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14:10 Cheltenham
Friday 17 March 2017
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30
Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
- 5YO plus  |  Class 1  |  2m 179y  |  Good  |  25 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 14:12Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 4m 0.0s
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Was having just his sixth start when runner-up in this race in 2014 and proved himself top-class when chasing home Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle itself the following year. Missed last year's renewal through the same injury which has kept him on the sidelines until now, so it will be fascinating to see how he returns. Market vibes will be interesting.
Class act who finished fourth behind Douvan in the 2015 Supreme before making his mark as a high-class novice chaser, finishing third in last year's JLT at the Festival. Confirmed his liking for this track when just touched off by Agrapart in the Relkeel and had excuses for poor run in a Graded event at Footwell last time (lost shoe). Has to be respected in handicap company.
Showed a tremendous turn of foot to land last year's Triumph Hurdle but hasn't quite been able to kick on and make his mark against older horses in Grade 1 events. No match for Champion Hurdle third Petit Mouchoir at Fairyhouse last time but may relish the return to a bigger field and handicap mark of 148 is exploitable if able to reproduce his Triumph Hurdle showing with blinkers back on.
Has always had plenty of ability, be it on the Flat or over hurdles but comes with quirks attached. Won well on testing ground in October and finished third in a Grade 2 at Navan last month despite again showing signs of temperament. Feasibly-treated if on best behaviour but it is an 'if'.
French recruit who sprung to prominence when winning last year's Fred Winter off a 16lb lower mark and has enhanced his reputation this season, winning at Chepstow and Musselburgh on decent ground. Looked on particularly good terms with himself when scoring readily last time out and he has plenty going for him. Possibilities.
High-class novice last season, shaping well in the Supreme before finishing within 10L of Champion Hurdle hero, Buveur D'Air, in a Grade 1 at Aintree (soft). Reappeared to edge out Modus in the Greenwood here (2m, soft) in November (8lb lower mark) and has purposely been given a break since. An obvious contender for a yard who won this event 12 months ago.
Experienced campaigner whose CV includes six hurdle wins and a fifth place finish in the 2015 Arkle here as a novice chaser. Arrives here on a 4lb lower mark than his last success at Chepstow in October 2015 but most recent efforts don't inspire confidence.
More renowned for chasing exploits, having won a Grade 3 event at Naas last time out in November (2m, good) despite not looking a natural jumper. Reverts to hurdles for the first time since finishing sixth behind Douvan in the 2015 Supreme and is potentially well-treated. Interesting.
Has had a Flat rating above 100 in the past but not entirely convincing over hurdles, even though he has won at Clonmel and Down Royal (2m, good) this season. Took a step backwards with a dismal showing in a Grade 3 event at Navan last time and arrives here with something to prove.
Decent staying Flat handicapper who looked to be progressing well over hurdles earlier in the season on the evidence of an impressive win at Wetherby in December (2m, good to soft). Hasn't been able to back that up since, including in first-time cheekpieces at Newbury, so hard to get too excited about.
Faultless when winning three times as a novice last season, including a Grade 2 event at Kempton (2m, good to soft) but clearly wasn't right when badly fluffing his lines on softer ground in the Greatwood here in November (sent off favourite). Clearly too early to be writing him off but preparation not ideal.
Dual bumper winner who opened his account over hurdles at the third attempt when scoring at Leopardstown (2m2f, good to soft) on Boxing Day. By no means disgraced in two subsequent Graded events, giving the impression there is more in the tank and looks one of the more interesting outsiders.
Was proving very frustrating prior to opening his account at Exeter in January and he has blossomed since, going on to complete a hat-trick in good style in a valuable event at Ascot last month (2m4f, soft). Raised 8lb but likely to be staying on better than most and dangerous to discount in current mood.
Moderate Flat handicapper who has been transformed by a switch to hurdles by shrewd connections. Improved massively last spring, winning successive 2m handicaps on decent ground at Chepstow and Perth respectively and reappeared from a lengthy break to win on the Flat recently at Wolverhampton. Interesting contender but 13lb above last winning mark.
