14:45 Exeter

Tuesday 5 March 2019

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

gg.co.uk Cheltenham Festival Tips 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 9.1s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Truckers Lodge^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140| BF

3/1

Gained second hurdle win (first for this yard) when absolutely bolting up at Chepstow upped to 2m7½f. Narrowly touched off over same C&D next despite 13lb higher mark before limitations exposed in Grade Two. Double penalty but respected.

Form: 144122

Lamanver Pippin⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 123

12/1

Ffos Las winner on his penultimate start but never really got going when attempting to follow up last time out. Penalty makes life tougher but certainly better than latest showing suggested so not ruled out.

Form: 2-018

Secret Reprieve⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: Evan Williams

4/1

Showed a big improvement to win on hurdles debut last time out on heavy ground at Chepstow. Has an entry in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham and certainly appeals as stayer of potential so can't be ruled out.

Form: 51

Alkopop⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: D W P Arbuthnot

80/1

Son of Jukebox Jury pulled up before two out on debut at Ascot back in December. Given time since and well bred but can't realistically be fancied at present.

Form: P

Broadclyst¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: James Davies| T: C J Down

16/1

Won three of his six starts in point-to-points before recent hurdles bow where he outran 40/1 odds to finish third of 14 at Ludlow. That showed ability but this looks a good deal tougher so improving on it difficult.

Form: 113-123

Buster Edwards⁵⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

50/1

Just the one run over hurdles way back in 2017 but that form looks more than useful now given he was only a head behind smart Mister Fisher. Obviously has plenty of ability but risky proposition after 18 months off.

Form: 32-

Clondaw's Answer⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: K Woollacott

125/1

Won a point-to-point but well held in a bumper and one previous start over hurdles since. Improvement required against a handful of interesting contenders.

Form: F6/10-0

Eclair Des Sablons⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price

50/1

Won fifth and final maiden point-to-point in January before joining this yard. Trip shouldn't be a problem but suspect this a great deal tougher than encountered so far.

Form: 251

North Star Oscar⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: W Greatrex

14/1

Showed ability in two bumpers but in rear throughout and beaten 45L into seventh on hurdles debut. Longer trip may help but more time needed.

Form: 427

Putdecashonthedash³⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: K Burke

100/1

Hurdling newcomer registered a fourth and a pulled up in two point-to-points. Hugely surprising if he makes the frame here.

Form: 4-P

Unwin Vc⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler| C

7/2

Dual bumper winner last spring. 7-2 on C&D hurdles debut, when he finished a respectable 5¾L third. No such positives to be taken latest at Chepstow when a remote ninth but surely can do better here.

Form: 11-939

Walk In The Mill⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 138| C

9/4

Five chase wins highlighted by Becher success over Grand National fences in December. Only third in recent hurdles bow but perhaps that 2m3½f trip sharp enough. Much more of a threat here and sets a high standard with no penalty.

Form: 13P-313

Lady Kingsmill³⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: David Noonan| T: Miss J Du Plessis

200/1

Placed in last two of three point-to-points so clearly possesses some ability. Quite late to go under Rules for first time and best watched for now.

Form: P32-

Forecasts

Walk In The Mill (9/4), Truckers Lodge (3/1), Unwin Vc (7/2), Secret Reprieve (4/1), Lamanver Pippin (12/1), North Star Oscar (14/1), Broadclyst (16/1), Eclair Des Sablons (50/1), Buster Edwards (50/1), Alkopop (80/1), Putdecashonthedash (100/1), Clondaw's Answer (125/1), Lady Kingsmill (200/1)

143-rated chaser WALK IN THE MILL makes plenty of appeal here in just his second career hurdle race. The 2m3½f trip latest when third would have been on the sharp side but this 3m2f winner over fences will be far more at home here and will take some beating. Truckers Lodge was well beaten into second latest in a Doncaster Grade Two but is nevertheless a very useful novice and he can go well despite a double penalty. Secret Reprieve impressed last time out and is also worth genuine consideration.