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13:35 Cheltenham

Friday 27 October 2023

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:36 | Winning time: 3m 53.0s

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Selected odds by:

Jason The Militant^t¹⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Joe Williamson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 141| D

66/1

Smart hurdler for Henry De Bromhead and also bagged a listed race on the Flat in October 2021. Didn't kick on from a respectable stable debut run here in 2 subsequent outings in the spring but has been given a bit of a chance by the handicapper ahead of this reappearance.

Form: 73/497P-

Royal Eagle²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: D J Gilligan⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| D

14/1

Progressive mare who has landed 2m handicap hurdles at Kilbeggan, Tramore and Tipperary this season. Will need a smart effort to defy this mark but no surprise were she to pull out more given who trains her.

Form: 132311

Teddy Blue¹⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 136| D

8/1

Free-goer who landed a 2m Plumpton handicap hurdle in April and recorded a career best when 1¼ lengths second of 17 to the reopposing Black Poppy in the Swinton at Haydock the following month. Contender if ready to roll after 167 days off.

Form: 31361-2

Black Poppy¹⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: P W Wadge| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 129| C| D

11/2

Took his form up a notch in the spring, winning here before following up at the expense of the reopposing Teddy Blue in the very competitive Swinton at Haydock. Player if resuming in similar form.

Form: 2/2731-1

Great Bear⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: M P O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 127

28/1

Returned from an absence to get off the mark over hurdles in a Cork maiden in July (only second outing for Henry de Bromhead). Not up to a handicap hurdle at Galway 3 weeks later but back on track when placed over fences at Killarney and Listowel in recent months.

Form: 55/1023

Castel Gandolfo^b,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 127| D

18/1

Has had a good first half of the season, winning at Kelso (2m, good to firm) in May and good placed efforts in competitive races on his last 3 outings. One of 2 runners for a stable with a good record in this race.

Form: 2-15232

Afadil¹⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁶⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| DWS

9/2

Better than the result in the Fred Winter over C&D at the Festival and showed himself to be well handicapped later in the spring, comfortably seeing off 14 rivals at the Ayr Scottish National meeting in April. Has had wind surgery since then. Good chance there's more to come for top trainer.

Form: 116821-

Glorious Zoff^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125| D

12/1

Rejuvenated following a breathing operation, winning 2m Warwick handicap in May. Some good efforts in defeat since and he shaped better than the result when behind a couple of these at Market Rasen last month. Respected for yard which has won this twice since 2019.

Form: F23645

Alien Storm³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: B Roberts⁽⁶⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 122| D

11/1

Has failed to add to last October's hurdle debut success but he has shown better form in defeat since and looked booked for a clear second behind Our Champ when falling at the last on his Plumpton reappearance.

Form: 12952-F

Clarens²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: J P Flavin| OR: 122| D

14/1

All the sharper for reappearance when a good length third of 12 to the reopposing Royal Eagle in handicap at Tipperary (2m, soft) 26 days ago. Will need to step up again to come out on top here.

Form: 1/869-63

Ballygeary¹⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119| D

28/1

Very positive start to his hurdles career at the start of 2023, again going with plenty of zest when completing the hat-trick in novice company at Kelso in March. Found to have bled when well behind Black Poppy on his course handicap debut in April. Retains potential back from a break.

Form: 221110-

Elham Valley^b,t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Patrick Cowley| T: J R Cornwall| OR: 118| D

125/1

Returned to form with blinkers refitted when running away with a selling handicap hurdle at Stratford (19f, good) last month (final start for Fergal O'Brien) but only a well-held fourth of 8 on his recent Southwell stable debut. Outsider.

Form: 2-2P614

Feel The Pinch^t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Toby Wynne| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 118| D

25/1

Has had a productive time since joining Robbie Llewellyn, gaining a fourth win since March when readily seeing off 7 rivals at Southwell (2m, good to soft) 24 days ago. 5 lb higher in a much deeper race now but hard to rule out in current mood.

Form: U-31161

Our Champ³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Freddie Gordon⁽³⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 117| D

9/2

Back from a 6-month break with an improved effort to strike at the first time of asking for the Chris Gordon stable at Plumpton (2m) in September. The handicapper hasn't missed him with an 8 lb rise but he had a bit in hand and could have more to come for his new yard.

Form: 52246-1

Coolnaugh Haze¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Jamie Gambin⁽¹⁰⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 117| D

12/1

Improved when making a winning start for James Owen at Worcester (2m, good to soft) in August and creditable efforts in defeat since. Interesting having been dropped 2 lb for last time.

Form: 234144

Shetland Tony¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 116| D

9/1

Drew a blank in 5 outings for Gordon Elliott in the first half of last season but returned an improved performer for his new stable when easily taking a 2m Stratford novice 18 days ago. Will need another career best to follow up but further progress can't be discounted.

Form: U4356-1

Bukhill²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Ethan O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 111

20/1

Added to May's Sligo maiden success when seeing off 5 rivals in a Downpatrick handicap 3 weeks ago. Plenty more on his plate from 3 lb out of the handicap here but he hails from a respected Irish stable.

Form: 4-41761

Ithaka^t1²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Ned Fox| T: R Potter| OR: 106

125/1

Justified support dropped in grade when landing Wincanton handicap hurdle in March but well beaten in a chase the following month and pulled up on her Southwell reappearance at the start of this month. Tongue tied first time. 8 lb out of handicap.

Form: 70915-P

Forecasts

Our Champ (9/2), Afadil (9/2), Black Poppy (11/2), Teddy Blue (8/1), Shetland Tony (9/1), Alien Storm (11/1), Coolnaugh Haze (12/1), Glorious Zoff (12/1), Royal Eagle (14/1), Clarens (14/1), Castel Gandolfo (18/1), Bukhill (20/1), Feel The Pinch (25/1), Ballygeary (28/1), Great Bear (28/1), Jason The Militant (66/1), Elham Valley (125/1), Ithaka (125/1)

This looks ultra-competitive as usual but ALFADIL does still rather stand out as a lightly-raced 4-y-o who should have more to come for his top yard on his reappearance after wind surgery. Our Champ won nicely on his first outing for Chris Gordon and could be capable of better again so he's second choice ahead of Coolnaugh Haze, another who has made a positive start for a new stable. Fergal O'Brien's good recent record in this also earns Glorious Zoff a place on the shortlist.