16:20 Taunton

Tuesday 21 February 2017

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 5.85s

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Selected odds by:

Sizing Granite^t1¹⁰¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 137

5/1

Pulled up on his debut for this yard at Cheltenham in November. Below par for much of 2015/16 having proven victorious in a Grade 1 event over fences as a novice in 2015. Yard took this race in 2016 and he returns to hurdles here off a mark 17lb lower than he'd be racing off over fences.

Form: P2-P5P5

Bertimont^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135

4/1

Finished runner-up here on soft ground earlier this month, his best effort in quite some time having been highly tried in 2015 and lightly raced last year. Has taken a 5lb rise for that placing but likely to go close if repeating that effort.

Form: 26277/8

Tommy Silver⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134

7/2

Finished seventh in the Triumph Hurdle at last years Cheltenham Festival but well beaten when joint favourite for his return at Newbury in a listed handicap in November. Races off a 4lb lower mark here and takes a drop in grade so interesting to see how he gets on in this.

Form: 571016-

Top Tug²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 130

3/1

Useful performer on the Flat over middle distances and justified odds-on favouritism at Kempton on hurdling debut in November. Well held in two novice events since and makes his handicap debut here.

Form: 1

Work In Progress¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ian Popham| T: D Skelton| OR: 129

16/1

Returned to hurdles after a couple of runs over fences when finishing last of ten at Huntingdon last time out. Handicap mark gradually slipping but placed just once in five starts in handicaps so far.

Form: 6240P-1

Workbench^t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 124

20/1

Winner of a chase at Fontwell back in September but well held in two chases since. Rated 10lb lower over hurdles and lightly raced in this sphere in recent years though placed off a 5lb lower mark on his most recent hurdles effort at Fontwell in early September.

Form: 876723-

Mr Kit Cat¹⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 122

10/1

Runner-up at Newton Abbot on handicap debut back in August and had taken a maiden and a novice event on his two starts prior to that. Returns from a six month break here for a yard that have an 18% strike rate (16/90) here in recent years.

Form: 3/1128F-

Whipcord^t⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Farrelly| OR: 119

25/1

Irish point-to-point winner in October 2015 but troubled the judge only once when finishing runner-up at Exeter last April over hurdles so far. Well beaten the last twice and makes his handicap debut here.

Form: 152-549

Bobble Emerald^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: M Keighley| OR: 119

11/1

Winner at Lingfield on good ground three starts back and finished in the frame at off a 1lb higher mark than he is off today at Cheltenham subsequently. Well held at Hereford on ground that was likely too soft for him last time out and interesting if putting that run behind him.

Form: 1-P4P11

Star Foot¹⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: N P Madden| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 112

16/1

Winner on soft ground at Market Rasen in March last year but well beaten in the main in five outings since. Pulled up at Uttoxeter last time out and more needed her despite a sliding handicap mark (10lb lower than when initially assessed).

Form: 35P422-

Forecasts

Top Tug (3/1), Tommy Silver (7/2), Bertimont (4/1), Sizing Granite (5/1), Mr Kit Cat (10/1), Bobble Emerald (11/1), Star Foot (16/1), Work In Progress (16/1), Workbench (20/1), Whipcord (25/1)

BERTIMONT can follow up his second here earlier this month by taking this handicap hurdle. The selection was set some tough assignments in both 2015 and 2016 but he was returning to form here last time out and though raised 5lb for that effort he has won off a 3lb higher mark in the past. Sizing Granite can take advantage of his lower hurdles mark by claiming second while the unexposed useful Flat horse Top Tug is taken to claim the third placing. 1. Bertimont 2. Sizing Granite 3. Top Tug