188Bet Best Priced Mullins Cheltenham Wednesday 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 32.9s

Drums Of War^p1⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 103

8/1

Fair effort when runner-up at Musselburgh in December but appeared to get stuck in the mud at Kelso last time. Similar ground expected here is a concern, but first-time cheekpieces may help the cause.

Form: 4-37624

Pronto Tonto³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: C R King| T: T D Easterby| OR: 102

13/2

Hasn't shown much in three runs in novice hurdles but shrewd yard may be able to exploit lowly rating in modest company on handicap debut. Any sign of market confidence would be significant.

Form: 987

Beau Sancy^b,h,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 99

12/1

Unplaced in all eight career starts and hopes rest on the addition of first-time blinkers sparking a change of heart. Has plenty to prove.

Form: 996470

Handy Hollow³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 97

5/2

Showed fair form in two bumpers last term and made fair start over timber in the autumn. Stopped quickly though on first run after short break at Huntingdon last month but has prospects on earlier efforts.

Form: 223386

Strike West²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 94

7/2

10-race maiden. Not disgraced on penultimate start at Wetherby but weakened quickly after 3 out back there in heavy ground last time. Dropped 6lb in the weights and not totally ruled out of contention.

Form: 3-86U48

Rapid Fritz^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 79

14/1

24-race maiden who pulled up last time over fences. 10lb lower than only piece of form when sixth at Hexham in the autumn but on balance isn't one to place your faith in.

Form: 86F86P

Simply Business^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: David England| T: S England| OR: 74

3/1

Three runs since joining current trainer and latest was some improvement having run badly first two outings. In a poor race, despite being 3lb out of the handicap, she wouldn't be without a chance.

Form: 47P6P4

Forecasts

Handy Hollow (5/2), Simply Business (3/1), Strike West (7/2), Pronto Tonto (13/2), Drums Of War (8/1), Beau Sancy (12/1), Rapid Fritz (14/1)

This is a very modest contest and a chance is taken that Tim Easterby's handicap debutant PRONTO TONTO can show improved form having not really been sighted in three fair novice hurdles so far. Drums of War has claims on his second place at Musselburgh but ran badly in heavy ground last time so is hard to predict. Handy Hollow and Strike West have bits and pieces of form that stack up in this company, and the mare Simply Business is not totally out of it off a light weight.