15:10 Cheltenham

Friday 27 October 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Brandon Hill Capital Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 5m 8.9s

Kk Lexion²²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 131| D

14/1

Form tailed off at the end of last season but was running fairly well in handicap hurdles prior to that. Still 10lb above his last winning mark though and top-weight is a big ask here.

Form: 1431P0-

Ruacana^v¹⁹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: George Blackwell⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 130

50/1

No win since January 2015 despite having gone close on a couple of occasions, but that form means this weight looks like a big ask here.

Form: 652P75-

The Mighty Don²³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford| OR: 128

7/1

Probably outclassed when making his handicap debut in a Grade 3 event at Sandown at the end of last season, but still not disgraced there given he lost a shoe, and a significantly better performance can be expected here.

Form: 3/12219-

Creep Desbois¹⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 128| D

7/1

Outpaced on handicap debut at Kempton in April in what was only a five runner affair, and looks liable to struggle here off the same mark on that basis.

Form: 135413-

Potters Story²¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 127| BF

16/1

Has had just two runs over hurdles so far and may have found conditions too testing when beaten at odds-on at Haydock in March. Up in trip here but should stay this far.

Form: 19412-

Get Home Now^b,t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 127| D

25/1

On a four-timer and has gone up 29lb in the weights since July. Clearly highly progressive with a talented jockey in the saddle, but this requires another career-best.

Form: 243111

Mizen Master^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 127| D

50/1

Placed on every start over hurdles since switching to this yard but this is a competitive enough contest from him to return to handicap hurdling off a fairly high mark.

Form: 8-12123

Cake de L'Isle²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 127| D

16/1

Lightly-raced type who got off the mark at Market Rasen last time out in maiden company. Makes his handicap debut here off what looks a fair mark with the distinct possibility for further improvement to come.

Form: 0P31-

Rightdownthemiddle¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 127

16/1

Ran some nice races over fences last season but no hurdling win since February 2015 and has been well beaten in Ireland the last twice.

Form: P2F-P78

Eaton Hill¹⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 126

12/1

Progressed through last season to prove himself a useful performer. Makes his handicap debut here but should enjoy conditions and can't be ruled out off his opening mark.

Form: 2213P1-

Hallings Comet²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: M Goldstein| T: S Lycett| OR: 125

20/1

Has won four of his last five starts and finished second in the other, but those all came at Worcester and this is a completely different challenge, especially up 12lb in the weights.

Form: 7-12111

Mr Mcguiness³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 125

33/1

Fair hurdler on his day but the fact all three career victories have come at either Worcester or Southwell are cause for concern when it comes to the track here.

Form: 211455

Nathans Pride^t¹²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 124

66/1

Didn't start off back until February last season when still a way off the best of his form, and is tough to fancy following an 88L defeat at Worcester in June,

Form: 6/170-47

Buckle Street^p,t⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: M Keighley| OR: 121

25/1

Came within a neck of a second victory over hurdles at Worcester in July, but that was a weaker race than this and he needs to raise his game to be competitive here.

Form: 3315-23

Vivas^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 120

11/1

Made a winning reappearance at Uttoxeter in September, and has gone up 4lb as a result. Has improved on his first run back in the past and should be in the mix here.

Form: 21568-1

Golan Fortune^p³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Conor Shoemark| T: P W Middleton| OR: 120

20/1

Has finished third in both his races under rules so far, and makes his handicap debut here. May lack the experience for a big-field event at this course.

Form: F-133

One Forty Seven³³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 119

7/1

Remains a maiden over hurdles but has run some nice races and retains potential. Has a long enough lay-off to overcome though.

Form: 1UDP3-

Master Dancer^p³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 117

12/1

A winner on the Flat at Chepstow last month and put in fair efforts in maiden/novice hurdles last term, but needs to improve on a poor showing in a C&D handicap last November.

Form: 6/120-

Cottersrock^b,t⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Stock⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 117| D

25/1

Has lost his way recently having been pulled up over both hurdles and fences during the summer, and needs to put those performances a long way behind him in order to figure here.

Form: 33P-5PP

Fool To Cry³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 117

12/1

Hasn't been able to build on a promising start to her career last year, but returned to form with a fine second at Warwick last time out. 7lb rise seems slightly harsh, though she was clear of the third.

Form: 1153-52

Trans Express¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 112

11/1

Fair handicap hurdler on his day but both victories to date have come over shorter than this, and he doesn't look overly favourably weighted either.

Form: 1850-51

Forecasts

The Mighty Don (7/1), Creep Desbois (7/1), One Forty Seven (7/1), Vivas (11/1), Trans Express (11/1), Master Dancer (12/1), Eaton Hill (12/1), Fool To Cry (12/1), Kk Lexion (14/1), Rightdownthemiddle (16/1), Potters Story (16/1), Cake de L'Isle (16/1), Hallings Comet (20/1), Golan Fortune (20/1), Buckle Street (25/1), Cottersrock (25/1), Get Home Now (25/1), Mr Mcguiness (33/1), Mizen Master (50/1), Ruacana (50/1), Nathans Pride (66/1)

A few of these are of interest given their recent form and/or profiles, including Cake de L'Isle, who got off the mark at Market Rasen last time and could improve significantly, and the consistent Mizen Master, who has never been out of the places since joining Olly Murphy. A chance is taken, however, on THE MIGHTY DON. Nick Gifford's charge was very much thrown in at the deep end at Sandown on handicap debut at the end of the last season when running a creditable race but in all likelihood getting outclassed. This looks to be a much more realistic target for a horse who has shown form both in bumpers and novice hurdles. Vivas and Eaton Hill are others who should be in the mix.