13:20 Cheltenham

Friday 14 December 2018

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Catesby Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 4m 0.2s

A Hare Breath²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 137| C| D

12/1

Disappointed over fences here last month but he's useful over hurdles and he won a Listed Handicap at Sandown a year ago off a higher mark. Ground/trip would appear perfect and expected to go well.

Form: 70/188-5

Champagne City¹⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: N D Fehily| T: T R George| OR: 134

25/1

Consistent earlier in his career and finished a good third in this last year behind Smaoineamh Alainn. Hit and miss so far this season though, failing to back up his Newcastle win at Market Rasen next time and more needed to defy this mark.

Form: 733-414

Highest Sun²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 132| D

8/1

€125,000 purchase who shaped well on UK debut at Ascot last month. Could have been let in lightly by the handicapper and expected to improve for this yard; one to consider.

Form: 1-3

Smaoineamh Alainn^h³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: R Walford| OR: 131| CD

5/1

Rattled off a hat-trick that culminated in a win in this race last year. Has been out of sorts since but only 2lb above last year's winning mark as a result and not dismissed.

Form: 1/11P-35

Al Dancer^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 129| D

3/1

Exciting prospect who won a bumper at Bangor on debut for this yard before a respectable effort in the Aintree bumper. Unbeaten in two subsequent starts over hurdles, jumping well last time and handicap mark looks fair.

Form: 2314-11

Magic Dancer^p,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 127| CD

6/1

Two-time course winner, most recently over this trip at the April meeting. Runner-up here on seasonal return but has failed to build on that in two starts since. Not ruled out back here with the Champion Jockey booked.

Form: 781-265

Not That Fuisse²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| D

11/2

Won back-to-back races in May and came on from his seasonal reappearance with a good second at Stratford before a respectable sixth of 18 here last month. Yard in form but others may prove a little better handicapped.

Form: 4-11526

Master Work¹²^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 118

8/1

Has come back in to form this year and stepped forward from his Warwick win with a success at Leicester last time. Seemingly appreciates quick ground and not ruled out in hat-trick bid.

Form: 450-011

Ninepointsixthree^p⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 109| D

14/1

Has returned to form since his seasonal return and impressive when making all at Sedgefield last time. 7lb penalty to carry and this is a much tougher race but can't be entirely ruled out.

Form: 22-8P21

Non-Runners

Shalakar³⁰

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: Miss V Williams J: Hugh Nugent

Jam Session⁸

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: Ian Williams J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

Al Dancer (3/1), Smaoineamh Alainn (5/1), Not That Fuisse (11/2), Magic Dancer (6/1), Highest Sun (8/1), Master Work (8/1), Jam Session (8/1), A Hare Breath (12/1), Shalakar (12/1), Ninepointsixthree (14/1), Champagne City (25/1)

A fiercely competitive handicap hurdle in which most have some sort of chance but preference is for AL DANCER who produced an eye-catching performance at Ffos Las last time and could be anything at this stage of his career. Last year's winner Smaoineamh Alainn can't be ruled out now she's back on a workable mark while Highest Sun may have been let in lightly by the handicapper.