile on return) apart from falling at Leopardstown latest.
Runner-up to Ballymore winner Envoi Allen at Down Royal; justified favouritism in a 24-runner Cork maiden (2m, soft); excuses when second to Five O' Clock (Assemble third) in a Grade 3 novice at Thurles (2m5f, soft) three weeks ago; attractive mark?
Paid his way at the Galway Festival with a pair of handicap wins (2m-2m5f) including in a race sponsored by his doubly-represented owner JP McManus; never nearer fifth of 25 to The Moyglass Flyer at Leopardstown (2m, soft) over Christmas; off since.
Somewhat of a money-spinner (10-24 career, 7-11 over hurdles). However, this is undoubtedly a very tough race to be returning from a 437-day absence - 3lb higher than when readily beating Ebony Gale by 6L at Exeter (2m2½f) on New Year's Day 2019.
Thurles bumper winner; has made a seamless transition to hurdling (212) winning with plenty in hand at Leopardstown (2m4½f maiden, soft) in December; form ties in closely with Five O' Clock/Front View et al on a line through French Dynamite; chance.
Stablemate of Front View & Assemble; was completing a hat-trick when landing a four-runner novice at Punchestown (2m½f, yld/sft) in December; put firmly in his place (third) in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer thereafter; shouldn't trouble The Bosses Oscar.
Produced late off a fierce pace to win the Grade 3 Silver Trophy at Chepstow (2m3½f, soft) in October (Tuesday's winner Imperial Aura third); raced just once since (over 3m) and that has served to protect his handicap mark; cheekpieces go on.
In the thick of the action (beaten 4L) when fourth to the Supreme Novices' Hurdle third Chantry House here (2m1f, gd/sft) in December; since impressive in easily landing lesser novice races at Catterick (2m3½f) & Ffos Las (2m4, heavy); handicap bow.
Recorded good ground summer/autumn wins at Bangor (2m3½f) & Newton Abbot (2m5½f); made no impression in the Grade 2 Ballymore Trial over C&D (soft) in January; has since undergone wind surgery; others appear better handicapped (debut).
Has enjoyed a successful season, with three wins on soft/heavy ground; mightily impressive when bounding clear in a Class 4 handicap at Wetherby (2m4f) in November; handicap mark has taken a major hike since (20lb higher); career best is needed.
Sixth in last year's Triumph Hurdle; returned with successive wins at Wincanton & Ascot (both 1m7½f); often competitive in defeat, including at Kempton on Boxing Day (second to Fred); 11th of 24 in the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last month.
Easy Stratford maiden winner (2m6f, soft) on rules/stable debut; has acquitted himself respectably in Graded novice contests here (Hyde) and at Sandown (Winter); makes his handicap debut off a three-month absence; stablemate of Espoir De Romay.
Won three times last summer - Downpatrick (2m5½f), Roscommon (2m5f) & Killarney (2m7f), beating Doctor Duffy by ½L on the last occasion; absent since flopping behind Champion Hurdle third Darver Star at Limerick (2m5f, heavy) in early October.
Versatile mare; comfortable winner of a 20-runner Flat handicap at Galway (2m1f, good) last summer; work to do with the Gordon Elliott-trained Column Of Fire on more recent hurdles form (Leopardstown, 3m); the weakest of the Willie Mullins trio.
First Reserve: 2-3 over hurdles; back-to-back novice wins at Cork (3m, soft) and Ayr (3m½f, heavy) since the turn of the year; will be making his handicap debut if sneaking into the race.
Non-Runners
1
Braid Blue140
Weight: 11-9| Age: 7
T: G Elliott J: Non Runner
NR
6
Assemble22
Weight: 11-5| Age: 6
T: J P O'Brien J: Oakley Brown
NR
Forecasts
Front View (4/1), Ilikedwayurthinkin (13/2), Column Of Fire (13/2), Five O'Clock (7/1), Pileon (9/1), Umbrigado (9/1), The Bosses Oscar (11/1), Escaria Ten (16/1), Assemble (16/1), Flash The Steel (20/1), Doctor Duffy (20/1), Espoir De Romay (20/1), Indefatigable (25/1), Happygolucky (25/1), Braid Blue (25/1), My Sister Sarah (33/1), Great White Shark (40/1), Thomas Macdonagh (50/1), Ecco (50/1), Everybreathyoutake (50/1), Mill Green (66/1), Anything Will Do (66/1), Cliffs Of Dover (66/1), Big Blue (66/1), Ruthless Article (100/1)
The 12th Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle sees the usual suspects Elliott (x4), Mullins (x3) and Nicholls (x2) amongst those with multiple declarations. Furthermore, the legendary JP McManus (landed a gamble last year with Early Doors) is doubly-represented with FRONT VIEW and Ilikedwayurthinkin. The rather confident selection didn't really have things go according to plan when runner-up to an authoritative Five O'Clock (Assemble third) in a Grade 3 novice at Thurles three weeks ago. However, the net result is a most attractive opening handicap mark of 135. Others to consider include The Bosses Oscar, Pileon and Column Of Fire.
- Front View
- The Bosses Oscar
- Column Of Fire
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £43,330.002nd: £12,866.003rd: £6,433.004th: £3,206.005th: £1,610.006th: £812.007th: £406.008th: £196.00
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