14:35 Cheltenham

Sunday 1 January 2017

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:40

BetBright Casino Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 6m 17.30s

Fingal Bay²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 143

11/2

Useful over hurdles and won the Pertemps Final at the Festival in 2014 and has been mainly chasing since that run. Has reverted to hurdles this year and run two sound races at Cheltenham and Sandown although his finishing effort was a little disappointing last time out after travelling well. Should be capable off this mark but may find one or two others better handicapped.

Form: 32P8-66

Zeroeshadesofgrey³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 140

4/1

Another who reverts to hurdles after trying his hand over fences but has been a little disappointing in that sphere being beaten last time out at odds-on. Should still be capable back over hurdles off this mark and will appreciate the likely decent surface.

Form: 1429-12

Meister Eckhart³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Moloney| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 137

16/1

At his best he was a smart hurdler a few years ago but looks to have had his problems and came back from a major absence last time out at Newbury. Shaped quite well on his return even if he struggled to be competitive in a decent handicap hurdle and will be interesting to see how he fares here.

Form: 3P203/6

Rolling Maul^b,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 132

15/2

Former winner of this race and had the run of the race when eighth at Cheltenham last time out. Readily brushed aside in that race and has work to do with the principals here.

Form: 853652-

Rocklander¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 131

2/1

Progressive hurdler who has won handicaps at Chepstow and Leicester and carried on that progress when second at Exeter last time out. Travels strongly in his races and despite another rise in the weights still looks well weighted here and one of the more likely types.

Form: 4-22112

Spice Fair²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: P J Brennan| T: M D I Usher| OR: 129

12/1

Has some useful form over hurdles and has returned in decent form this year after running on the Flat in the summer. Ran well at Lingfield last time without totally looking back to his best although the race wasn't run to suit. Looks worth a try over further and hard to ignore here.

Form: 1323-54

Cogry^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: William Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128

9/2

Had some wretched luck over fences on his last few runs and either his errors or those of others have conspired to beat him.. Others much preferred here in what looks a confidence booster.

Form: 33-FBUF

Non-Runners

Whataknight⁶²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: H Fry J: Mr M Legg

Rainy City²⁹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 7

T: P F Nicholls J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Will O'The West⁵⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: H D Daly J: T J O'Brien

Morning Herald¹⁶

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: M Keighley J: Andrew Tinkler

Call To Order²³

Weight: 10-9| Age: 7

T: J & A O'Neill J: Aidan Coleman

Forecasts

Rocklander (2/1), Call To Order (7/2), Zeroeshadesofgrey (4/1), Whataknight (4/1), Cogry (9/2), Fingal Bay (11/2), Rainy City (7/1), Rolling Maul (15/2), Spice Fair (12/1), Will O'The West (14/1), Meister Eckhart (16/1), Morning Herald (20/1)

There are a few in here that look as though the handicapper has them in his grasp but that phrase can’t be applied to CALL TO ORDER who looks to be still ahead of his mark after his C&D romp last time out and he’s only 7lb higher here. It would be a surprise if he still didn’t have some improvement left in him and he could well continue to progress here with the cheekpieces expected to work well again. Rocklander is another progressive type who can’t be underestimated here after his good recent form which has been against other progressive types and he still appears to have some scope off this mark. Whataknight concedes plenty of weight but still looks off a mark that he can be competitive off and he commands plenty of respect on his return to hurdles after an easy chase win last time out. 1. Call To Order 2. Rocklander 3. Whataknight