15:35 Cheltenham

Friday 16 November 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Hyde Novices' Hurdle)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 5m 8.30s

Percy Veer¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: E McNamara| OR: 133| D

14/1

Looks even better over hurdles than he does on the Flat and won a Listed race at Limerick last month. Couldn't back that up at Cork and may struggle to concede weight to all.

Form: 2-3U115

Captain Peacock²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 130

16/1

Won back-to-back races at Bangor and not beaten far in hat-trick bid at Worcester. Well beaten back at that course last month when last seen but he's better than that and can't be ruled out.

Form: 6P-1128

Coolanly³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 134| BF

4/1

Point-to-point winner who won a bumper on debut for this yard. Couldn't cut it at Grade 1 level at the Festivals and fell when favourite on seasonal return but probably not one to write off just yet.

Form: 1/1205-F

Darlac²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard

7/2

Improved from his bumper run to win a maiden hurdle at Fontwell in good style. Completely unexposed and while this is a big step up in class, his trainer is not the type to tilt at windmills. Champion Jockey takes the ride.

Form: 5/27-1

Double Treasure^t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 140| C| D

9/2

Won here over fences last year and has been running well back over hurdles, landing two novice hurdles before finishing runner-up in a Chepstow Grade 2 last time. Step up in trip will suit and should run well.

Form: 170-112

Kapgarry³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

13/2

Point-to-point winner who took a step forward from his return run when winning a competitive three-runner contest at Wetherby last month. Fascinating contender up in class here.

Form: 4512-21

Nestor Park²⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling

14/1

Bumper winner late last year at Ascot who was then set a couple of stiff tasks in the same sphere; ran with credit on both occasions. 100-1 chance in the Champion bumper he ran a little better than his finishing position; interesting runner.

Form: 2150-

Pym¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N D Fehily| T: N J Henderson| OR: 138| BF

3/1

Justified favouritism on hurdles debut when winning at Chepstow last month. Turned over when odds on at Ascot last time but clearly capable of better than that and looks a likely contender here.

Form: 1/29-12

Tricks And Trails²⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: A E Jones

66/1

Improved with racing in point-to-points finishing 1L second on yielding-to-soft ground at Ballinaboola in February. Looks up against it on Rules debut.

Form: P/32-

Forecasts

Pym (3/1), Darlac (7/2), Coolanly (4/1), Double Treasure (9/2), Kapgarry (13/2), Percy Veer (14/1), Nestor Park (14/1), Captain Peacock (16/1), Tricks And Trails (66/1)

KAPGARRY was well on top when getting the better of a useful rival at Wetherby last month and he might be worth taking a chance on with more improvement expected. Nicky Henderson won this last year with a smart one and Pym is expected to improve on his recent Ascot second. Darlac made easy work of a return run at Fontwell and is another worth considering.