15:30 Cheltenham

Saturday 18 November 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

Martin & Co Jewellers Intermediate Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 5m 25.80s

Ahead of The Curve^p,t⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 137| BF

25/1

Consistent sort who has earned this high mark with a string of good efforts. Stays further than this, but is not devoid of pace and is likely to be in the mix.

Form: 1-21212

Seymour Star²³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: A Ralph| OR: 137| D

33/1

Good progress to win three hurdles contests earlier this year. Has been off the track since March, however, and needs to defy his absence and much higher mark.

Form: 3/65111-

Coole Cody^h,t⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Blake| OR: 136

25/1

Three wins from eight starts over hurdles, including in last two at Newton Abbot. Has been raised 10lb which presents him with quite a task.

Form: 2F12-11

Runyon Rattler³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 133

25/1

Irish challenger who was far from disgraced when fifth of 22 at Punchestown last time. The services of a top 7lb claimer have been secured so he looks a strong contender off a viable mark.

Form: 572-215

Red Indian¹⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 133

5/1

Ran into a hugely-progressive rival who is now rated 25lb higher when second at Warwick in May. Returns from a break, but fitness is not expected to be an issue and he looks a leading contender.

Form: 1/312-2

Diable De Sivola⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 132

7/1

Returned from a break to finish second to a horse who won again at Bangor this week. His fifth in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival reads well and he looks sure to be thereabouts.

Form: 23235-2

Golden Jeffrey¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 132

33/1

Has won two of his five hurdles races and tries his luck in a handicap for the first time. Considered, but not as convincing as others.

Form: 1F1142

Poker Play^t²⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 131

7/1

Well behind on his last start in the Fred Winter, and had previously been beaten at odds-on when making his first appearance for this stable. Will have been primed for this, but needs to take a step forward.

Form: 2120-

Mischievious Max¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 130

14/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick in August, but has had to settle for the runner-up berth in three subsequent starts. Has gone up 6lb following those runs and will find it hard to defy this mark in a competitive race.

Form: 421222

Follow The Bear²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130

9/1

Successful in a Kempton novice hurdle in May, but was beaten at 14-1 ON at Southwell in May before finishing third on his latest start at Worcester last month. Runs off the same mark and has plenty to do.

Form: 1/23-123

The Mighty Don²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: N J Gifford| OR: 128| BF

7/1

Well held in two starts since winning a novice hurdle at Fakenham in February. Seemed to need the run at this track on the latest of them and may do better with the champion jockey on board.

Form: 12219-7

Stamp Your Feet^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Geraghty| T: T R George| OR: 128

7/1

No disgrace in defeat at the hands of subsequent scorer Bags Groove at Aintree last month and now races off 5lb higher. Boasts solid form before that run, too, and is one to consider given positive jockey booking.

Form: 4315-42

Coup De Pinceau²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 125

8/1

Dual bumper winner who has finished runner-up on both outings over hurdles. Interesting that top trainer pitches him into a handicap so quickly and he is certainly worth a market check.

Form: 1/12-2

Quarenta²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125| D

22/1

Seemed to find 3m too far on his last start at this track, but had previously won well over this distance at Warwick. Races off 6lb higher, but is not ruled out.

Form: P-23210

Vivas^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 121

12/1

Finished 10 lengths behind the winner when runner-up over C&D last time and has been raised 1lb. Should be competitive, but is more exposed than several of his rivals.

Form: 1568-12

Perfect Summer⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 109

25/1

Winner of three hurdles races who ran well on the Flat when third at Ascot in October. Switches back to timber with each-way prospects.

Form: 3/11133-

Non-Runners

Robin The Raven²⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: K Bailey & M Nicholls J: David Bass

Forecasts

Red Indian (5/1), Diable De Sivola (7/1), Poker Play (7/1), The Mighty Don (7/1), Stamp Your Feet (7/1), Coup De Pinceau (8/1), Follow The Bear (9/1), Vivas (12/1), Mischievious Max (14/1), Robin The Raven (20/1), Quarenta (22/1), Coole Cody (25/1), Perfect Summer (25/1), Runyon Rattler (25/1), Ahead of The Curve (25/1), Golden Jeffrey (33/1), Seymour Star (33/1)

Lots of these have claims, including Quarenta, The Mighty Don, Coup De Pinceau, Vivas and Ahead Of The Curve, but the four to make most appeal are Runyon Rattler, Stamp Your Feet, Diable De Sivola and RED INDIAN. The latter is lightly raced over hurdles, but has already produced a level of form which suggests he could rate higher in time.