16:25 Cheltenham

Wednesday 18 April 2018

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:30

Safran Landing Systems Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 5m 53.10s

The Tourard Man¹⁷²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Kevin Dowling⁽⁷⁾| T: A King| OR: 147| D

40/1

Fair overall strike-rate but needs to step up on his performances last time out, when 11th over C&D back in October.

Form: 481-610

Josses Hill^p⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145

16/1

Has lost his way somewhat since winning the 2016 Peterborough Chase, though the return to hurdling may suit him off a 5lb lower mark.

Form: 3-625P4

Taj Badalandabad^t,v³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 138| D

11/1

Placed in the Pertemps final when last seen, at this course during the Festival. That was possibly a career-best effort though the ground does ask a small question of him.

Form: 9-7P104

Whataknight^t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 137| D

7/1

Recent solid efforts have come in better races than this, but he's only won one handicap hurdle despite a constantly sinking mark.

Form: 372787

Steely Addition¹⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| D

11/1

Hat-trick seeker who is up markedly in the weights after a wide margin win at Chepstow last time. Unexposed and could improve again to operate off this mark, with this trip likely to suit.

Form: 334-F11

Head To The Stars¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 135

11/1

Knocking at the door recently with three consecutive second placed finishes. Still 13lb higher than his most recent winning mark, though does have a previous win on similar ground to this.

Form: 651222

Station Master⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 135| D

20/1

Outclassed in a Grade 2 at Doncaster last time, but this looks a much more suitable level for his handicap debut and he has some good form from novice hurdles.

Form: 1-13116

Coup De Pinceau^p⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135

12/1

Finally off the mark over hurdles at Musselburgh last time out in good style. 10lb higher than when only sixth on handicap debut at this course back in November is a concern.

Form: 12-2621

King Of Realms⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 133

15/2

Off the mark over hurdles at Doncaster last time and steps up in trip again here. No reason he shouldn't run well as long as he proves he stays this far.

Form: 130-221

Buckle Street^p,t⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 133| D

16/1

Has a couple of excellent races over staying trips on a sounder surface this season, so should relish conditions here. On a career-high mark but seems progressive.

Form: 6513U1

Clondaw Native^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 133| D

16/1

Ascot maiden hurdle winner back in December but handicap form so far hasn't been at the required standard for a race as tough as this one.

Form: 432138

Terry The Fish¹³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 133

33/1

Handicapper has looked well and truly in charge over his last few starts and on the same mark as when being pulled up at Sandown last time he is left with too many questions to answer.

Form: 11124P

Premier Bond^p⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132| D

25/1

Has generally looked better over fences than hurdles, but hasn't impressed over either obstacles of late and needs a revival now.

Form: 113P-P0

Slim Pickens²³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 132| BF

66/1

In the first three in all six starts since returning from a break around a year ago. This is the toughest test yet but he may be able to overcome a mark marginally higher than his most recent winning rating.

Form: 122213

Rocky's Treasure⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 132| D

28/1

Has found a mark of 134 too testing on his last few starts, and now just dropped a couple of pounds it's difficult to see him stepping up and troubling the best of these.

Form: 411-3PP

Oh Land Abloom³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: N B King| OR: 132

50/1

Only win so far this season came in a much weaker race than this back in October at Plumpton, but still higher in the handicap and is far from the most reliable.

Form: 2-01462

As I See It³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: N P Madden| T: H Fry| OR: 130

33/1

Makes his handicap debut here having narrowly gotten off the mark at Huntingdon last time but clearly stays this far. Stable form is a mild concern, however.

Form: 1-54231

Bryden Boy^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 128| D

50/1

Not the most frequent of winners and would almost certainly be seen to better effect on a more testing surface than what's forecast here.

Form: 5-54427

Calipso Collonges^h,t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 127

12/1

Has won all four starts for this yard so far, and though up another 17lb he won with any amount in hand at Haydock last time and could easily be good enough for this mark.

Form: 581111

Lithic^p⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126

25/1

Fell over fences last time out but has a good record over hurdles, including a second placed finish here. Interesting now over this longer trip over the smaller obstacles for the first time.

Form: F1332F

Crystal Lad⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 125

16/1

Reverts to hurdles having been racing over fences so far this season. Rated 3lb higher over these obstacles and hasn't been showing his best form this campaign.

Form: 0-55334

Monbeg Theatre^p,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Page Fuller⁽⁵⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 125

20/1

Hasn't won since November 2014 when winning a novice hurdle and yet to get off the mark in handicaps, but has had an interrupted career and ran fairly well at Kempton last time out.

Form: 3/F2P23

Linenhall⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 124

16/1

Only three starts over hurdles so far and was outclassed in a Grade 2 last time out. This isn't as high on quality but is still competitive and he needs to improve on what he's shown.

Form: 435-125

Non-Runners

Protek Des Flos³⁴

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: N J Henderson J: B J Geraghty

Forecasts

Whataknight (7/1), King Of Realms (15/2), Taj Badalandabad (11/1), Steely Addition (11/1), Head To The Stars (11/1), Coup De Pinceau (12/1), Calipso Collonges (12/1), Clondaw Native (16/1), Crystal Lad (16/1), Buckle Street (16/1), Linenhall (16/1), Josses Hill (16/1), Monbeg Theatre (20/1), Station Master (20/1), Protek Des Flos (20/1), Lithic (25/1), Premier Bond (25/1), Rocky's Treasure (28/1), Terry The Fish (33/1), As I See It (33/1), The Tourard Man (40/1), Oh Land Abloom (50/1), Bryden Boy (50/1), Slim Pickens (66/1)

A predictably competitive affair, where Taj Badalandabad could build on a good run in the Pertemps Final but might not have his ideal ground, while Josses Hill could be suited by the return to hurdles. Preference, though is for CALIPSO COLLONGES. Olly Murphy's representative has been fiercely progressive for this yard so far, and though he has shot up the weights once again he won as he liked last time and could step up again to go close here. Steely Addition and Monbeg Theatre could also be on the premises.