13:15 Cheltenham

Friday 13 November 2020

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

Markel Insurance Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:17 | Winning time: 5m 18.08s

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Selected odds by:

The Eaglehaslanded^p,t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 124| C

25/1

Fairly useful hurdler who shaped as if retaining ability on belated return/yard debut when midfield in a Uttoxeter handicap (23.3f) in October. May strip fitter but he's vulnerable to younger rivals.

Form:

Playa Blanca⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Daniel Sansom| T: J W Mullins| OR: 124

16/1

Completed 4-timer on return to action at Kelso (2m) in October and backed that up with a solid second at Newbury (2m) since, finding one way ahead of its mark too strong. Should go well again.

Form:

Morraman³⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Abbie McCain⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 124| D

80/1

Scored twice over hurdles at up to 3m during 2018/19 season. Solid efforts on 4 of his 5 starts last term but this is quite a tough ask on return, from 9 lb above last winning mark.

Form:

Magic Dancer^p,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 123| C

17/2

Successful at this meeting 3 years ago and whilst winless since spring 2018 he does have plenty of solid efforts to call upon, including around this venue subsequently. Takes rare step back up in trip

Form:

Don't Ask²⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryan Carver| T: A M Hales| OR: 122

40/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner at his best who proved disappointing over fences last term. Creditable third in Jumpers' bumper when last seen in February and return to hurdling a good move for new yard.

Form:

Lungarno Palace^b²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 122

10/1

Winless since landing a Stratford novice (2m) 2 years ago but some excellent placed efforts in handicap hurdles have followed. Not at best latest but fitting of blinkers may help.

Form:

Tel'art^b1⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁶⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 121| BF

40/1

Improved model this summer, scoring twice at up to 2¾m. Good third from this mark at Southwell (3m) 2 starts ago and possibly amiss given how he folded at Uttoxeter in September. Type to bounce back.

Form:

Hawthorn Cottage^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Lucy K Barry| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 121| C| D

33/1

Fair bumper winner who ended last season on the up over hurdles, winning pair of handicaps at up to 20.5f. Likely Lingfield return was needed and she remains relatively unexposed. Cheekpieces back on.

Form:

Rakhine State²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Max Kendrick| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 121

33/1

Three-time winner over hurdles for Gordon Elliott who has filled frame on 3 of his 4 starts for present stable, 6 lengths third at Sedgefield (19.8f) latest, yet this is tougher.

Form:

Castle Robin^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 119

13/2

Point winner who is going the right way over hurdles, off the mark with a make-all success at Carlisle (20f) last month. Further progress not ruled out now handicapping.

Form:

Tango Boy^t²⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 117

8/1

Landed a gamble in Market Rasen bumper a year ago and progressed with each run over hurdles, bumping in to one on handicap bow at Doncaster in March. Remains low-mileage and more to come this campaign

Form:

Voodoo Doll^p³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 117

66/1

Form:

Silent Assistant²⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 117

11/1

£50,000 buy after winning maiden point. Showed a fair form on 2 of 4 starts so far, albeit looking rather laboured when fourth of 15 on handicap bow at Ascot (23.5f) in February. Still, he's unexposed

Form:

Induno^t³²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁶⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 115| BF

15/8

Bumper/novice hurdle winner who proved a disappointment on final start at Sedgefield (19.8f) on Boxing Day. However, still early days and no surprise to see him bounce back handicapping on return.

Form:

Heavey^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Shane Quinlan| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 115| BF

16/1

Not convinced over fences but profile over hurdles either side of those efforts is a positive one, winning twice and just touched off at Perth (3m) in September. Not ruled out up in class.

Form:

Steal A March²⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Tudor| T: N J Henderson| OR: 115

8/1

Off the mark at second attempt over hurdles at Hereford (21.7f) in December and matched that when fourth on hurdles bow at Warwick in March. Type to do better again, particularly if jumping improves.

Form:

Presenting Yeats³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 101

50/1

Bumper winner who las looked a work-in-progress over hurdles, not seen to best effect when sixth of 9 at Newton Abbot (16.7f) in October. Step up in trip a positive now handicapping.

Form:

Non-Runners

Chieftain's Choice²⁸

Weight: 11-4| Age: 11

T: K Frost J: William Marshall

Forecasts

Induno (15/8), Castle Robin (13/2), Steal A March (8/1), Tango Boy (8/1), Magic Dancer (17/2), Lungarno Palace (10/1), Silent Assistant (11/1), Playa Blanca (16/1), Heavey (16/1), Chieftain's Choice (25/1), The Eaglehaslanded (25/1), Hawthorn Cottage (33/1), Rakhine State (33/1), Tel'art (40/1), Don't Ask (40/1), Presenting Yeats (50/1), Voodoo Doll (66/1), Morraman (80/1)

A really interesting opener with the vote in favour of low-mileage INDUNO. He appeals as being on a good mark on the pick of last season's form and, for the stable that won this race 12 months ago, it will come as no surprise to see him firmly in the mix. Tango Boy remains with potential and is feared along with Steal A March. Lungarno Palace makes each-way appeal at likely longer odds.