16:05 Cheltenham

Friday 13 November 2020

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

Valda Energy Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 4m 6.65s

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Selected odds by:

One True King²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 127| BF| D

3/1

Point/bumper winner who readily got off the mark over hurdles in 2m Uttoxeter novice before excellent second in handicap over C&D last time. Can do better still so well in the mix for in-form yard.

Form: 110-312

Leroy Leroy⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: J R Boyle| OR: 125| D

22/1

Useful Flat performer who has taken really well to hurdling, landing Southwell maiden and Huntingdon novice. More needed on handicap bow but he's much respected in his hat-trick bid.

Form: 2211

The Bees Knees⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| D

3/1

Point winner who is improving fast over hurdles, following up Newton Abbot win with most impressive wide-margin success in Musselburgh handicap. Sure to take plenty of beating under 7 lb penalty.

Form: 13-3311

Percy's Word¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 123| D

20/1

Useful at up to 2m on the Flat for Simon Crisford and placed all three starts over hurdles, good third in 2m Bangor novice last time. Harsh opening handicap mark demands a lot more though.

Form: 2/23

Panic Attack¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 119| D

8/1

Debut bumper winner for Willie Mullins who has made excellent start over hurdles, readily landing 2m Uttoxeter novice two weeks ago. Open to more improvement but she'll need to off stiff opening mark.

Form: 10-21

Art Approval²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118

15/2

Fair ex-French Flat maiden who has shown promise both hurdling runs for new yard, second in novice over C&D 21 days ago. Should progress further now handicapping but yard also have The Bees Knees in.

Form: 22

Takeit Easy³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 117| D

7/1

10/1, improved to get off the mark after 10 months off in 2m handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (good to soft) 31 days ago. Hit with 8 lb rise but form has been franked so sure to make his presence felt.

Form: 5/8443-1

Hazzaar²⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| OR: 117| BF| D

16/1

Ascot bumper winner for Tom Lacey last season but he failed to build on encouraging hurdling/yard debut for Venetia Williams last term. Now back with former yard and has it to prove on handicap bow.

Form: 17/349-

Seaborn³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117| D

40/1

Fairly useful Flat winner who bolted up in handicap hurdles at Stratford and Fontwell in August. Since ran with credit back on level and not taken lightly despite taking massive hike in weights here.

Form: 745/611

Chasamax²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 115

14/1

Fairly useful maiden hurdler who arrives on back of excellent second of 9 in 2m handicap at Ludlow 22 days ago. Third has gone in since so much respected for top yard.

Form: 323-P2

Princess T^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 115| D

12/1

Cheekpieces on when making it 2-4 this season with 2m Wincanton handicap success, well on top at the finish. Up 6 lb but runner-up has won since so she's worth considering with yard in such good nick.

Form: 72-1231

Calvinist¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: K Frost| OR: 111| D

66/1

Landed first hurdle success at Hexham (2m) in September before striking back on the Flat at Newcastle. Ridden too aggressively at Chelmsford City last time so he's no forlorn hope back hurdling here.

Form: 20-3391

Guildhall²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: David Bass| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110

125/1

Fair 7f Flat winner who arrives on the back of below-par fifth in Ludlow novice hurdle 22 days ago. Goes into handicaps now off a tough opening mark so others appeal more.

Form: 4-55

Hydroplane³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 109

40/1

Fair 12f Flat winner for Sir Mark Prescott who (28/1) shaped encourgingly after 9 months off when sixth of 15 in 2m novice hurdle at Huntingdon. Opening handicap mark demands more but not ruled out.

Form: 84-6

Motashakel²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 108

40/1

Fair ex-Irish 7f Flat winner who has made the frame all five starts over hurdles for current yard, good fourth of 8 in 20f Hereford handicap on return. Dropped a handy 2 lb so he's no forlorn hope.

Form: 4333-4

Lively Citizen⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 107| BF

33/1

Arrives in good form without winning over hurdles, staying-on fifth of 13 in 20f Sedgefield handicap last time. Respected off 1 lb lower mark here.

Form: 36-2235

Motdepas²⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 101

200/1

Hinted at promise first two starts over hurdles but not seen out since unseating rider when well held at Huntingdown 7 months ago. In good hands but this is a tough return.

Form: 967U-

Forecasts

One True King (3/1), The Bees Knees (3/1), Takeit Easy (7/1), Art Approval (15/2), Panic Attack (8/1), Princess T (12/1), Chasamax (14/1), Hazzaar (16/1), Percy's Word (20/1), Leroy Leroy (22/1), Lively Citizen (33/1), Hydroplane (40/1), Motashakel (40/1), Seaborn (40/1), Calvinist (66/1), Guildhall (125/1), Motdepas (200/1)

Lots with chances but Fergal O'Brien took this 12 months ago and has another very strong contender in THE BEES KNEES who made a mockery of his opening handicap mark when a 15-length scorer at Musselburgh last week and gets in under a 7 lb penalty here. One True King is another with better days ahead of him so rates the chief threat, while both Takeit Easy and Seaborn are worth considering too.