13:15 Cheltenham

Sunday 18 November 2018

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

Steve And Sue Ibberson Happy Retirement Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:18 | Winning time: 5m 6.2s

Follow The Bear²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Ned Curtis⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 125

12/1

Built on early promise when taking a small-field Kempton novice hurdle early last season. Has rather failed to meet expectations since then, but entitled to have needed the run at Aintree on return, and too soon to write him off.

Form: 237F4-7

Sword Of Fate¹⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Patrick Cowley| T: L Kerr| OR: 125| BF| D

16/1

Fairly useful form when scoring 3 times over fences for Tom Lacey this season. Joined current yard for £15,000 in September, and balance of his form over hurdles gives him something to find.

Form: 0-15114

Palmers Hill²⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124| BF

12/1

Bought for £310,000 after winning sole start in point-to-points, and had plenty in hand when making a winning hurdles debut at Uttoxeter last October. Campaigned sparingly since, and type to progress having been given time to mature.

Form: 31/143-

Vaniteux^p²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Ross Chapman| T: D Pipe| OR: 124| D

20/1

Cost £125,000 from Nicky Henderson in May 2017 having shown high-class form over hurdles and fences, but has yet to score in 12 attempts for new yard despite dropping steadily in the weights. Risky.

Form: 8-30355

Gray Day⁴⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 122| D

16/1

Dual novice hurdle winner at up to 2m7f in 2016/17, but last two runs in this discipline were poor. Not seen since showing promise on chase debut at Uttoxeter over a year ago, and well-being to prove now.

Form: 12133/5-

Hurricane Dylan¹⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Coltherd| T: K Frost| OR: 122

16/1

Landed odds in maiden company at Sedgefield in April and again made all to win a 2m4f novice at Uttoxeter in May. This is tougher, but he remains open to improvement, so not taken lightly.

Form: 3/5321-1

The Dellercheckout²²³

10/1

Expensive purchase after winning sole point-to-point. Tended to finish weakly last year, but a breathing operation ought to help and he is capable of better in this sphere.

Form: 1/6254-

Solo Saxophone^b,t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: William Marshall⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 122

16/1

Landed first 2 starts over hurdles last winter, and fair sixth in Fred Winter here in March. Had wind surgery prior to Market Rasen reappearance, and that could be a catalyst for improvement now.

Form: 1136-6

Max Forte^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Houlihan| T: C J Down| OR: 122| D

25/1

Gained first success since 2015 when winning over 2m7f at Exeter in May, and ran at least as well when fifth of 20 to The Mighty Don over 3m here last month. Suited by a sound surface.

Form: P748-15

Minellaforleisure²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Fergus Gregory| T: A M Hales| OR: 121| C

25/1

Course winner here in 2016 but has struggled since, although shaped better than the result when eighth of 20 to The Mighty Don here last month, weakening late. Should strip fitter now.

Form: 046/75-8

Coeur Pensif¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 119

14/1

Dropped in the weights prior to winning a 3m1f handicap hurdle at Huntingdon in April with cheekpieces applied. Disappointing on chase debut in May, and headgear missing now back over timber.

Form: F3571-6

Mr Mafia^p1¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Stock⁽³⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 118

16/1

Completed a four-timer for this yard when winning over 3m2½f at Newton Abbot in July. In frame on all four starts since, but suspicion that he's in the handicapper's grip having risen 24lb. Cheekpieces tried now.

Form: 113223

Three Star General^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Hammond| T: D Pipe| OR: 117

25/1

Worcester winner in June 2017. Mixed bag since, and he failed to improve for a pipe-opener on the Flat mid-field at Aintree last month, finishing 7L behind Follow The Bear.

Form: 7P823-8

Utility¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum McKinnes⁽⁷⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 117

16/1

Has given trouble at the start before but was on his best behaviour at Stratford last time when bolting up in a seller. That was only his second start for current yard and if in similar mood will be competitive.

Form: P664R1

Camron De Chaillac²²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Buckley⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 116| D

16/1

Improved for fitting of a visor, landing handicap hurdles at up to 2m5f last winter. Good third on final outing at Fontwell but goes without usual headgear on this return to action.

Form: 311P53-

Ballyhome¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: C Brace⁽¹⁰⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 116| D

11/2

Promise in novices for Brendan Powell and got off the mark in good style on second handicap outing/debut for new yard at Wetherby (2m5f) early this months. Likely to have more to give in handicaps.

Form: 8/5862-1

Valadom^p,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Broughton⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 116| D

25/1

Useful chaser a couple of years ago and showed that some ability remains when returning from a 16 month absence over hurdles in September. Failed to build on that last time, though, and others more appealing now.

Form: 0/4U4-26

Aasleagh Dawn⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Kieron Edgar| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 109

8/1

Maiden hurdle winner who has shown better form in handicaps, and took a step forward for in-form yard when winning 19-runner event at Navan a week ago. Jockey has won this race a remarkable four times.

Form: 206471

Maguire's Glen²⁰⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Ring| T: G Harris| OR: 115

25/1

Won over fences at Ffos Las (2m3½f) in April, but well held twice since in that sphere, and makes little appeal back over hurdles after a break.

Form: 32P144-

Sliding Doors²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Edward Austin⁽⁸⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 115

14/1

Didn't fire last season, but bounced back after a break when third under this rider at Aintree last month, with a number of these behind him. Should be competitive if building on that.

Form: 4/8074-3

Ringmoylan¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Graham Carson⁽⁷⁾| T: Tracey Leeson| OR: 114

50/1

Runner-up both starts in novice/maiden hurdles before being pulled up on both starts over fences for Jonjo O'Neill, and left that yard very cheaply afterwards. Plenty to prove.

Form: U222P-P

Lord Getaway³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Tom Humphries⁽⁵⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 109

33/1

Much improved on handicap debut when second at Southwell (2m4½f) in April. Probably needed the run on first start since at Carlisle last month, and showed enough there to suggest he could be placed to advantage of his mark.

Form: 98602-6

Offshore Oscar³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: C P McNamara⁽¹⁰⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 108

12/1

Improved markedly to win a weak event on handicap bow at Killarney in August, but impressive there, and confirmed that impression when second at Limerick last month. Should keep improving.

Form: 9/00-812

Unblinking¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁸⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 105| BF

12/1

Best effort over hurdles when second at Chepstow (2m3½f) in April, and while he's opposable on balance of form on this sphere, he did show improved form to score on the Flat last time, so not dismissed.

Form: 306/62-

Forecasts

Ballyhome (11/2), Aasleagh Dawn (8/1), The Dellercheckout (10/1), Palmers Hill (12/1), Unblinking (12/1), Offshore Oscar (12/1), Follow The Bear (12/1), Sliding Doors (14/1), Coeur Pensif (14/1), Utility (16/1), Solo Saxophone (16/1), Gray Day (16/1), Camron De Chaillac (16/1), Mr Mafia (16/1), Hurricane Dylan (16/1), Sword Of Fate (16/1), Vaniteux (20/1), Valadom (25/1), Minellaforleisure (25/1), Max Forte (25/1), Three Star General (25/1), Maguire's Glen (25/1), Lord Getaway (33/1), Ringmoylan (50/1)

BALLYHOME improved and landed a gamble at Wetherby starting out for Fergal O'Brien, and he appeals as the type to stay ahead of the handicapper for a while. There are plenty of dangers, however, with The Dellercheckout a likely improver for wind surgery, and Offshore Oscar and Sliding Doors two of several arriving on the back of very promising efforts.