16:00 Cheltenham

Friday 11 November 2022

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Valda Energy Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 3m 58.02s

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Selected odds by:

Rathmacknee¹⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 124

10/1

Dead heated in Irish point and showed marked improvement following a breathing operation when running out a 33-length winner of a 2m4f Fakenham maiden in May. Into handicaps now and type to progress again.

Form: P/1332-1

Evenwood Sonofagun^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118

33/1

Fair on Flat and of a similar merit over hurdles, confirming his return to form when second at Down Royal (20f, good) in August. Left Richard John O'Brien after and was held in a share of fourth when brought down before last in C&D maiden 3 weeks ago. Improvement needed in a refitted tongue tie.

Form: 3-2022B

Master Dancer³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: R Bandey| OR: 118| D

7/2

Winning chaser in France who attracted support and showed improved form to make a successful British debut back over hurdles after 9 months off in Stratford maiden (16.3f) 39 days ago, staying on well. Opening BHA mark of 118 could well underestimate him.

Form: 5/5217-1

Toronto^h¹¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 117| D

100/1

Fairly useful at best on the Flat and landed a brace of 2m novices earlier in the year. However, handed a stiff opening mark and failed to a beat a rival home in the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen in July.

Form: 51-410

Mothill³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 117| D

10/1

Fairly useful Flat winner in France who followed up his small-field Fontwell novice success in May on handicap debut at Chepstow (2m) 34 days ago, finding extra when threatened flat. Can rate higher still.

Form: 672-11

Explosive Boy^t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Peter Carberry| T: A J Martin| OR: 117

20/1

Caught the eye sent handicapping over fences when sixth of 16 in handicap at Listowel (20f, good) 49 days ago, finishing with running left. Possibilities if building on that promise back over hurdles.

Form: 56055-6

Hey Johnny¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr C Mullins⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 117| D

7/2

Dual bumper winner who improved further to get off the mark over hurdles in 16-runner handicap at Clonmel (16.5f, heavy) 15 days ago, bit in hand. This is tougher but he's still unexposed.

Form: 0008-31

Diamondinthemud^p⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Ewing| T: N Slevin| OR: 115

28/1

Downpatrick maiden hurdle winner in July who improved further in first-time cheekpieces when second of 15 in handicap there (18.8f, good) 56 days ago, running on late. Can't be overlooked.

Form: 621032

Platinumcard^p1,t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 115| BF| DWS

22/1

Ayr winner (16f) in April who has proven consistent rather than progressive since. First run for yard after leaving Gordon Elliott. Cheekpieces on for 1st time (also had breathing op).

Form: 7/12-824

Alto Alto¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 114| D

9/2

Plumpton maiden hurdle winner in April who showed improved form after 6 months off when narrowly denied in 19.3f Ascot handicap 13 days ago, clear of rest. He's still unexposed and can give another good account back down in trip.

Form: 5U313-2

Harlem Soul^b1,t1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 114

200/1

Fairly useful on Flat and improved on opening hurdle exploits (on debut for Colin Tizzard) when successful at Wincanton (15.2f) in March. Good second back there in April but has shown little so far for current yard, so has plenty to prove in first-time blinkers and tongue strap combination.

Form: 412-UU6

Phoenix Aquilus^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Aidan Coleman| T: S Durack| OR: 109| DWS

16/1

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat (stays 16.5f), successful twice in 2022. Not seen to best effect back over hurdles when third at Huntingdon (15.8f) 31 days ago and remains with potential as a hurdler. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 26/2-3

Contrapposto⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: R Donohoe| OR: 108

28/1

Fair maiden hurdler who would have gone close but for departing 2 out in a 2m Listowel handicap in September. Creditable efforts since, including on the Flat at Dundalk last week.

Form: 9U62-U4

Galahad Threepwood^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 108

12/1

Fairly useful on the Flat for Mick Channon. Just fair form over hurdles to date but shaped well in a first-time hood after 5 months off in a C&D maiden 3 weeks ago and remains with potential now venturing into handicaps.

Form: 3-2P5

Great Realisation^p³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 107

14/1

Fair maiden hurdler who ran well in a 4-y-o handicap at Ballinrobe (18f) in August, looking suited by the step up in trip. Not so good back on the level at the Curragh last month but holds each-way claims returned to hurdling. Cheekpieces reapplied.

Form: 9632-23

Pepe Le Moko²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 106

20/1

Twice-raced maiden who showed improved form after 8 months off (also gelded) when third of 12 in novice hurdle at Newton Abbot (16.8f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Makes a quick switch to handicaps and may do better still.

Form: 4-3

Astrophysicist^p,t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: G Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 106

66/1

Fair handicapper on Flat, posting a respectable third at Galway (11.8f) 11 days ago, but remains with one standout effort over hurdles. Cheekpieces and tongue strap refitted.

Form: 0-90646

Sceptred Isle^h,t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: R T Dunne| T: D P Dunne| OR: 100

50/1

Left her previous efforts behind switched to a handicap (also hooded for 1st time) when fifth of 20 at Punchestown (16.3f, good) 31 days ago. Open to further improvement.

Form: 700-5

Alioski^t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: R P McLernon| T: G Brown| OR: 100| D

40/1

Gained reward for consistency when landing 2m Worcester maiden in June and ran well on handicap hurdle debut from 4 lb out of the weights there (20f) 3 months later. Gained a second win on the level at Southwell 10 days ago and can continue in good heart back over hurdles.

Form: 542-F14

Non-Runners

Desert Friend²¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: D Hogan J: Daniel King

Forecasts

Master Dancer (7/2), Hey Johnny (7/2), Alto Alto (9/2), Mothill (10/1), Rathmacknee (10/1), Galahad Threepwood (12/1), Great Realisation (14/1), Phoenix Aquilus (16/1), Explosive Boy (20/1), Pepe Le Moko (20/1), Desert Friend (20/1), Platinumcard (22/1), Contrapposto (28/1), Diamondinthemud (28/1), Evenwood Sonofagun (33/1), Alioski (40/1), Sceptred Isle (50/1), Astrophysicist (66/1), Toronto (100/1), Harlem Soul (200/1)

MASTER DANCER stayed on strongly to make a successful British debut in a Stratford maiden last month and, with the performance backed up by the clock, he's very much one to keep onside now entering handicap company from what appears a generous opening mark. Alto Alto ran a cracker when narrowly denied on his reappearance at Ascot and must enter calculations back down in trip with his previous Sandown third reading well. Hat-trick seeker Mothill and Hey Johnny complete the shortlist.