15:30 Cheltenham

Thursday 15 March 2018

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

The Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 6m 20.40s

Bacardys⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| BF| D

14/1

Smart in bumpers and over hurdles, he looks to have his chasing career curtailed for now to switch back to hurdles. Still very much unexposed as a staying hurdler and it should be remembered that he's a Grade 1 winner over hurdles.

Form: 11P1-3F

L'Ami Serge^h⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 159| BF

14/1

Failed to take advantage of a lenient mark over fences last time and returns to hurdles. Has won at this level in France but suspicion he will come up short here; travels well but can find little off the bridle and hard to win with.

Form: 1-21223

Lil Rockerfeller^p⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 160| BF

33/1

Tough sort who posted a career best in this last year. His subsequent runs haven't proved as good although a return to this trip will help. Showed his well-being at Fontwell last time over shorter and could give a good account at a decent price.

Form: 420-316

Penhill³²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| BF| CD

12/1

Built on a solid Flat career over hurdles going from strength-to-strength and producing his best performance when winning last year's Albert Bartlett. Only seen once since then so will have a long absence and testing conditions to overcome.

Form: 114112-

Sam Spinner⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 139| D

9/4

New kid on the staying block this year, he's made rapid strides in staying contests, graduating out of handicap company at Ascot in December. Tough and genuine sort who finds plenty for pressure and a leading contender as he faces his biggest test.

Form: 211-211

Supasundae⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 159| C

6/1

Proved himself at the Festival (won Coral Cup last year) and has continued to progress in graded events since. Produced a career best to win the Irish Champion Hurdle (2m) last time but proven as a stayer; has a touch of class and much respected.

Form: 412-321

The New One⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 163| C

18/1

Champion Hurdle regular and a high class hurdler, connections now decide to change tack and try him over further. Never tried over this far but does have plenty of form around here and his class may be enough to see him there in the closing stages.

Form: 4-14221

The Worlds End⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 149

33/1

Progressed well over staying trips making up for a Festival fall when scoring in a similar race at Aintree. So far hasn't managed to quite bridge the gap to this level but ran with credit here last time and may yet do better if the ground dries up.

Form: 1F1-844

Unowhatimeanharry^t⁸²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 167| BF| CD

8/1

Improved dramatically when first joining this stable, winning eight in a row including a Festival success. Placed in this contest last year but he's not quite been at his best of late and has work to do with Sam Spinner on their Ascot run.

Form: 131-123

Wholestone⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 155| CD

14/1

Consistent sort who has run well here before winning over 2m4f on his penultimate start. However he may not quite stay this far despite the fact that he travels well and acts on this track; merits consideration for the places.

Form: 3-42612

Yanworth⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: A King| OR: 163| C

6/1

Victorious against Supersundae last year over a staying trip at Aintree that capped a fine season over hurdles. Tried over fences this year (won twice) but not really taken to that sphere and reverts to hurdles; a big chance of landing this prize.

Form: D1-1F21

Augusta Kate⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143

20/1

One of four runners for this yard, she is a Grade 1 winner in the past and looks to have her career back on track now after a couple of disappointments. Career best effort last time (lost out to a stronger stayer); may be better against her own sex.

Form: 615-642

Colin's Sister⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 142| BF| D

33/1

Beat Wholestone earlier in the season highlighting her progressive nature although her career has gone sideways rather than forwards since then. Stays well and deserves to take her chance here but the Mares' Hurdle may have been a better option.

Form: 15-1433

Let's Dance^p1⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| BF| C

33/1

Smart hurdler and already a Festival winner, she bounced back from a bad fall to show her best at Leopardstown on her penultimate start. Turned in a poor effort last time out when tried over 3m for the first time; more than lack of stamina to blame.

Form: 124-F15

Non-Runners

Old Guard⁷³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Apple's Jade⁷⁷

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Forecasts

Sam Spinner (9/4), Supasundae (6/1), Yanworth (6/1), Unowhatimeanharry (8/1), Penhill (12/1), Apple's Jade (12/1), Wholestone (14/1), L'Ami Serge (14/1), Bacardys (14/1), The New One (18/1), Augusta Kate (20/1), Colin's Sister (33/1), The Worlds End (33/1), Lil Rockerfeller (33/1), Let's Dance (33/1), Old Guard (33/1)

A strong renewal with plenty that can be given a chance of taking this prize with the vote going to SUPERSUNDAE to follow up his 2017 Coral Cup win having shown plenty of class and versatility of late. Sam Spinner and Yanworth will prove worthy adversaries though the former could still be improving while the latter is closely matched with the selection on their Aintree running last season returned to hurdles. The New One would be a popular winner on his first try at the trip with Unowhatimeanharry bidding to go two better than last year. If there is to be a relative upset then the unexposed Barcardys could be the one to provide it.