15:10 Huntingdon

Tuesday 14 November 2017

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Cheltenham Betting At 188Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 5m 9.70s

Free Bounty^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 102

50/1

Dual winner on the AW for Philip McBride (upto 2m), but slow to make his mark over hurdles since switched stables. Handicapping will be his level, but looks high in the weights, based upon his opening effort in this grade at Southwell.

Form: 5-559

Uncle Percy^p1³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr Alex Ferguson⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 101

6/1

Beaten 4L by Stonemadforspeed on his handicap debut at Worcester last month (2m4f good to firm). Raised 1lb, but a 7lb claimer takes over in the saddle, so theoretically 6lb better. Wears first time cheek-pieces.

Form: 27064-3

Occasionally Yours²⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁷⁾| T: A Blackmore| OR: 100| C| D

22/1

Veteran who is a winner of eight races over hurdles in 72 starts. Well suited by the combination of good ground and this Flat track. His last success came here in May over 2m3f+ from a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 6144-55

Cheltenam De Vaige²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 100

11/8

Stable amongst the winners, and he went close to breaking his duck on his seasonal bow and stable debut at Plumpton last month (2m good to soft) when finishing a ½L second to Kenyan. Up 4lb and in trip.

Form: F033P-2

Phare Isle^p,t¹⁷²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 100| C

25/1

Veteran who has won here over a marathon trip in the past (March 2015), so is likely to find 2m4f on quick ground not enough of a test. Remains 2lb above his last winning mark (2m7f+ at Fakenham in April).

Form: 7431-35

Next Level^t¹⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: P E Cowley| OR: 98

25/1

Point-to-point winner (3m yielding) who ran his best race under rules on his handicap debut (novices) at Uttoxeter in May (2m7f+ good) when a 1¾L runner up to Silent Man. Up 4lb for his seasonal reappearance and dropped in trip.

Form: 1P4PP-2

West To Crossgales^h1¹⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: A Pogson| T: C T Pogson| OR: 97

33/1

Point-to-point winner in May 2016 who has shown little obvious signs of ability in four starts under rules (mainly in maiden hurdles). Back up in trip for his seasonal reappearance and handicap debut. Wears a first time hood.

Form: 61P6-74

Polarbrook^v¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D Shaw| OR: 96| D

16/1

Suited by the step up in trip when winning twice in the summer (2m6f and 3m), but clobbered by the handicapper and remains 11lb above his last winning mark. Ground ideal, but needs to better his latest effort at Sedgefield (2m1f).

Form: 113456

Onehelluvatouch^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: P Hide| OR: 92

33/1

Not shown enough to suggest that she's capable of winning over hurdles just yet, and looks held by Cheltenam De Vaige on last month's Plumpton form (handicap debut).

Form: 5656

Bohernagore^h¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 92

10/1

Races freely at the fore, and whilst he has early season form which suggests he can compete from this mark, he's rather disappointed of late, and was a faller on his last visit to Huntingdon in mid October.

Form: P220F8

Mariners Moon^p,h¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 88

11/1

Won just once in 25 starts on the Flat, and is a ten race maiden over hurdles, so he couldn't be labelled as prolific. A runner up from this mark at Uttoxeter in late July (2m), but looks a doubtful stayer.

Form: 5-62545

Miss Clyro^t,v²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: L Heard| T: R J Price| OR: 84

66/1

Her pedigree suggests that she could potentially win races, but we've seen no obvious signs of ability on the track so far. A maiden in point-to-points, she's shown nothing in three starts under rules and makes her handicap debut from a lowly mark.

Form: 4/PP-008

Cosmic Diamond^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: G Sheehan| T: P R Webber| OR: 83| C

20/1

Off the mark over a slightly shorter trip here early last month when beating Shrubland by a neck. Raised 4lb and tailed off on her next start at Chepstow, and that effort needs firmly left in the past.

Form: 844-210

Xhale²³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 81

7/1

A ten race maiden (0 from 6 over hurdles). Has left Caroline Bailey since his last start in March, and this in-form trainer could improve him, but probably not for today despite a sliding mark.

Form: F09539-

L'Es Fremantle⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: M C Chapman| OR: 60

150/1

A 36 race maiden who looks devoid of ability, and has no chance whatsoever from well out of the handicap.

Form: P-67505

Forecasts

Cheltenam De Vaige (11/8), Uncle Percy (6/1), Xhale (7/1), Bohernagore (10/1), Mariners Moon (11/1), Polarbrook (16/1), Cosmic Diamond (20/1), Occasionally Yours (22/1), Next Level (25/1), Phare Isle (25/1), Onehelluvatouch (33/1), West To Crossgales (33/1), Free Bounty (50/1), Miss Clyro (66/1), L'Es Fremantle (150/1)

A low grade contest in which precious few of the field make any obvious appeal. Fergal O'Brien has his string in rude health, and CHELTENAM DE VAIGE made a pleasing start for the stable over 2m at Plumpton last month when narrowly beaten by Kenyan. He is still a maiden, and has been raised 4lb, but his previous form suggests that he stays this trip, and the combination of a flat track and quick ground will be helpful in that regard, so he's the most obvious play in a poor race. Should he be found wanting for whatever reason, the first time cheek-pieced Uncle Percy is best placed to pick up the pieces.