16:10 Cheltenham

Saturday 27 January 2018

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

Steel Plate And Sections Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 31.9s

Remiluc^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Reed⁽⁷⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 139| BF

20/1

Unlucky not to get a win this season but he's been a victim of his own consistency and there's likely to be better-handicapped sorts in the line up here. Return to hurdles will suit and not without each-way claims for a yard in flying form.

Form: 4U3222

Zaidiyn¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 135| D

20/1

Progressive over hurdles in 2016 but not been seen much since. There's a chance he will come on for his latest start at Wetherby and back on his last winning mark so can't be ruled out.

Form: 34417/5

Clondaw Castle¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 134

7/2

Point-to-point winner who won on debut for this yard in a Stratford bumper. Has made a promising start to his hurdles career and improved again to win a 14 runner event at Kelso by 4L last time. Still unexposed and more to come.

Form: 118-131

Huntsman Son²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 133

8/1

Dual point-to-point winner who has been progressive over hurdles this campaign. May have found the ground too testing at Newbury last time out and worth giving another chance to with top conditional booked.

Form: 13-2114

Our Merlin²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: R Walford| OR: 127

10/1

Rattled off a hat-trick towards the back end of 2017 and not beaten far by a potential smart sort at Sandown last time out despite a hefty hike in the weights. Not unnoticed by the handicapper but still improving and could run well.

Form: 6F1112

Le Patriote¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 127

2/1

French import who won two of his seven starts in France. Ran well in the Lanzarote on yard/GB debut but will need to come on for that effort.

Form: 61-5897

Robin Of Locksley¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 125

33/1

Impressive when landing a selling hurdle last time out but plenty more needed back in a handicap as competitive as this and official mark looks stiff.

Form: 5-2P341

Eddiemaurice³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: J L Flint| OR: 125

25/1

Landed a Class 2 at Ascot last year and got back to form with a good second last time out at Kempton. Still above his highest winning mark but capable of running well.

Form: 93-P442

Litterale Ci³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: B J Geraghty| T: H Fry| OR: 122

5/1

Won a Lady Amateur Rider's race at Ludlow last time and form of that race has been boosted since with the third winning well at Fakenham. Handicap mark still looks workable despite the 7lb rise in the weights and ought to go well again.

Form: 242-41

Dino Velvet¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 121

9/1

One win from 10 starts since moving to this trainer and followed up a 2016 Sandown win with some respectable placed efforts. Seemingly lost his way recently though and no real encouraging signs at Kempton last time out.

Form: 228-550

Birch Hill^t⁴⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: James Best| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 120| D

66/1

Pulled-up in hat-trick bid when last seen in 2016 and likely to need this run after a significant absence. Betting market likely to be informative.

Form: 329/11P-

Non-Runners

Viserion¹⁴

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: D McCain Jnr J: W T Kennedy

Forecasts

Le Patriote (2/1), Clondaw Castle (7/2), Litterale Ci (5/1), Huntsman Son (8/1), Dino Velvet (9/1), Our Merlin (10/1), Viserion (12/1), Remiluc (20/1), Zaidiyn (20/1), Eddiemaurice (25/1), Robin Of Locksley (33/1), Birch Hill (66/1)

LITTERALE CI may be able to follow up her Ludlow win last time with Barry Geraghty taking over in the saddle and the form of that win has received a boost since. It's not ideal that Our Merlin has gone up 4lb for not winning but he's capable of giving another good account, particularly if he settles better in the early stages. Trainer Chris Gordon is in excellent form and Remiluc is a relaint type who may be able to hang on for a place.