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 55.80s

Taglietelle^b²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Cian Collins⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 145

20/1

Has been a useful hurdler in his time and placed twice around Cheltenham, once off a higher mark, but is struggling to find his form of late despite the falling handicap mark. Will find it tough to give weight away all-round to some improving types.

Form: 4FR296

Born Survivor²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 143

33/1

Best effort this year when completing the course came when he was third at Newbury in December off a 2lb lower mark. Still travelling well and yet to be asked for his effort when coming down in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso and a repeat of that run would put him in with a chance.

Form: 1/141-24

Gibralfaro^p³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 143

50/1

Yet to win so far this season but has turned in some creditable performances with his placed efforts. Looked to have needed the run on his recent start at Huntingdon and may well have raced on the worst ground but has yet to win in handicaps.

Form: 49-3326

Tommy Silver²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Stan Sheppard| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140

20/1

Got his career back on track after some disappointing efforts when winning at Taunton last time out over 2m. Steps up in trip here (untried at this distance) and races off a career high mark and that gives him something to find in this contest.

Form: 571016-

Runfordave²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

9/1

Yet to run in a handicap but has won twice over hurdles and easily beat some inferior rivals last time at Clonmel when starting a short-priced favourite. The likely better ground will suit and if he can avoid hurdling mistakes he looks well weighted for his handicap debut.

Form: 1F3133

Lac Fontana³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Sherwood| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139

20/1

Winner of the County Hurdle at the Festival in 2014 and a Grade 1 winner at Aintree back to novice company straight after that win. Not won since then, although he has been running in better company. Dropped back into handicaps for his last four runs and shaped as though retaining his ability off a reduced mark on his last start and the trainer has a good record in this race.

Form: 490/850-

I Shot The Sheriff^t¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: S A Shortall| T: A J Martin| OR: 139

20/1

Irish raider who is only lightly-raced and has looked hard to train but shaped well on his most recent start back from an almost two year break. That run was over a trip short of his best and he wasn't given a hard time at all while he looked as though he retained plenty of his ability and will be of interest.

Form: F211/0-3

Remiluc^t¹³^{(ex 5)}

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 134

50/1

Stable are going through a real purple patch at the moment and he turned in a very sound effort to win at Newbury off a 5lb lower mark recently. Needs to improve again to take a hand in this though.

Form: 192/313

Castello Sforza²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Jonathan Moore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138

11/1

Trainer has a very good record in this race and he ran fourth in the Champion Bumper at the Festival last year. Has had just three runs over hurdles all in novices' events (started favourite every time) and yet to win but stepping into handicaps for the first time he could be one to watch here especially with the trainer's record in the race.

Form: 1/4-3

Coo Star Sivola²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Lizzie Kelly| T: Nick Williams| OR: 138

13/2

Winner of a Listed race here in January, he also won a small field novice at Warwick on his last start by 38L and is already proven in a big field Festival handicap having finished third in last season's Fred Winter. Not hard to find fault with the form of his last run but he will enjoy this trip and would be dangerous if allowed a soft lead.

Form: 7/233-28

Dell' Arca^b⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 138

33/1

Hardly a winning machine over hurdles and is steadily slipping the weights but not showing much of late and others are preferred.

Form: 4/43701-

Champagne Classic²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Slevin| T: G Elliott| OR: 138

12/1

Lightly-raced hurdler who has yet to run in a handicap and ran very respectably in a Grade 3 last time travelling well for much of that race. Didn't find as much as expected though when asked for his effort and that's something to watch for here.

Form: 232131

Massini's Trap^b⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Kieron Edgar| T: J Nash| OR: 138

100/1

Well below form last time out at Navan but prior to that had shown some sound form when winning an Aintree handicap off an 11lb lower mark. Followed that up with a good second at Haydock but is off a mark of 138 now ant that makes life tough against some unexposed sorts in this.

Form: 046120

No Comment^h⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: C Gethings| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137

15/2

Shown some useful form in bumpers and over hurdles wining his last three all in novice company with his last win at Plumpton being form that has been heavily franked (four next time out winners from the race). Makes his handicap debut here and on some of his form the mark of 138 looks quiet lenient and suggests he should have a leading chance.

Form: 211172

Thomas Campbell⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ned Curtis| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137

20/1

Won his first two hurdles starts, taking a maiden here in October and a minor event at Ascot In November. Made favourite for a Grade 2 over 2m last time out but ran well below form and makes his handicap debut here off a break and trying a new trip.

Form: 111554

Doesyourdogbite²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Killian Moore| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 137

33/1

In good form earlier in the season winning his first three starts over hurdles the last of those a Kempton Park handicap off a mark of 132 on his handicap debut. Below that form since and was very disappointing last time out.

Form: 11

Pain Au Chocolat^h,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Lewis Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 137

100/1

Has been chasing of late and struggling in that sphere off similar marks to the one that he runs off today on his return to hurdles. Others preferred in what looks a very competitive heat.

Form: 62P250

Ballyhill³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 136

80/1

Won a couple of hurdles earlier in the season at Hereford and Ludlow and has run with credit in his starts since. Made his handicap debut last time out in the Betfair Hurdle off what looked to be a stiff opening mark and the handicapper hasn't eased him at all.

Form: 711443

Dadsintrouble²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 136

14/1

Trainer still searching for his first Cheltenham winner let alone a Festival one but has a chance with this improving sort. Has won his last two starts both at Haydock in the style of an improving horse although the handicapper has raised him another 7lb for his last effort and that makes his task tougher.

Form: 5/541-3F

Rather Be⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: N J Henderson| OR: 136

10/1

Won his first two starts over hurdles and lost nothing in defeat on his latest start when conceding 14lb to the winner at Sandown and taking the runner-up slot. Like many in this race he makes his handicap debut off what looks to be a fair mark.

Form: 9-112U1

Battleford⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

9/2

Has shown some smart form in bumpers and also over hurdles although he's only won once over them and his hurdling technique is rather hit-and-miss. Beaten by Monalee (runs earlier in the Albert Bartlett) at Clonmel in a Grade 3 last time out again travelling well but still with question marks about his hurdling. Starts life in handicaps off a potentially lenient mark and for a trainer with a cracking record in this race.

Form: 2-41228

Verni⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cheesman| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135

25/1

Winner of three of his last four starts over hurdles including on his handicap debut at Newton Abbot in the autumn. Has progressed again of late and won off a 10lb lower mark at Taunton last time out finding plenty for pressure and winning by 5L. Looks to have further improvement in him and remains of interest in this.

Form: 2/31-121

Catamaran Du Seuil^b²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 135

33/1

Bounced back from a poor run at Wetherby with a win at Carlisle in first-time blinkers completing what looked to be a simple task by 23L. Looks to be a useful performer in the making but has a little bit to find on some of these at the weights on his handicap hurdles debut (ran in one handicap chase in France).

Form: 222161

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.