13:30 Cheltenham

Tuesday 14 March 2017

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 3m 52.70s

Ballyandy³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 147

3/1

Last season's Champion Bumper winner who produced a career best last time to win a 16-runner race at Newbury. More exposed than several in here and needs to improve again but shows his best in the hustle and bustle of big fields and can't be ruled out of another big run when he's proven under these conditions.

Form: 14-2321

Beyond Conceit²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: N D Fehily| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143

16/1

Useful Flat performer who bolted up on return from three-and-a-half years off the track at Newbury two starts back. Showed a game attitude to prevail at Ascot last time and there could well be more to come for this son of Galileo now he's dropped back down in trip. Trainer won this last year.

Form: /1

Bunk Off Early³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

6/1

Runner-up behind Bacardys last time at Leopardstown but that winner gave the impression he was well on top at the line. Travelled the best for a long way in the race but may have been flattered by the leading pack going too quick on the front end. Drop back in trip may help but others have a more convincing profile and Walsh prefers stablemate, Melon.

Form: /-120

Capital Force³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead

50/1

Didn't need to improve to win a Thurles maiden last time but this is a different kettle of fish entirely and nothing in the form book to suggest he can mix it at this level.

Form: 2

Cilaos Emery^h1³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins

12/1

Disappointed as long-odds on favourite last time and the winner from that contest only rated 134. Likely he will need to find somewhere near to a stone's improvement if he's to take a hand in this and may want softer ground. Jockeys Walsh and Townend prefer others in the contest.

Form: 1125

Crack Mome⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

11/1

Beaten 4/11 favourite when last seen but this American bred may relish faster ground and he's less exposed than the majority of the field. Any market support may be significant despite stable jockey's looking elsewhere.

Form: 1-1

Elgin¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 143

14/1

Consistent sort but he's found one too good on his last couple of starts and he has work to do to turn the form around with River Wylde despite being 3lb better off at the weights. Will enjoy any strong pace that's on and the expected good to soft ground but likely to find a few too good.

Form: 51-21

Glaring⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: L P Aspell| T: Mrs A J Perrett

40/1

Group-class Flat performer who belied generous 33/1 odds to win on his hurdles debut over 2m (good to soft) at Huntingdon in December. Missed a prep run for this at that same course when meeting was abandoned, so not ideal preparation, but has more going for him than some in here and he will enjoy any drying conditions being a son of Champs Elysees.

Form: 1

High Bridge³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Alex Ferguson| T: B Pauling| OR: 141

20/1

Gone from strength-to-strength since leaving Charlie Appleby and return to forecast faster ground looks sure to suit. Unbeaten in this sphere and no doubt there's more to come but won't get an easy time of things with him liking to run close to the pace. Conditional jockey has struck up a good relationship with the gelding and gets a big chance to make a name for himself but unable to claim his normal 7lb due to the conditions of the race.

Form: 116-111

Labaik¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

25/1

Formely a very exciting prospect but well and truly blotted his copybook in three recent races, refusing to race on two and completely blowing his chance at Naas last time when reluctant to race. Not without a hope by any means if setting off on terms but hard to fancy after his recent antics.

Form: 1RR617

Magna Cartor¹⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 127

200/1

Tailed off on last two starts and even if he returned to his very best form he'd still struggle. Has won on good ground so conditions unlikely to be an issue but likely to be out of his depth.

Form: 351107

Melon⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins

3/1

Long-time ante-post favourite for this contest and won his maiden hurdle well enough on only start over obstacles. However, the rival finishing second that day has done nothing for the form and the rest of the field haven't come out and as much as placed from the race, so the form looks suspect to say the least. Respected for connections who have won this three times in the last four years and for a jockey who is very rarely on the wrong one, but his mount will need to settle better and jump better than he did on that sole hurdles outing at Leopardstown.

Form: -12

Pingshou⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 133

25/1

Course winner and not been with this yard long but disappointing last time out when fourth of 10 at the New Year's Day meeting here. Not been seen since and trainer likely to find the key to him but he has plenty to find on form.

Form: 8/41401

River Wylde¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144

8/1

Trainer won this last year with Altior and conceivable he could record back-to-back wins in the contest with this gelding who's undefeated over hurdles. He scored going away at Kempton with Elgin in behind and the likely stronger pace should help him settle better than he did at the start of that race. Gives the impression there's plenty more to come and this hold up performer could be difficult to beat if things fall his way. Likely to be delivered late.

Form: 23-10

Forecasts

Melon (3/1), Ballyandy (3/1), Bunk Off Early (6/1), River Wylde (8/1), Crack Mome (11/1), Cilaos Emery (12/1), Elgin (14/1), Beyond Conceit (16/1), High Bridge (20/1), Labaik (25/1), Pingshou (25/1), Glaring (40/1), Capital Force (50/1), Magna Cartor (200/1)

Nicky Henderson won this last year and he can get The Festival off to a flyer with RIVER WYLDE. The son of Oscar is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles and he will no doubt enjoy the likely strong pace that will be on. Beyond Conceit is likely to be the trainer's second string but there's every chance the eight-year-old could run a big race dropped back in trip and he showed a game attitude when prevailing last time; something that will hold him in good stead in this race. Willie Mullins has won this three times in the last four years and he runs four in the race. Ante-post favourite Melon looks like the stable first-string and Ruby Walsh usually picks the right one so the gelding warrants respect, despite having something to find on the form book.