15:10 Cheltenham

Monday 1 January 2018

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 5m 18.0s

Agrapart⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Lizzie Kelly| T: Nick Williams| OR: 150| CD

4/1

Smart hurdler when conditions are right and scored his first win outside of handicap company when landing this contest last year. Down the field in the World Hurdle and a similar story in France this term but gets his ground today at least.

Form: 4139-77

Anteros^t,v1¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 132| C| D

40/1

Course winner and very consistent sort but proved no match for some less exposed rivals here last time when fifth of 11. Hung under pressure that day so first-time visor may help but others arrive with stronger claims.

Form: 8-32F25

Old Guard¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| C

9/2

Smart effort in the International Hurdle here last time, finishing a close fifth and clearly enjoys this course. Grade 1 winning jockey not able to claim her usual 5lb here and probably a better horse on faster ground but not ruled out.

Form: 7-71315

Wholestone³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 155| CD

9/4

Returned with a smart effort at Chepstow and would have a chance on the solid second he produced behind Colin's Sister at Wetherby in November. Not himself at Newbury last time but capable of better and the type to bounce back.

Form: 113-426

Qualando^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: A E Jones| OR: 137| C

66/1

Returned with a respectable effort at Uttoxeter over fences but disappointing on two subsequent starts, pulled up at Sandown before a well beaten ninth of 10 here last time out. Questions to answer at present and looks a little out of his depth.

Form: 522-2P9

Rayvin Black^v¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Garner| T: O Sherwood| OR: 135| BF

28/1

Nearly always gives his running and he can be a tough front-runner to crack but losing streak starting to mount up now and this no easier than any of his recent assignments. Gets conditions in his favour at least.

Form: 257-522

Royal Vacation^b,t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 147| C| D

12/1

Grade 1 winner at Kempton on Boxing Day 2016 and followed up here on Trial's Day a month later. Pulled up on two subsequent efforts last season though and same story when last seen at Newbury. Questions to answer returned to this sphere.

Form: 11PP-3P

Colin's Sister³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 142| D

9/4

Progressive mare who got the better of Wholestone at Wetherby earlier in the season. Perhaps best to draw a line through a muddling contest at Newbury last time and drop back in trip no inconvenience; leading claims.

Form: 1115-14

Forecasts

Wholestone (9/4), Colin's Sister (9/4), Agrapart (4/1), Old Guard (9/2), Royal Vacation (12/1), Rayvin Black (28/1), Anteros (40/1), Qualando (66/1)

Last year's winner Agrapart lines up again but it's fair to say he doesn't arrive in quite the same form after some disappointing efforts in France. COLIN'S SISTER may be the one to side with and she can confirm the Wetherby form with Wholestone who was a little out of sorts when last seen but is the type to bounce back. Old Guard can't be ruled out but there's a suspicion that conditions have gone against him here.