17:30 Cheltenham

Friday 27 October 2017

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

Experience The Theatre At The Festival Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 4m 1.20s

Dreamcatching¹⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129

7/1

Outclassed in the Fred Winter at the Festival but won twice subsequently to that and holds claims on his return to big field handicap hurdling.

Form: 361011-

Lion In His Heart²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonathan Moore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 129| D

10/1

Not always the most reliable given he has run out on three of his last seven starts and unseated on another, but his form stacks up well for a top trainer and if completing he should be in the mix.

Form: 7-RU33R

Cool Macavity¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: James Bowen⁽⁶⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128| D

11/2

Won on his seasonal return at Towcester last time out when beating a small field. This is tougher but a 6lb rise may well be workable.

Form: 031/04-1

Our Kylie²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Kaine Wood⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 127| D

9/1

A winner of four of her last five starts and likely outclassed at Galway on the fifth. Up a further 8lb here but clearly on the improve.

Form: 1/11-011

St Saviour^p⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cheesman⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 127| BF| D

33/1

Hasn't particularly impressed over the summer, finishing last of five at Stratford in April. Still 5lb above his last winning mark and needs to bounce back to that sort of form to have any chance.

Form: 13-3335

Instant Karma^t1¹²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: W Featherstone⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 126| D

25/1

A long way off the standard of a close second in a Listed race at Ascot a year ago ever since. Switched yards now with a first-time tongue-strap applied.

Form: 2112P-6

Thunder Sheik^p,t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122| D

16/1

A winner of some valuable handicap hurdles in his younger years, but a revival is needed now, especially after he was beaten in a minor event at Perth latest.

Form: 54PP5-2

Percy Street¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Ned Curtis⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 120| D

6/1

Useful juvenile hurdler who hasn't quite managed to progress as hoped in two starts in open company this year (one on the Flat), but improved last year and is entitled to the same again.

Form: 12663-6

Cleni Wells^h¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: M Hill| OR: 120| D

20/1

Just 3lb above his last winning mark , but this is a competitive enough affair after some underwhelming performances since.

Form: 3-21P03

Bobble Emerald^p,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Stock⁽⁶⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 120| D

33/1

Bounced back from an underwhelming seasonal reappearance to finish second at Southwell last time out. Slight question mark about dropping down in trip after that showing now up 10lb.

Form: 863-371

Man Of Plenty^p,t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 118| D

11/2

Not beaten far at Chepstow earlier in the month when shaping well, 3lb well in but over three years since his last win.

Form: 329-542

Stuccodor^t1⁴⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 115

66/1

Yet to get off the mark over hurdles in ten attempts, and looks an unappealing prospect on his first start for this trainer with a tongue-strap on.

Form: 3322/50-

High Expectations³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: G Elliott| OR: 114| D

7/1

No win over hurdles since January 2015 but has been running well enough on the Flat to suggest he could get involved here.

Form: 1F/46P0-

Sunnytahliateigan¹⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Edward Austin⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 112| BF

10/1

Dual winner at the end of last season off 10lb lower, returns here but will probably find this trip sharp enough.

Form: 46711-4

Forecasts

Man Of Plenty (11/2), Cool Macavity (11/2), Percy Street (6/1), Dreamcatching (7/1), High Expectations (7/1), Our Kylie (9/1), Sunnytahliateigan (10/1), Lion In His Heart (10/1), Thunder Sheik (16/1), Cleni Wells (20/1), Instant Karma (25/1), Bobble Emerald (33/1), St Saviour (33/1), Stuccodor (66/1)

A competitive affair to finish off the card, and one where DREAMCATCHING appeals most. The Paul Nicholls inmate looked outclassed in the Fred Winter at the Festival here in March, but has impressed winning two starts since and has what it takes to return to handicapping now in open company. He gets on well with the jockey, and the trip should suit him well. Others for the shortlist include Percy Street, who progressed last season and can do again, and the quirky Lion In His Heart, provided he comes here on one of his going days.