Welsh Marches Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 58.53s

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Selected odds by:

Champ⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: N J Henderson| OR: 163| CD

8/15

RSA Chase winner here who showed he's still equally as effective over hurdles when seeing off Thyme Hill (Paisley Park third) to win Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot last month. The one to beat.

Form: 1F1/2P-1

McFabulous²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 153

5/1

Pair of Grade 2 wins last season. Creditable reappearance second to Stormy Island in Relkeel here on New Year's Day. Now steps up to 3m for just the second time in his career. Likely to go well.

Form: 13128-2

Paisley Park^t⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 158| CD

5/1

Dual winner of this and the Stayers' over this C&D but possibly not quite the force of old, finishing 5¼ lengths behind the reopposing Champ in the Long Walk at Ascot last month.

Form: 13P-333

Dandy Mag³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 143| D

50/1

Pretty smart hurdler at his best for Willie Mullin but has struggled in recent starts, including pulling up on Wincanton yard debut on Boxing Day. Not up to this level even if back to his best.

Form: 81078-P

Lisnagar Oscar^p⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 147| CD

14/1

2020 Stayers' hero over C&D but winless since, running partiuclarly poorly behind Champ and Paisley Park at Ascot last month. First-time cheekpieces will need to help spark a major revival.

Form: 2F8-35P

Forecasts

Champ (8/15), Paisley Park (5/1), McFabulous (5/1), Lisnagar Oscar (14/1), Dandy Mag (50/1)

If CHAMP is in the same form as when accounting for Thyme Hill and the reopposing Paisley Park in the Long Walk then it's hard to see past him. McFabulous can build on his reappearance second in the Relkeel and give Nicky Henderson's charge most to think about.