16:50 Cheltenham

Friday 17 March 2017

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

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:52 | Winning time: 4m 55.8s

Odds by:

Live Odds

Odds

Battleford

5/1, 9/2, 4/1

9/2

Coo Star Sivola

15/2, 7/1

13/2

No Comment

15/2, 7/1

15/2

Runfordave

8/1, 9/1, 8/1

9/1

Rather Be

12/1, 11/1

10/1

Castello Sforza

10/1

11/1

Champagne Classic

20/1, 16/1, 14/1

12/1

Dadsintrouble

16/1

14/1

Thomas Campbell

20/1

Tommy Silver

18/1

20/1

Taglietelle

20/1

Lac Fontana

16/1, 18/1

20/1

I Shot The Sheriff

20/1

Verni

20/1

25/1

Born Survivor

28/1, 33/1, 28/1

33/1

Doesyourdogbite

33/1

Dell' Arca

33/1

Catamaran Du Seuil

33/1

Remiluc

50/1

Gibralfaro

50/1

Ballyhill

80/1

Massini's Trap

80/1

100/1

Pain Au Chocolat

100/1

SP Book Percentage 131.62

Non-Runners

Protek Des Flos³⁶

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: N J Henderson J: Jack Savage

Forecasts

Battleford (9/2), Coo Star Sivola (13/2), No Comment (15/2), Runfordave (9/1), Rather Be (10/1), Castello Sforza (11/1), Champagne Classic (12/1), Dadsintrouble (14/1), Thomas Campbell (20/1), Tommy Silver (20/1), Taglietelle (20/1), Lac Fontana (20/1), I Shot The Sheriff (20/1), Protek Des Flos (20/1), Verni (25/1), Born Survivor (33/1), Doesyourdogbite (33/1), Dell' Arca (33/1), Catamaran Du Seuil (33/1), Remiluc (50/1), Gibralfaro (50/1), Ballyhill (80/1), Massini's Trap (100/1), Pain Au Chocolat (100/1)

It goes without saying that this is a competitive heat and it’s made harder by the fact that plenty of them are making their handicap debuts. In past years the race has been dominated by Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins, who between them have taken five of the last six renewals. They each have two representatives this time with Lac Fontana looking to be the best of the Nicholls duo. Mullins saddles two fascinating contenders in Castello Sforza and BATTLEFORD who could be very well handicapped and matches the profile of the previous winners from this yard. No Comment probably carries some of the strongest form into the race and it’s no surprise to see him towards the head of the market off what looks to be a good mark of 137. The trainer of No Comment also has a decent second string in the improving Verni while the strong travelling Champagne Classic and I Shot The Sheriff are two more interesting Irish contenders both capable of travelling well into this race. Runfordave will have his supporters for the Elliott team that are well represented here, although he will just need to brush up his jumping a little.