14:00 Cheltenham

Friday 14 March 2025

All13:2014:0014:4015:2016:0016:4017:20

William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 5.57s

1^st

Kargese

511-3

3/1f

T: W P MullinsJ: P Townend

Took keen hold, midfield, headway to chase leaders 2 out, led going well approaching last, ridden after last, kept on flat tchd 11/4

2^nd

1 ½

Ndaawi

511-2

25/1

T: G ElliottJ: J W Kennedy

Chased leaders, close up 2 out, ridden to challenge approaching last, kept on flat tchd 28/1

3^rd

1 ½

Absurde

711-8

5/1

T: W P MullinsJ: D E Mullins

Took keen hold, midfield, headway to chase leaders after 2 out, went third approaching last, kept on one pace

4^th

Ethical Diamond

511-5

16/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Mr P W Mullins

Waited with in rear, slow 5th, headway approaching last, ridden after last, plugged on, just held fourth post op 14/1

5^th

nse

Spirit D'aunou

610-3

25/1

T: G & J MooreJ: Freddie Mitchell (5)

Close up, led before 2nd, headed after 2nd, led approaching 3 out, soon disputed lead, ridden and headed approaching last, rallied final 110yds, just held for fourth post op 50/1

6^th

Our Champ

710-11

14/1

T: C GordonJ: Freddie Gordon (3)

Led but pestered, headed before 2nd, led after 2nd, headed approaching 3 out, soon disputed lead, ridden and headed approaching last, plugged on flat op 22/1

7^th

Cracking Rhapsody

610-13

20/1

T: Ewan WhillansJ: Craig Nichol

Took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden final bend, switched right approaching last, plugged on final 110yds op 33/1

8^th

Pinot Gris

511-5

14/1

T: G P CromwellJ: K M Donoghue

Mid-division, ridden and headway approaching last, weakened final 110yds op 18/1

9^th

1 ¼

Daddy Long Legs

612-0

14/1

T: W P MullinsJ: S F O'Keeffe

Mid-division, mistake 2 out, soon outpaced, stayed on one pace from last, never threatened

10^th

Irish Panther

810-4

12/1

T: E & P HartyJ: Cian Cullinan (7)

Held up in rear, pushed along 2 out, held approaching last op 14/1 tchd 16/1

11^th

Norman Fletcher

610-3

40/1

T: N & W Twiston-DaviesJ: Sam Twiston-Davies

Chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 3rd, dropped to rear after 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on through beaten rivals from last op 80/1

12^th

Fils D'oudairies

1011-7

80/1

T: G ElliottJ: Danny Gilligan

Wore hood to post, midfield, ridden 2 out, no extra from last op 100/1

13^th

Hansard

711-4

16/1

T: G & J MooreJ: N F Houlihan

Took keen hold, held up in behind leaders, ridden before last, faded run-in op 14/1

14^th

1 ¼

Lark In The Mornin

510-8

11/2

T: J P O'BrienJ: J J Slevin

Towards rear of midfield, headway 2 out, ridden before last, soon no extra op 9/2

15^th

Valgrand

610-10

8/1

T: D SkeltonJ: Harry Skelton

Towards rear, pushed along before 2 out, made no impression op 9/1

16^th

Mclaurey

610-12

17/2

T: E MullinsJ: M P Walsh

Held up in behind leaders, ridden 2 out, weakened before last op 8/1 tchd 7/1

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£4.00Pl:£1.60, £5.10, £2.20, £3.30EX:£94.10Trifecta:£750.30Tricast:£398.02SF:£92.43Swingers:£18.70, £4.20, £31.90

Forecasts

Kargese (3/1), Absurde (5/1), Lark In The Mornin (11/2), Valgrand (8/1), Mclaurey (17/2), Irish Panther (12/1), Our Champ (14/1), Pinot Gris (14/1), Daddy Long Legs (14/1), Ethical Diamond (16/1), Hansard (16/1), Cracking Rhapsody (20/1), Ndaawi (25/1), Spirit D'aunou (25/1), Norman Fletcher (40/1), Fils D'oudairies (80/1)

This could be run to suit the strong-travelling KARGESE who would benefit from a similarly ice-cool ride as Absurde was given when landing this race 12 months ago. It's a vote of confidence that Paul Townend switches allegiances and she can give Willie Mullins an unprecedented eighth County Hurdle. 2024 Boodles winner Lark In The Morning looks primed to run another huge race at the Festival, while Valgrand may fare best of the home team.