13:30 Cheltenham
Tuesday 13 March 2018
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 4YO plus | Class 1 | 2m 87y | Heavy (Soft in places) | 19 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 13:32 | Winning time: 4m 5.00s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Third in the Champion Bumper here last season and made a promising start over hurdles with Newbury and Ascot wins before below par prep run at Musselburgh. Represents Seven Barrows and is the type to bounce back.
Runner-up in last season's Champion Bumper here, hasn't won in two starts over hurdles but far from disgraced behind Samcro at Leopardstown last month (2m, soft) in Grade 1. May improve again.
Progressing nicely over the winter and perfect three from three over hurdles without being asked any hard questions. Twice won on heavy already and a lively player if forecast rings true.
Represents trainer with terrific record in this contest and chosen by stable jockey. Very impressive last time at Punchestown when dispatching Mengli Khan by 9L to win Moscow Flyer. Goes in testing ground, though slight concern running left-handed.
Won a couple of minor events at Cartmel and Perth late last summer over 2m, should handle conditions but tailed off here over 2m5f in November when last spotted over timber in a handicap (rated 132). Has a lot to work on.
Progressing with each of his four runs, despite going down 4L to Summerville Boy in Tolworth at Sandown in January. Last month's victory in Newbury's competitive Betfair Hurdle most impressive and will have fast-tracked his education.
Maiden hurdle winner at Newbury in December over this trip on soft ground, no match for First Flow at Haydock in heavy-ground trial for this in January however and needs major improvement to land a blow.
Looked to be going places when winning 2m soft-ground Fairyhouse Grade 1 in December. Ran out at Leopardstown next time and well beaten by Getabird since. Tongue-tie called for representing last year's winning trainer/jockey combo.
Winner of a decent maiden on yielding ground over 2m at Leopardstown over Christmas, he wasn't disgraced when around 9L behind Samcro last time out in 2m Grade 1 on soft. Has enough about him to get involved.
Won a modest Newcastle novice event over 2m1f on good ground in September, disappointing in both hurdles runs since, including when tailed off at Kempton in November in Listed event. Seemingly here to take in the atmosphere.
Was travelling like the winner in Leopardstown Grade 1 over Christmas when coming down at the last, unsurprisingly failed to fire back there last month in race dominated by Ballymore-bound Samcro. Not disgraced and bounce-back more than possible.
Landed a maiden hurdle at Taunton in November over 2m3f but hasn't progressed in two runs and limitations seemingly exposed at Kempton in Grade 2 last month. Should handle cut in the ground.
Has run well without winning in three starts over timber, including narrow defeat in last month's Musselburgh trial for this contest (Claimantakinforgan third). Has improvement to find to be in the mix amongst this stellar field.
Promising start over hurdles included November success here (Summerville Boy behind) before going down to Claimantakinforgan in Ascot Grade 2. Perhaps found 2m4f beyond his liking here in January and could bounce back over reduced trip.
Closely matched with a few of these before career-best when running out 4L winner of the Tolworth at Sandown in January from Kalashnikov despite rider losing iron late on. Given how that rival performed next time out, merits serious consideration.
Beat Trainwreck at Punchestown in November before finishing fair second in four-runner Limerick Grade 3 (2m, heavy) at Christmas. Conditions in favour and proven in a big field, but plenty improvement needed on what he's achieved so far.
Promising early in the season but questions to answer now. No match for Summerville Boy and Kalashnikov at Sandown in January and runner-up in Listed 2m3½f Huntingdon contest en route here.
Talented mare on her day, as evidenced with 9L success in Listed Mares' contest at Newbury in December. No match for the boys over longer trip back there in Challow and beaten fair and square in Doncaster Grade 2 against her own sex since.
Well beaten all three starts over timber so far, latest in 2m heavy-ground Fairyhouse maiden in January having gone off favourite. No apparent reason for dramatic turnaround now.
Non-Runners
16
Trainwreck37
Weight: 11-7| Age: 6
T: H De Bromhead J: Sean Flanagan
NR
Forecasts
Getabird (11/8), Kalashnikov (4/1), Summerville Boy (7/1), Mengli Khan (10/1), Claimantakinforgan (10/1), Paloma Blue (12/1), First Flow (12/1), Sharjah (14/1), Slate House (20/1), Western Ryder (25/1), Simply The Betts (33/1), Us And Them (33/1), Lostintranslation (50/1), Debuchet (50/1), Dame Rose (50/1), Shoal Bay (66/1), Trainwreck (66/1), Khudha (100/1), Golden Jeffrey (150/1), Saxo Jack (200/1)
Getabird is sure to be popular in his bid to hand the Mullins/Walsh axis another win in this race. He was impressive in seeing off Mengli Khan last time but doesn't have the star appeal of some former winners from the yard and is opposable. Gordon Elliott's charge meanwhile has some damage to repair, but isn't written off. KALASHNIKOV was very impressive in stringing out some seasoned performers at Newbury last month and that experience is going to stand him in good stead. He deserves the vote on the strength of that win. Summerville Boy is clearly a danger, while First Flow and Debuchet could run well.
- Kalashnikov
- Summerville Boy
- Getabird
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £71,188.002nd: £26,712.003rd: £13,375.004th: £6,662.005th: £3,350.006th: £1,675.00
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