Useful Flat performer who scored twice over hurdles in his younger days but hasn't tasted success since winning at Chepstow on his debut for present yard in October 2014. Mark has fallen as a result and he has finished a runner-up twice at Taunton recently but he clearly isn't the yard's best hope here.
Finished a respectable seventh in this race for David Pipe in 2015 (same mark) before going chasing but he hasn't quite looked the same horse since falling in last year's Arkle. Returns to hurdles here after a dismal effort when fancied for the Scottish Champion Chase at Musselburgh last month.
Lightly-raced French recruit who caught the eye when winning in the mud at Lingfield in January and followed that by finishing an 11L third behind Neon Wolf in a Grade 2 novices' event at Haydock (2m, soft). Likelihood that there is much more to come from him in time but better ground probably isn't ideal and this looks a big ask at this stage.
Bumper winner who looked a smart prospect when ending his novice campaign with back-to-back victories in the mud but he's had just two runs since, turning in a lifeless effort in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last month. Should strip fitter today but not hard to look elsewhere.
A credit to connections, gaining his fifth - and best - hurdling success over 2m1f (good) here in December. Has since twice found it tougher going off a revised mark and, though he should again run his race, he looks vulnerable to less exposed types.
Had already won twice as a novice before going off a joint-favourite for this race last year, staying on well to finish an excellent fourth. A lacklustre campaign this season means he lines up off a 4lb lower mark but no surprise if this has been the target all along. One to be interested in..
Fair Flat handicapper who has been well-placed to win four times over hurdles so far, his most recent success coming over 2m4f (good) at Musselburgh in January. Lost nothing in defeat when chasing home easy winner Diego Du Charmil there next time but this looks a bridge too far.
Three times a winner over hurdles from seven attempts, albeit in much weaker company. A first flight faller when upped in class behind Modus at Kempton in January and could only manage a modest third behind Nietzsche at Catterick last time (2m3f, Good to soft). Surprise to see him get involved here.
Kicked off with four wins from his first five attempts over hurdles but flopped badly when fancied for a Listed handicap at Newbury in November and failed to redeem himself at Kempton last time. Others make much more appeal right now.
Moderate Flat handicapper who has only managed to win once from 14 attempts over hurdles, that success coming at Huntingdon way back in December 2014. That said, he was third in the Greatwood here (2m, soft) but a lesser effort at Newbury just tempers enthusiasm slightly.
One-time smart Flat performer who seems to have been rejuvenated by a switch to hurdling by new yard, culminating in a facile victory in soft ground at Taunton last month. Sure to improve further but this may prove too much, too soon.
Non-Runners
8
Mick Jazz40
Weight: 10-11|Â Â Age: 6
T: G Elliott  J: J W Kennedy
NR
Forecasts
Ivanovich Gorbatov (5/1), Mick Jazz (7/1), North Hill Harvey (8/1), Winter Escape (9/1), Air Horse One (10/1), Wait For Me (10/1), Renneti (11/1), Diego Du Charmil (12/1), Tell Us More (14/1), Mohaayed (16/1), Vosne Romanee (18/1), Arctic Fire (20/1), Song Light (20/1), Joey Sasa (20/1), L'Ami Serge (25/1), De Name Escapes Me (28/1), Court Minstrel (33/1), Wakea (33/1), Crievehill (33/1), Kapstadt (33/1), Dominada (40/1), Jaleo (40/1), Ozzie The Oscar (50/1), Bertimont (50/1), Boite (50/1), Baltimore Rock (66/1)
A fascinating renewal of this devilishly-competitive handicap in which the unexposed North Hill Harvey makes plenty of appeal representing last year's winning connections. That said, with dangers abound, it may pay to search for value elsewhere and last year's impressive impressive Fred Winter winner DIEGO DU CHARMIL fits the bill having confirmed himself still on the upgrade with an impressive victory at Musselburgh last time out. Another 2016 Festival winner, Ivanovich Gorbatov, is also interesting along with Mick Jazz, Winter Escape and Wait For Me.
- Diego Du Charmil
- North Hill Harvey
- Ivanovich Gorbatov
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £54,321.002nd: £20,586.003rd: £10,222.004th: £4,674.005th: £2,346.006th: £1,406.00
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