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17:30 Cheltenham

Friday 17 March 2023

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

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 5m 2.5s

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Selected odds by:

Felix Desjy^p⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Corey McGivern| T: G Elliott| OR: 145

40/1

Grade 1 winner earlier in his career and finally took advantage of a lenient mark at Punchestown 11 months ago. Bit of a mixed bag since, one of his better recent efforts when runner-up at Navan in January, but wouldn't be sure to be in the same mood here.

Form: 14B702

Might I^t1⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: H Fry| OR: 145

6/1

Finished runner-up in 2½m Aintree Grade 1 on his final start last term and having raced too freely upped to 3m on return, ran a stormer back down a mile in trip on just his second start in handicaps when second at this track (16.8f) in January. Shortlisted in first-time tongue tie.

Form: 1232-82

Cool Survivor⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

5/1

Fair form in bumpers and won first 2 starts over hurdles. Took his form up a notch when fourth in Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novices' Hurdle at Leopardstown 6 weeks ago and he's a handicap debutant to note from a top yard.

Form: 6-61124

Molly Ollys Wishes^t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 140| D

28/1

Likeable mare who has built up a good strike rate, taking Wetherby mares' listed hurdle for second year running in October. Not in same form since, though, and this is a tricky assignment for a rare start in handicap company.

Form: P8-1352

Imagine³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Harvey| T: G Elliott| OR: 139

5/1

Made a winning hurdling debut at Wexford in October and has filled the runner-up spot on all 3 subsequent outings. No surprise should he take his form up a notch now tackling 2½m for the first time on handicap debut. One to consider.

Form: 1-1222

Mark Of Gold²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 139| D

25/1

Fairly useful winner on the Flat who has taken very well to hurdling, making it 6 wins in 12 starts when easily seeing off 8 rivals over 21f at Kempton last month. Hit with a 10 lb rise but on an upward trajectory and warrants plenty of respect.

Form: 5-171F1

No Ordinary Joe³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Luca Morgan| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| D

14/1

Placed in the Greatwood here last season and took his form up another notch when making a successful reappearance at Kempton (2m, soft) over Christmas. Better than the result when mid-field at Newbury (16.3f) since and now steps back up in trip.

Form: 113P-19

Iroko^t⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: A P Kelly| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 138| D

6/1

Justified good support to make a winning return/handicap debut at Wetherby in November and followed up in even more impressive fashion back there in January. Up 10 lb for that success but yet to finish improving and folly to ignore.

Form: 4244-11

Spirit Of Legend²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M P O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 137| BF| D

25/1

Made a winning start in this sphere at Navan in November and better form when runner-up in handicap next start. Below that level for no obvious reason at Fairyhouse last month but he's worth another chance.

Form: 2-812B6

Saylavee⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J B Foley| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

33/1

Dual bumper winner who is already useful over hurdles after just a handful of starts, landing a listed mares' novice at Punchestown in December. Found things tough under a penalty upped in grade at Fairyhouse since and she looks up against it.

Form: 111515

West To The Bridge^p,t¹⁰^{(ex 5)}

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| D

33/1

Enjoyed a purple patch early last year, completing 4-timer at Newton Abbot (26.5f) in March. Steadily found his form this term, building on placed efforts to score at Sandown (19.8f, soft) for the second year running 10 days ago. This is a very different test under a penalty, however.

Form: 095321

Spanish Harlem³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| BF

6/1

Proving expensive to follow, placed all 3 outings for this yard having made a winning debut at Auteuil last June. However, his all-conquering trainer took a similar route when winning this in 2021 with Galopin des Champs, so he rates as a major player on handicap debut under top conditional.

Form: 1322

Au Fleuron^p⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: K E Buckley| T: G Elliott| OR: 135

20/1

Shaped as if amiss sent chasing but took a step back in the right direction when fourth in a big-field handicap at Punchestown (19.6f, heavy) on New Year's Eve. Yard appears to have stronger candidates.

