Noel Fehily Cheltenham Previews At 188Bet 'Jumpers' Bumper' NH Flat Race

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 3m 58.2s

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Selected odds by:

Ballycrystal⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison

10/11

Bumper and hurdles winner (130 rated) who has embarked upon a maiden campaign over fences. Tackled a Grade 2 event at Doncaster in December (3m) with merit, and rates as a leading contender here if maintaining his early career speed.

Form: 2154-23

Lough Kent⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlotte Jones⁽¹⁰⁾| T: James Moffatt| D

11/2

No stranger to Cartmel last summer landing a couple of 2m1f handicap hurdles at the Lakes venue (Class 2 and Class 4). Not quite so strong at Carlisle in December, but has AW winning form in France.

Form: 5-11245

Return Flight¹²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| D

10/1

125-rated chaser for Dan Skelton, but not seen in competitive action since late October when finishing down the field in a 2m4f Aintree hurdle. Has moved stables since, much like a few of this owners horses, so tricky to know what to expect.

Form: 1421F-0

Valgor Du Ronceray^t⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| D

7/2

Boasts a rather modest record since switched to these shores (ex Joseph O'Brien), but both of his career victories have come over this trip, in a bumper and a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle in August 2017, so that counts as a positive.

Form: 31U4F4

Thankyou Very Much^b,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: J D Bethell| D

7/1

Kept reasonable company on the AW here this winter (Flat), twice beaten by the improving Apalis. Excuses for her latest start (Southwell), but hasn't proved she's quite as talented as a few of these rivals under jumps rules previously.

Form: 2-54627

Forecasts

Ballycrystal (10/11), Valgor Du Ronceray (7/2), Lough Kent (11/2), Thankyou Very Much (7/1), Return Flight (10/1)

With slight doubts about a few of these runners, most notably the returning stable debutante Return Flight, the horse that can perhaps be expected to run her usual solid race is the track smart mare Thankyou Very Much. However, one must have some reservations as to whether or not she's strong enough to cope with the classy BALLYCRYSTAL. Brian Ellison appears primed to 'farm' these additional jumpers bumper fixtures this weekend, and his 130-rated winning hurdler rates as the pick here.