16:00 Cheltenham

Sunday 19 November 2017

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

High Sheriff Of Gloucestershire's Standard Open NH Flat Race (Listed)

Off time: 16:04 | Winning time: 4m 5.7s

Air Navigator²⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George

4/1

Won his only bumper to date at Exeter in February. Off since but the form looks fair with the third and sixth having won races since. Sets the standard here and no surprise to see him make it 2/2.

Form: 1-

Ballygomartin¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

8/1

Pulled-up in his sole point-to-point but made amends when winning a Bangor bumper on his debut under rules last time. Beat a 6/5 favourite there so commands respect in this tougher race.

Form: P1

Crooks Peak³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

4/1

Won at Newton Abbott on debut last month when winning well. That looks to have been a weak affair but that's not say he's not up to winning a slightly stronger bumper.

Form: 1

Lisdoonvarna Lad²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon

16/1

Beaten into second by Skidoosh on debut last time, though not by all that far. Still difficult to see him turning that form round here in a tougher race.

Form: 2

Mahlervous²⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex

25/1

Well-beaten when finishing fourth on debut at Warwick in April, off since and a big step forward is going to be needed here for him to land a blow.

Form: 4-

Rio Quinto¹⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Ian Popham| T: O Murphy

25/1

Placed in two point-to-points and makes his debut both under rules and for this trainer today. Needs to improve on his form from points to seriously pose a threat here.

Form: 3-2

Sizing Cusimano

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Cooper| T: C L Tizzard

11/1

Midnight Legend gelding, a €100,000 purchase as a 3yo and a brother to Meet the Legend. Well-bred and worth a check in the market for all that this is a challenging introduction for him.

Form:

Skidoosh²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| D

6/1

Won his only previous start in a bumper at 22/1 at Worcester last month. More needed now but every chance he could progress to get competitive in this.

Form: 1

Vocarium¹⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: Peter Fahey| D

3/1

Has acquitted himself well in three bumpers so far including when just behind subsequent Listed winner Ainsi Va La Vie last time. That form reads well and should be capable of mounting another bold bid.

Form: 1-22

Woulduadamandeveit¹⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner

25/1

Clear second on debut at Stratford last time but always held by the winner and needs to progress quickly from that run if he is to trouble to principle contenders here.

Form: 2

Non-Runners

Mount Batur¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: F O'Brien J: Conor Shoemark

Rockery Garden¹¹¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: F O'Brien J: Charlie Deutsch

Forecasts

Vocarium (3/1), Crooks Peak (4/1), Air Navigator (4/1), Skidoosh (6/1), Ballygomartin (8/1), Sizing Cusimano (11/1), Lisdoonvarna Lad (16/1), Rockery Garden (16/1), Woulduadamandeveit (25/1), Mahlervous (25/1), Rio Quinto (25/1), Mount Batur (25/1)

A good role of honour for this Listed prize with the likes of Rock On Ruby, Definitly Red and Ballyandy having captured it in previous years, and perhaps VOCARIUM can add his name to that group here. He has won once and finished second twice in his three bumpers so far, but one of those second placed finishes was to a subsequent Listed winner, and it's interesting that Peter Fahey has sent him over for this. Other previous winners to note here include Air Navigator and Skidoosh.