15:25 Cheltenham

Saturday 28 January 2017

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:35

Neptune Investment Management Classic Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 5m 4.1s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Coo Star Sivola²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Lizzie Kelly| T: Nick Williams| OR: 134

8/1

Favoured by the weights when winning a Listed novices' hurdle last time out and may well have further room for improvement. Suited by the trip last time out but this looks tougher.

Form: 7/233-28

Elegant Escape⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 137

12/1

An expensive purchase from the point-to-point sphere and has won twice over hurdles. Showed better form when stepped up in grade last time out at Newbury in Grade 1 Challow. Looks as though an even stiffer test will suit in the future.

Form: 2-11

Kimberlite Candy¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: T Lacey| OR: 134

7/1

Maiden point-to-point winner and has shown useful form in two starts over hurdles so far. Looks to have loads of improvement left in him and will be suited by further in time.

Form: 11

Topofthegame²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: P F Nicholls

11/2

Won his only point-to-point in impressive fashion and made a very taking Rules debut despite only winning narrowly at Ascot in December. Should have plenty of improvement left in him given this will only be his second start and the Ascot experience will have done him good.

Form: 1-1

Wholestone⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139

11/4

Winner of three hurdles so far and has plenty of experience at this level winning in this grade last time out. Has started favourite on his last four starts and while his experience will stand him in good stead, he might just be vulnerable to an improver.

Form: F-11211

Keep In Line⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 137

14/1

Won a maiden and novice on his first two hurdles starts at Huntingdon and Bangor. Stepped up in class after that and beaten the last twice in Grade 2 company, whilst capable may just be found wanting here.

Form: 11439

Mr Mcgo⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135

16/1

Stepped up on his debut run over hurdles on his last two starts with wins at Bangor and Chepstow; more required here though in his toughest test yet.

Form: PPF1-91

Sneaky Feeling⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

12/1

Just had the one start in a bumper before switching to hurdles when winning at a big price in a Newbury novice. Will be well suited by this increase in trip but does have more to do than last time out.

Form: 4

William Henry⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132

5/1

Smart bumper horse who came back from a long break to run a very creditable race on hurdles debut here, just touched off after travelling strongly. Didn't need to be anywhere near that level to win at Newbury when off the mark over hurdles and looks an exciting prospect.

Form: 411/2

Poetic Rhythm⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

16/1

Useful form in bumpers and was a Listed winner in that sphere at Cheltenham in October. Yet to win over hurdles and gambled on last time out when finishing third to Coo Star Sivola when stepped up in trip again at Cheltenham and remains with potential.

Form: U1-5115

Forecasts

Wholestone (11/4), William Henry (5/1), Topofthegame (11/2), Kimberlite Candy (7/1), Coo Star Sivola (8/1), Elegant Escape (12/1), Sneaky Feeling (12/1), Keep In Line (14/1), Poetic Rhythm (16/1), Mr Mcgo (16/1)

Alan King has proved to be the trainer to follow in this with wins in 2012, 2015 and 2016 but his representative this time around, Keep in Line, has finished unplaced on two attempts in this grade. Wholestone has plenty of experience at this level already and sets a good standard. This especially true based on his form around this course but there may be one or two who can improve past him here. One of those would be Topofthegame who put up a hugely impressive performance when winning at Ascot on his debut despite looking very green. He’s bound to come on from that run and will have learnt plenty from the experience. Both Sneaky Feeling and WILLIAM HENRY have good bumper form and have progressed well. The former shaped well over hurdles at Newbury and will appreciate the extra distance but it’s William Henry who makes most appeal after his seven length romp at Newbury last time out in a race where Nicky Henderson always runs one of his better novices. Kimberlite Candy defends an unbeaten record and arguably deserves to be a little shorter in the market, especially on the form of his Ascot debut. 1. William Henry 2. Topofthegame 3. Kimberlite Candy