188Bet Best Priced Mullins Cheltenham Wednesday Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 6m 56.7s

Ballyheigue Bay^p,t²³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: Harry Reed| T: C Gordon| OR: 127| CD

4/1

Winner over C&D in January and followed up at Ascot dropped n trip since having been raised 5lb. Bit more on plate, but goes well here and won this last year.

Form: 7-73F11

Pop Rockstar^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123

9/2

Couple of easy wins at Haydock and Wetherby in December on testing ground over this sort of trip prompted handicapper to dish out a 13lb rise. Duly held next time at Ascot, in grips of assessor for now.

Form: 2-82117

Tambura²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr Zac Baker⁽⁵⁾| T: G C Maundrell| OR: 120| CD

7/1

Back to form last month last month when scoring for this rider in 3m heavy-ground handicap hurdle, taking advantage of fallen mark. Interesting to see if he builds on that effort now back up.

Form: P-44551

Clondaw Bisto^b1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 112| C

4/1

Best effort since winning a bumper came when finishing fourth over an extended 2m7f at Ascot (soft) last time out. Wears blinkers for the first time today.

Form: 4-04364

Sandhurst Lad^p,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 112| C

3/1

Inconsistent, but won narrowly here (2m4f) on seasonal return. Twice had to settle for second here since turn of the year over C&D. Turn may be coming again soon.

Form: 53-1022

Amberjam^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁷⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 111| D

5/1

Rewarded for consistent start to 2018 when landing Huntingdon handicap over this trip off mark of 105 last month. No reason not to be in the mix once more.

Form: P-2P221

Forecasts

Sandhurst Lad (3/1), Ballyheigue Bay (4/1), Clondaw Bisto (4/1), Pop Rockstar (9/2), Amberjam (5/1), Tambura (7/1)

BALLYHEIGUE BOY took this contest a year ago and returns in excellent fettle for his bid to retain. He won over C&D in January and scored again subsequently at Ascot. The latest rating hike makes things a bit tougher, but he could be up to it. Pop Rockstar was behind him at Ascot and can make a contest of this while both Tambura and Sandhurst Lad are entitled to hold claims.