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14:50 Cheltenham

Saturday 13 November 2021

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:2515:55

Paddy Power Games Handicap Hurdle (Listed) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 6m 1.25s

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Selected odds by:

Sporting John²¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 146| DWS

9/2

Multiple hurdles winner who impressively landed Scilly Isles Chase in February. Jumping let him down in Grade 1 company during the spring but could easily get back on track. Has had a wind op.

Form: 17/31FP-

Proschema¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 145| C

16/5

Signed off last term on a high, landing competitive handicaps here and at Aintree (2½m). Fifth in Silver Trophy at Chepstow on return and then took form up a notch when second in 3 Grade 2 latest.

Form: 151-152

Shannon Bridge¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 139

50/1

Perked up by blinkers and a return to hurdles when winning at Wetherby and Ascot in January/February. Looked rusty on reappearance 12 days ago minus usual headgear (off again here).

Form: 0P211-P

Ballymillsy³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 135

3/1

Fairly useful hurdler who scored at Warwick in February and improved gain when landing 26.5f handicap on last month's reappearance at Newton Abbot. 8 lb rise perfectly fair.

Form: 6212F-1

Onagatheringstorm²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130| D

9/2

Winning pointer who confirmed hurdles debut promise when running out a comfortable winner of a maiden/novice during the spring. Behind Dragon Bones when third on C&D return and now goes handicapping.

Form: 1321-13

Optimise Prime²⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 129

11/1

Bagged 2 2m4f novice hurdles at Hereford before Christmas and better form when third in listed race at Market Rasen. Out of depth in the Ballymore at the Festival and goes up in trip for handicap bow.

Form: 81137-

Dorrells Pierji³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: C Gethings| T: C Honour| OR: 127| D

80/1

Dual bumper/hurdles winner for Willie Mullins but left that yard after failing to fire on chase debut back in November 2019. Almost certainly needed the run in the Silver Trophy.

Form: 68035/0

Scheu Time^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: G Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 127

28/1

Fairly useful handicap hurdler/chaser and fit from the Flat, he showed a bit more when fifth at Gowran last month (3m). Usual tongue tie back on but looks vulnerable from current mark.

Form: 06-4075

Kansas City Chief^p²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss Victoria Malzard⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 125| CD

7/1

Veteran who was all the better for his comeback run in Jersey when landing a C&D handicap 3 weesk ago, going with zest and keeping on well. 5 lb rise still leaves him competitive.

Form: 373U9-1

Non-Runners

Dragon Bones²²

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: Ian Williams J: C J Todd

Valentino Dancer³⁵

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: C Brace

Forecasts

Ballymillsy (3/1), Proschema (16/5), Sporting John (9/2), Onagatheringstorm (9/2), Dragon Bones (9/2), Kansas City Chief (7/1), Valentino Dancer (10/1), Optimise Prime (11/1), Scheu Time (28/1), Shannon Bridge (50/1), Dorrells Pierji (80/1)

The intriguing runner here is SPORTING JOHN returned to hurdling on the back of a breathing operation. His jumping failed to pass muster in Grade 1 company over fences during the spring but he could easily get back on track in handicap company over timber. Ballymillsy and Proschema are very solid alternatives, while Dragon Bones can boast an excellent strike rate.