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13:55 Cheltenham

Friday 19 March 2021

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 4m 2.27s

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Selected odds by:

Petit Mouchoir^p²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: J C Gainford⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 155

22/1

Front runner who is 10 now but confirmed he's still capable of useful form when third to Sharjah over Christmas. Not disgraced in Fairyhouse Grade 3 latest but he's vulnerable to unexposed sorts here.

Form: 5-23352

Global Citizen⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 150WS

100/1

Smart front-running hurdler who landed Grade 2 Wayward Lad Chase prior to a creditable fourth in last year's Arkle. Failed to complete both starts this season and back hurdling after wind op now.

Form: 7/414-PP

Cayd Boy¹¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: M P Walsh| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 149

22/1

Bumper/maiden hurdle winner who progressed further when scoring on handicap debut at Down Royal (16.5f) in October. Good second at Fairyhouse in November and may have even more in his locker.

Form: 1/122-12

Edwardstone²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 148| D

18/1

Back to winning ways in a small-field handicap in January and ran another cracker when third in the Betfair Hurdle on his latest outing. No reason why he won't go well again in this groove.

Form: 26-5U13

Darasso^b,t1²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 147

80/1

Established as a smart hurdler/chaser but unable to make an impact in graded contests in recent months. Possible the switch to a handicap will help him. Blinkered/tongue tied now.

Form: 0-42433

Buildmeupbuttercup^h,t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147| D

25/1

Talented mare who has plenty of solid form in big-field handicaps (fourth in this race last year). Added trio of mares listed events to her tally this term but more recent exploits not so inspiring.

Form: 511160

Drop The Anchor⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: S D Torrens⁽³⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 146

33/1

Bumper winner who arrives on the back of a career-best effort over hurdles, landing 22-runner Leopardstown handicap (2m) last month, getting on top late on. Demands of this race should suit.

Form: 6F-1B31

Champagne Gold⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 144| D

6/1

Off the mark in Wexford maiden (16.6f) in October and improved further since, third in a Grade 3 prior to being reeled in late on by Drop The Anchor at Leopardstown (2m) last month. Claims once more.

Form: 42-2132

Third Time Lucki⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 143| BF| D

8/1

Fourth in last year's Champion Bumper and enhanced good record over hurdles with comfortable Kempton success on Boxing Day. Undone by bad mistake at Musselburgh since but he remains with potential.

Form: 4-11214

Mengli Khan^p,t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 142| BF

66/1

Landed small-field minor events over hurdles/fences in Ireland last summer but well held on yard debut at Ascot (18.8f) in December. Fit from pair of jumpers bumper efforts but others appeal more.

Form: 641722

You Raised Me Up^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: M Brassil| OR: 141

5/1

Low-mileage hurdler who boasts back-to-back maiden/novice hurdle victories this season, latterly on return from 5 months off at Naas (19f) in February. Interesting contender back in a handicap.

Form: 2253-11

Wolf Prince⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Power| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 140

66/1

Enjoyed a productive spell as a juvenile, winning twice and finishing second in Grade 1 at Leopardstown 13 months ago. Placed on 2 of 4 starts this term but his mark may be a sticking point here.

Form: 12-0220

Thyme White²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140

28/1

Well held in Fred Winter last term but back on track to score on return at Chepstow (2m) in October. Unseated next time (going well) and went well for long way in Betfair Hurdle since. Sound claims.

Form: 210-1U9

Milkwood²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 140

28/1

Low-mileage hurdler who would have gone close with a clear run when third of 9 at Newbury (2m) in November. Midfield effort in Betfair Hurdle was respectable and may yet have more in his locker.

Form: 32-1430

Ciel De Neige^p1⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

22/1

Useful hurdler who belatedly opened his account in a Limerick maiden (2m) in December. Not at best at Leopardstown (2m) since though, and well beaten in this race 12 months ago. Cheekpieces go on.

Form: 220-519

Ganapathi⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

6/1

Landed Cork maiden hurdle (2m) in November and improved to find only one too good in Gr. 2 Moscow Flyer next time. Better than distance beaten suggests over further since and this rates more suitable.

Form: 125

Eclair De Beaufeu⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: J W Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 139| D

11/1

Posted a career best when runner-up in last year's Grand Annual and last month's Leopardstown sixth over hurdles was an encouraging display. One to be positive about from this sort of mark.

Form: 12-FF06

Saint D'Oroux^p,t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: D A Jacob| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 138

40/1

Hurdles winner who ran a cracker when third in last year's Fred Winter. Plenty of good efforts this time around, third behind Drop The Anchor at Leopardstown latest and he's a solid each-way player.

Form: 3-93323

Gowel Road^p1²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 137

12/1

Well-bred sort who has improved with each start, cashing in off 15 lb lower mark at Newbury (2m) in January and following up in novice back there last month. Cheekpieces go on and has more to come.

Form: 2411

Getaway Gorgeous^h⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| D

66/1

Bumper winner who doubled hurdles tally in a mares' novice at Punchestown (16.6f) in September. Fine second on handicap debut later that month but not so good subsequently.

Form: 212580

Anna Bunina^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: C P McNamara⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 135

125/1

Fairly useful hurdler who wasn't disgraced when fifth in a listed mares hurdle in December. Fit from spins on the Flat more recently but this is a tough ask back in a handicap.

Form: 112475

Fifty Ball²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 135

12/1

Dual French bumper winner who is going the right way over hurdles, finding only Soaring Glory too strong in the Betfair Hurdle latest. Up further 4 lb but further progress distinctly possibility.

Form: 1-32112

Captain Kangaroo³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 131| BF

18/1

Successful sole bumper start and hit the frame all 4 starts over hurdles, runner-up behind Hurricane Cliff at Naas in February. Interesting connections pitch him in here for handicap bow.

Form: 1-4322

Strong Glance³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 131| C

40/1

Fairly useful form when placed in handicaps during the autumn and possible heavy ground caught him out in the Greatwood. Back on track with jumpers bumper victories of late and mark remains workable.

Form: 328R11

Belfast Banter^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 129| D

33/1

Off mark over hurdles in 2m maiden at Galway in October and similar form when 8 lengths second in a Naas Grade 2 last month. Mark remains a fair one.

Form: 312562

Non-Runners

Le Patriote³²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 9

T: Dr R D P Newland J: Cillin Leonard

Forecasts

You Raised Me Up (5/1), Ganapathi (6/1), Champagne Gold (6/1), Third Time Lucki (8/1), Eclair De Beaufeu (11/1), Fifty Ball (12/1), Gowel Road (12/1), Edwardstone (18/1), Captain Kangaroo (18/1), Petit Mouchoir (22/1), Ciel De Neige (22/1), Cayd Boy (22/1), Buildmeupbuttercup (25/1), Le Patriote (25/1), Milkwood (28/1), Thyme White (28/1), Belfast Banter (33/1), Drop The Anchor (33/1), Saint D'Oroux (40/1), Strong Glance (40/1), Mengli Khan (66/1), Wolf Prince (66/1), Getaway Gorgeous (66/1), Darasso (80/1), Global Citizen (100/1), Anna Bunina (125/1)

Fiendishly-competitive stuff with a punt taken on STRONG GLANCE. Olly Murphy's charge shaped encouragingly initally this term and, on the back of two ready jumpers bumper victories he's worth chancing to prove a mark of 131 lenient. Thyme White should come forward for his Betfair Hurdle run and is respected along with Eclair de Beaufeu. You Raised Me Up and Ganapathi complete the shortlist.