Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 6m 1.8s

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Bridge North^b1³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 120| D

20/1

Well beaten om both starts this term and it remains to be seen whether a change of headgear (first-time blinkers for visor) helps to spark a revival.

Form: PF3U-46

Court Cian³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 118| D

4/1

Made it 2 wins from only 5 starts for Stuart Edmunds when pulling 16 lengths clear at Fakenham (3m) on New Year's Day. A 10 lb rise demands further progress but he is unexposed as a stayer.

Form: F54121

Bass Rock^p1,t³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss Olive Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: G Nicholls| OR: 115

12/1

Useful hurdle/chaser winner at his best. Took a step back in right direction for his new stable when third in chase at Ludlow in December but merely added to his patchy record of late when pulled up at Kempton over Christmas. Now back hurdling with cheekpieces added.

Form: 68P-03P

Hardy Fella^v¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 112

7/2

Scored over fences at Fontwell in 2023. More miss than hit since but did turn in his best effort of the season when second of 11 at Wincanton (3m) last time. Player if in similar form.

Form: P-P5952

Velasco^p,t⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: S Corbett| OR: 111| DWS

10/1

Thrived towards the end of last season, winning three times at up to 3m. Ran better than the bare result when fourth of 7 in 3m Doncaster handicap in December. On a winning mark if a subsequent wind operation has had a positive effect.

Form: P1-4S64

Rialannah^p1¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 108

5/4

Remains a maiden but her recent second in a big field at Doncaster was very creditable and her stable's continued good form provides hope she can go one better now. Also wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 4P34P2

Barricane³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Joshua Bryan| T: O Murphy| OR: 106| D

22/1

Scored over 25f at Huntingdon last February but came in last of 7 on his Warwick reappearance in November. Fell 3 out back there since (too far out to predict where he'd have finished).

Form: 4133-7F

Non-Runners

Benassi³⁵

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: O Murphy J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Rialannah (5/4), Hardy Fella (7/2), Court Cian (4/1), Benassi (13/2), Velasco (10/1), Bass Rock (12/1), Bridge North (20/1), Barricane (22/1)

RIALANNAH won't need to pull out much more for cheekpieces to get off the mark here. The thriving Court Cian is second choice, while Hardy Fella should also be on the premises if able to back up last month's Wincanton second.