15:00 Cheltenham

Sunday 18 November 2018

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

Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 3m 49.70s

Old Guard^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 152| CD

16/1

Was conceding lumps of weight when second to Verdana Blue at Kempton, and again ran creditably upped to 3m at Wetherby last time. Won this contest in 2015 and ran when third last year, so should be on the premises.

Form: 4174-22

Verdana Blue⁸^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 146| D

7/2

Better than ever this autumn, winning listed hurdle at Kempton and Elite Hurdle at Wincanton. Penalised for latest success, but still brings strong form claims.

Form: 1300-11

Mohaayed^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 146| BF| C| D

16/1

Caused a shock in heavy-ground County Hurdle here in March. but handicapper has reacted, and he was only fourth in the Welsh Champion Hurdle last month.

Form: 10231-4

Charli Parcs²¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| D

12/1

Big reputation, but sole win for connections came on hurdles debut. Clearly has plenty of ability, as he showed when fourth in Scottish Champion Hurdle in April, but not entirely convincing.

Form: 6/200P4-

Western Ryder²¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 145| C| D

6/1

Smart novice last season, staying on well when sixth in the Supreme over C&D. Type to thrive in handicaps, and respected for all he might prefer softer ground.

Form: 114265-

Silver Streak²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 145| D

13/2

Has an excellent win record in valuable handicaps, and added the Welsh Champion Hurdle to his tally last month. Stiffer task here, but probably still improving.

Form: 12U6-11

Caius Marcius^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 142| D

25/1

Won a Listed handicap hurdle at Market Rasen in September, but raised 13lb for that, and that seemed to find him out when third at Ascot last time. Others better treated.

Form: 222113

Midnight Shadow³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 141| BF| D

12/1

Career-best effort when winning Scottish Champion Hurdle in April, proving himself on good ground, and ran well when second to Innocent Touch in handicap at Wetherby last month. One to bear in mind.

Form: 22U71-2

Le Patriote^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 141| D

14/1

Non Runner

Form: 741P-81

Irish Roe^p1¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Henry Brooke| T: P Atkinson| OR: 139| CD

16/1

Listed bumper winner at this meeting in 2016, and has won four from nine over hurdles. Good effort when third of 6 to Lady Buttons in listed mares' hurdle at Wetherby last month, and sure to run her usual honest race.

Form: 112P6-3

Storm Rising^b¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 137| CD

10/1

Ran out an easy winner of a C&D conditional jockeys' contest here last month, and unpenalised when having plenty to spare at Wetherby recently. Not dismissed, although raised 14lb for those wins, which makes life harder.

Form: 151511

Nube Negra²²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135WS

8/1

Won twice in juvenile hurdles last term, and good third in Fred Winter here in March. Has had wind surgery prior to this return, and may do better, for all this represents his stiffest task.

Form: 12135-

Equus Amadeus³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: T Scudamore| T: T Lacey| OR: 132WS

50/1

Didn't take to chasing on penultimate outing, but back to winning ways over hurdles at Wincanton last time. Had a bit in hand there, and no forlorn hope despite a 4lb rise.

Form: 23-5461

Brianstorm²¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 132| D

25/1

Couple of soft-ground wins at Taunton and Sandown for Warren Greatrex in early months of the year, and joined current yard (which has yet to really get going) after poor run in Grade 1 at Aintree. Forecast conditions a concern.

Form: 32311P-

Mad Jack Mytton²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130| D

50/1

Not running badly at the moment, but handicapper seems in charge and he's struggled in two previous attempts in this race.

Form: 43-5434

Vado Forte³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: R T Dunne| T: T Lacey| OR: 129| D

20/1

Improved to win three of his last four starts in the spring with a hood fitted, and ran well when third after a break at Chepstow last month. Headgear missing now, but not impossible that he will progress again without it.

Form: 21211-3

Deyrann de Carjac³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 128| D

16/1

In frame on all starts over hurdles, winning a novice at Warwick in May. Good second at Chepstow last month, and makes handicap debut off a fair mark. Unexposed, although inexperienced the flip-side of that coin.

Form: 0/332-12

Not That Fuisse¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: William Marshall⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| D

25/1

Dual novice hurdle winner in the spring but ran below par when behind Vado Forte on handicap debut at Chepstow. Better effort when second at Stratford since, but something to prove, especially at this level.

Form: 24-1152

Nietzsche^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 123| D

50/1

Disappointing since finishing third in the Fred Winter here in March 2017, but much better signs when second after a break on the Flat earlier this month. Lively outsider for shrewd connections.

Form: 3/6000-6

Man Of Plenty^p,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 123| D

25/1

Plenty of solid efforts in defeat in recent times, but the bottom line is that he's on a losing run of 23, and it's very hard to see him snap that from out of the handicap.

Form: 4752-65

Forecasts

Verdana Blue (7/2), Western Ryder (6/1), Silver Streak (13/2), Nube Negra (8/1), Storm Rising (10/1), Charli Parcs (12/1), Midnight Shadow (12/1), Le Patriote (14/1), Old Guard (16/1), Mohaayed (16/1), Irish Roe (16/1), Deyrann de Carjac (16/1), Vado Forte (20/1), Not That Fuisse (25/1), Man Of Plenty (25/1), Caius Marcius (25/1), Brianstorm (25/1), Nietzsche (50/1), Mad Jack Mytton (50/1), Equus Amadeus (50/1)

Soft ground would be preferable, but WESTERN RYDER ran a cracker in the Supreme Novices' over C&D in March, and is the type to thrive in handicaps this season, so gets the verdict over Old Guard, who has a similar chance to Verdana Blue on Kempton running, and has twice run very well in this race before, winning in 2015. Silver Streak is another with an excellent record in similar races, and looks best of the rest in a competitive renewal.