16:25 Cheltenham

Wednesday 17 April 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:30

Safran Landing Systems Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 5m 50.7s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Who's My Jockey^p⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 144| D

10/1

Easy winner at Doncaster last time, despite the odd mistake on the way around. Clearly stays well and likes good ground so maybe able to defy the 8lb rise for that if he can pick his feet up. Chances.

Form:

First Assignment³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 142| CD

9/4

Bit disappointing in the Pertemps Final given the form he had shown previously (never really travelled) but had looked a horse of potential when dotting up here in November and far too soon to write off. Interesting.

Form:

Tobefair³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 142| D

15/2

Right back to the best of his form when second in the Pertemps Final, beaten just a neck, and 6lb rise for that deserved. Chances with a repeat, but may not want the ground too quick. Has to be on anyone's shortlist, though.

Form:

Aaron Lad³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 141| CD

12/1

Ready winner over C&D in December and saved for the Pertemps Final on the back of that. Only gave best between the last two there and may strip a bit fitter here. Could easily take a hand, with ground to suit.

Form:

Chameron^b1¹⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140

14/1

Hasn't happened for him since coming over from France and the fact he's only been seen a handful of times suggests he's had issues. With top yard and blinkers given a try now, but risky all the same.

Form:

Rockpoint³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 136| CD

12/1

Often very highly tried but tends to perform with credit, although possibly a little flattered by his Grade 2 win here in December. Form since then moderate anyway, and quite possible the handicapper has hold of him at present.

Form:

Sir Ivan^t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 136| D

14/1

Raced sparingly these days, likes decent ground and came back to form when second over a trip too short at Exeter last time out. Might be fitter for that run and yard like to have a winner at this meeting, so one to watch here.

Form:

Dans Le Vent^b²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 132

10/1

Runs his race more often that not, and on form here in December, can be given a chance of reversing form with Aaron Lad, but he may not be as progressive as a few here and on that score, others make more appeal.

Form:

The Welsh Paddies^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 131

12/1

Improving 7yo that has won his last two starts, stays very well and seems to enjoy good ground, so has those as plus points but is up another 10lb for latest win. and in a higher grade too. Needs more again.

Form:

Goodbye Dancer³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130

12/1

Wins are few and far between these days, although in his defence he's now 3lb lower than his last wining mark and he didn't fare too badly behind Ocean Cove at Warwick last time. More likely winners all the same.

Form:

Copper Gone West²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 125| D

12/1

Made the most of a simple task at Bangor last time, building on her previous second over 3m at Newbury the time before. May not want the ground too quick but is at least going the right way and she can't be discounted.

Form:

Reve^h,t⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: L P Aspell| T: M Keighley| OR: 123

16/1

Good second at Ludlow in January before making the most of an easy task at Catterick last time out. Unexposed but equally unproven at the trip and this will be much his toughest assignment to date.

Form:

Broughtons Admiral^b³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Lee Edwards| T: A Ralph| OR: 120

25/1

Winner at Doncaster in March but it was a weak race and it still leaves him with plenty to do from out of the handicap here. Trip not sure to suit either.

Form:

Non-Runners

Thomas Campbell⁵⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: N J Henderson J: C Brace

Ocean Cove³⁸

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Skipthescales²⁹

Weight: 10-5| Age: 7

T: P A Kirby J: Thomas Dowson

Forecasts

First Assignment (9/4), Tobefair (15/2), Who's My Jockey (10/1), Dans Le Vent (10/1), Ocean Cove (10/1), The Welsh Paddies (12/1), Aaron Lad (12/1), Rockpoint (12/1), Goodbye Dancer (12/1), Copper Gone West (12/1), Thomas Campbell (12/1), Sir Ivan (14/1), Chameron (14/1), Reve (16/1), Skipthescales (16/1), Broughtons Admiral (25/1)

Another wide open handicap. A few are looking to bounce back from moderate runs and First Assignment tops that list. Quietly fancied to run well in the Pertemps, he never really travelled but stuck on well enough to finish within hailing distance of the winner. Tobefair ran a cracker in finishing second there and if repeating that run, must go close, even with the ground drying up a bit more than he'd like. Thomas Campbell is another that may bounce back but it's AARON LAD that makes the most appeal. He won easily here in December and just looked short of a run when finishing midfield in the Pertemps. Can gain compensation today.