15:00 Cheltenham

Saturday 27 January 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Ballymore Classic Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 5m 24.30s

Slate House³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 143| C

9/1

Point-to-point winner who has won twice here already this season and not at his best at Ascot last time, over-racing in the early stages. Definite chance if he settles better and has shaped like he'll get this longer trip.

Form: 5/1-114

Tikkanbar²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 144| CD

6/1

Dual bumper winner and followed up a facile success at Plumpton on hurdles debut with a dominant display here last time. Room for improvement as far as his jumping is concerned but in good hands and acts on the track. Interesting runner.

Form: 2110-11

Aye Aye Charlie²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

16/1

Bumper winner who made a promising start to his hurdles career with a good third at Aintree in October. Work to do to turn the form around with Tikkanbar from last time though (defeated by 8L).

Form: 614-3F4

Black Op^t1¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: T R George| OR: 137

8/1

Good fourth of hurdles debut at Newbury and followed up in good style when making all at Doncaster. This looks tougher but more improvement to come and gets a first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 1/19-41

De Rasher Counter¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 124

20/1

Point-to-point winner who has improved steadily over hurdles this campaign and gained his first success at Fontwell last time in heavy ground. Plenty more on his plate here though and others preferred.

Form: 11-3521

Fairmount⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: M KeighleyWS

50/1

Wide margin Ffos Las winner on second start over hurdles, making all and keeping on well. Others bring plenty stronger form to the table though and needs to improve. Has had a wind op since last run.

Form: 5361

Mulcahys Hill²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 147| D

11/4

Followed up a Stratford bumper win with a win at Ffos Las on seasonal debut over hurdles. Didn't look straightforward in his follow-up bid last time (flashed tail) but that was a Grade 1 contest and this possibly easier. Should go well.

Form: 1/27-112

Pacific De Baune³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

4/1

Good effort in finishing runner-up in a point-to-point at Durrow and purchased for £60,000 subsequently. Impressive when drawing clear of his rivals on Rules debut at Newbury last time and third has come out and won since. Leading player.

Form: 2-1

Santini⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

4/1

Point-to-point winner who beat a subsequent dual winner on his hurdle/stable debut at Newbury. A chaser in the making, but he's clearly talented. Second-string on jockey bookings though.

Form: 1-1

Forecasts

Mulcahys Hill (11/4), Santini (4/1), Pacific De Baune (4/1), Tikkanbar (6/1), Black Op (8/1), Slate House (9/1), Aye Aye Charlie (16/1), De Rasher Counter (20/1), Fairmount (50/1)

A competitive affair with some classy sorts who have created taking impressions already. None more so than PACIFIC DE BAUNE who won in impressive fashion on Rules debut and the form of that race has been boosted subsequently. Mulcahys Hill wasn't beaten far in a Grade 1 last time out and should carry on progressing. Tikkanbar and Slate House are two runners to keep an eye on at likely bigger odds but both do have to concede weight to the rest of the field and that could prove telling in a tight contest.