Form: 2378-04

Irish Hill²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Angus Cheleda| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| D

9/1

Fairly useful on the Flat in Germany and going from strength-to-strength over hurdles, overcoming a rise in class when completing a hat-trick at Ascot (19.3f) last month. Not yet finished improving so looks worthy of his place in this stronger company on that evidence.

Form: 1-22111

Firm Footings³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: G Elliott| OR: 134

22/1

Bumper winner at the second attempt who knuckled down well to break his duck over hurdles in 16-runner maiden at Navan (2m) 33 days ago, rallying to regain lead run-in. Longer trip promises to suit but he needs a lot more now upped markedly in grade.

Form: 312331

Impulsive One^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Bromley| T: N J Henderson| OR: 133| D

40/1

Showed benefit of second wind op when resuming winning ways at Huntingdon (15.8f) in November and notched his second success of the campaign at Wetherby (19.7f) last month, doing well to peg back a recent winner. Nudged up 4 lb and may feature.

Form: 4-51431

In From The Cold³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 133

80/1

Lightly-raced hurdler who disappointed on first start for this yard but took a step back in the right direction on the Flat when third at Dundalk last month. Needs to build on that back over hurdles now.

Form: 3404-8P

Haxo⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Kieran Callaghan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132| D

33/1

Bumper winner in France who showed improved form to get off the mark over timber at Punchestown (20.3f, heavy) in January, taking advantage of the runner-up's late error. Not beyond the realms that he has more to offer on handicap debut.

Form: 1626-71

Buddy One²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J G Gilligan| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 131| BF| D

28/1

Off the mark at Fairyhouse in January and resumed progress to a significant extent when going down by just a short head in a Grade 3 at Thurles (20.7f) just over 3 weeks ago, not going down without a fight. This just his second start in handicaps so not dismissed.

Form: 706122

Hollow Sound²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie O'Dwyer| T: L Comer| OR: 129

100/1

Yet to taste success over hurdles but put up a career best when runner-up in maiden at Punchestown (20f, good to soft) last month. Plenty more required back in handicap company.

Form: 426-P52

Fifty Ball²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 126

66/1

Cashed in off reduced mark over extended 21f at Ascot on final start last season and having shaped as if the run was needed on return, he's been left with a bit to prove following a lacklustre effort back there (19.3f) since.

Form: 5021-P0

Non-Runners

Wonderwall¹¹²

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: R Spencer J: Non Runner

Grozni⁴¹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 7

T: C Byrnes J: Non Runner

Hey Johnny¹⁹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 6

T: T Mullins J: Non Runner

Innatendue⁹

Weight: 10-6| Age: 5

T: A J Martin J: Non Runner

Vultan¹⁹

Weight: 10-5| Age: 6

T: A J Martin J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Imagine (5/1), Cool Survivor (5/1), Iroko (6/1), Might I (6/1), Spanish Harlem (6/1), Irish Hill (9/1), No Ordinary Joe (14/1), Au Fleuron (20/1), Firm Footings (22/1), Mark Of Gold (25/1), Spirit Of Legend (25/1), Hey Johnny (25/1), Buddy One (28/1), Molly Ollys Wishes (28/1), West To The Bridge (33/1), Saylavee (33/1), Haxo (33/1), Wonderwall (33/1), Innatendue (33/1), Felix Desjy (40/1), Impulsive One (40/1), Fifty Ball (66/1), Vultan (66/1), In From The Cold (80/1), Hollow Sound (100/1)

Willie Mullins took this in 2021 with Galopin des Champs and SPANISH HARLEM is fancied to tread a similar path and make a winning handicap debut under Michael O'Sullivan who has hit the headlines already here this week. Iroko, who continues to go from strength to strength, looks sure make a bold bid for the hat-trick so he heads up the dangers, while Imagine and Cool Survivor look the pick of Gordon Elliott's sextet in an ultra-competitive final race of the Festival.