15:10 Cheltenham

Friday 26 October 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Brandon Hill Capital Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 4m 59.40s

Golden Birthday^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 141

40/1

In good form over fences this summer prior to a disappointing effort at Uttoxeter when pulled up. Tailed off on return to this sphere last time and a risky proposition at present.

Form: 1-211P0

Brillare Momento^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: M Keighley| OR: 138| CD

10/1

C&D winner at this meeting last year and shaped like a return to form was imminent at Worcester last time. Chance she will come on for that run here and quick ground looks in her favour.

Form: 84180-3

Mr Antolini²⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138

10/1

Grade 3 winner over 2m at Sandown towards the end of last season and only narrowly denied on season finale at Plumpton last time. Yard have started well and shouldn't be ruled out on return.

Form: 631212-

And The New^h²⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: J Farrelly| OR: 135| BF

10/1

Gained a first win under Rules at Doncaster in January and posted a respectable effort when third of 14 back at that course in a follow up bid. 7lb higher here though and will have to be match fit to play a part on return.

Form: 376/313-

Canton Prince²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 135| D

12/1

Only seen three times last year but made a winning return at Warwick earlier in the month and remains with potential. Will like the ground here and not ruled out from 8lb higher provided there's no "bounce" factor.

Form: P4P/24-1

Fortunate George^v¹⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 134| D

33/1

Had mixed fortunes over fences last season before winning on his return to hurdles at Wincanton. Not in the same form at Aintree on his seasonal finale and may need the run on return.

Form: 517310-

High Expectations⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 133

12/1

Signed off 2017 with a win at Leicester and gained his first success since at Sedgefield last time out. Up 4lb for that and this is more competitive but may still be capable of better.

Form: 1P-4521

Court Minstrel¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 131| C

8/1

Just has one win since 2015 but produced a much more encouraging effort at Chepstow last time when not beaten all that far. Very well-handicapped on old form and can't be ruled out.

Form: 80-0077

Melody Of Scotland³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Geraghty| T: A King| OR: 130| BF

16/1

Looked like a smart prospect this summer but disappointed a little at Plumpton last time when a beaten favourite. Step back up in trip could help though and she's an interesting contender

Form: 2/1-3326

Whatthebutlersaw⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: M D Grant| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 130| D

33/1

Has won three of his last four starts and handicapper was struggling to get hold of him due to narrow margin wins but he's now been shoved up 10lb for his latest success. Probably needs more to defy this mark.

Form: 261/1-21

Water Sprite^t¹²^{(ex 6)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 123

66/1

Bounced back from a couple of disappointing efforts at Limerick last time but looks up against it on these terms and Johnson prefers High Expectations.

Form: 583481

Good Tradition^p³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 128

66/1

A shade inconsistent but he's won three times this season. Typically failed to back up a win at Perth when well beaten at Kelso last time and needs a career best from this sort of handicap mark.

Form: 221417

Lungarno Palace¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Alain Cawley| T: F O'Brien| OR: 127

33/1

Has run well on each of his four starts in this sphere with two wins and two places. Most recently a success at Stratford where he made all. Assessor has given him a chance on handicap debut here.

Form: 13-21

First Assignment²³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: T Scudamore| T: Ian Williams| OR: 125| D

9/2

Point-to-point winner who got off the mark on the third attempt over hurdles two starts back at Huntingdon and ran a huge race at Sandown in a Grade 3 next time. Handicapper has left him on the same mark and should go well.

Form: 1/2413-

Mellow Ben²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 124| BF

20/1

Returned with a win at Fontwell last month but fell in his bid to follow up earlier in the month. Seemingly appreciates fast ground and he's less exposed than plenty in here.

Form: 31-251F

Vive Le Roi¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 124

14/1

Arrives bidding for a hat-trick after two facile wins at Stratford on good ground. Could still be leniently handicapped from his revised mark and has leading claims here.

Form: 532211

Roi De Dubai⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 122

25/1

Has won twice this summer but seemingly struggling from his revised handicap mark on his most recent starts and others preferred in a race this competitive.

Form: 1U6145

Really Super²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 122

20/1

She was a 15-race maiden prior to back to back wins at Worcester but a 7lb rise now in a deeper race probably makes her vulnerable for win purposes here.

Form: 25P-211

Christmas In April¹⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 119| D

7/1

Returned to form with a win at Warwick over this trip last time. form of that race hasn't really been done any favours since though and he looks up against it here.

Form: 35/34P-1

Trans Express¹⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 115

33/1

Won twice last year and all three career wins have come at Exeter, including on seasonal debut. Probably has one in him off this sort of mark but perhaps not in a race this competitive.

Form: 56162-3

Forecasts

First Assignment (9/2), Christmas In April (7/1), Court Minstrel (8/1), Mr Antolini (10/1), And The New (10/1), Brillare Momento (10/1), High Expectations (12/1), Canton Prince (12/1), Vive Le Roi (14/1), Melody Of Scotland (16/1), Mellow Ben (20/1), Really Super (20/1), Roi De Dubai (25/1), Lungarno Palace (33/1), Trans Express (33/1), Whatthebutlersaw (33/1), Fortunate George (33/1), Golden Birthday (40/1), Water Sprite (66/1), Good Tradition (66/1)

It might be worth taking a chance on the veteran COURT MINSTREL after shaping like a return to form was imminent on his most recent start. Vive Le Roi looks well treated on his hat-trick bid while Melody Of Scotland is an unexposed filly who remains capable of better.