15:10 Cheltenham
Sunday 1 January 2017
All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:40
Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2)
- 5YO plus | Class 1 | 2m 4f 56y | Soft | 6 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 5m 12.2s
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His hurdles form is very smart especially his win in this race last season (beat Lil Rockerfeller 11 lengths) but never really built on that run in three starts. Has been chasing this season and now switched back to hurdling after a fall last time out.
One of the toughest and most consistent horses in training and never knows when to give up. Has run two cracking races of late when taking the runner-up slot. Likely to give his running and looks to have improved of late so has a chance of going one better than his second in this last year.
Won a Grade 1 as a juvenile at Chepstow and showed some good form after that. Often travels strongly in races and will appreciate any cut in the ground so certainly deserves plenty of respect in this.
Had a very successful novice campaign and taking the Betfair Hurdle would have been the highlight. Campaigned in top-class company after that and a repeat of his run at Auteuil in November would put him in with a chance here although he does need to find a little more improvement.
Former World Hurdle winner who has been lightly-raced since that victory and was well beaten in this race last year. His last two starts have been creditable but nowhere near the form of his World Hurdle win. Gets weight from all bar one of his rivals here and the first-time cheekpieces may provide him with the spark he needs to regain the winning thread.
Not seen over hurdles since running fourth to Douvan in the 2015 Supreme and he's proved consistent with his form figures over fences reading 112322. Comes back to hurdling here and receives weight from all bar one of his rivals, the trip is a question mark but he'll be suited by running left-handed and adds some depth to the race.
Non-Runners
3
Old Guard22
Weight: 11-8| Age: 6
T: P F Nicholls J: Sam Twiston-Davies
NR
6
Leoncavallo29
Weight: 11-4| Age: 5
T: B Pauling J: Mr Alex Ferguson
NR
7
Protek Des Flos37
Weight: 11-4| Age: 5
T: N J Henderson J: B J Geraghty
NR
Forecasts
L'Ami Serge (2/1), Lil Rockerfeller (11/4), Camping Ground (11/2), Adrien Du Pont (6/1), Cole Harden (7/1), Old Guard (8/1), Protek Des Flos (12/1), Agrapart (16/1), Leoncavallo (25/1)
LIL ROCKERFELLER has looked to improve with every run since getting beaten in race last year and he won’t have two JP McManus hot-pots to cope with here and given his tremendous attitude and nature he deserves to win a race such as this. The six-year-old never knows when he’s beaten and this track and trip should play to his strengths and give him a good chance landing a second Grade 2 victory. Adrien Du Pont needs careful consideration as he ran well in Grade 1 in France and although he looks a chaser in the making his overall level of form is good enough to see him make a bold bid here. Cole Harden returns to the scene of his biggest success and although he’s not won since then, he's getting weight from all bar one of this field which presents him with a chance to put up a bold bid.
1. Lil Rockerfeller
2. Adrien Du Pont
3. Cole Harden
Prize Money
1st: £22,780.002nd: £8,548.003rd: £4,280.004th: £2,132.005th: £1,072.006th: £536.00
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