15:40 Cheltenham

Friday 14 December 2018

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

Citipost Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 51.50s

Keeper Hill⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 136| D

14/1

Grade Two winner over fences last term failed to complete in next three. Well fancied back over hurdles latest for Wetherby Grade Two but disappointing in last of five. No doubt at his best he would have a big chance but while since we saw that.

Form: 21FFP-5

Goodbye Dancer²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135

16/1

Bumped into a big improver latest here but that third still represented a good effort overall given he was only a neck behind the second. Same mark here only 2lb above win to end last season so of plenty of appeal and should go well.

Form: 0PP1/03

Great Trango^b⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: D H Kelly| OR: 133| BF

11/1

Irish Raider in good form on the level and over hurdles this summer/autumn and ran another good race latest when a close second over 3m at Listowel. 12lb higher here but going the right way and goes on all ground so merits respect.

Form: 22143-2

Aaron Lad²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 133

15/2

Market Rasen win latest his third in five starts. Up another 9lb for that success but clearly an improving horse and seems to handle all ground the same so hard to envisage anything but a bold bid.

Form: 211P-61

Sizing Granite^t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 133

11/1

Newbury win last term his first over hurdles in almost four years. Struggled in much tougher contests afterwards and similar story in last two over fences this season too. Back at a more respectable level for current ability now.

Form: 36-0665

Dans Le Vent^p³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 132| BF

10/1

Consistent apart from two Grade Ones lasts season and made an excellent return when a staying on fourth in a warm Chepstow contest 2m3½f. Shade disappointing as favourite latest and must prove stamina now upped to 3m.

Form: 5326-46

The Eaglehaslanded^b,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| CD

10/1

Yet to hit top form in three starts after a 428 day absence. Improved finishing position but not proximity latest when fifth over C&D behind handicap snip beaten 21L. Stable second string on jockey bookings and much more is needed.

Form: 186/P-05

Clondaw Native²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 129| D

10/1

Lightly raced Ascot maiden hurdle winner improved to finish third latest at Market Rasen when beaten 11½L. Still time to improve more but up against it here nevertheless.

Form: 1387-63

Buywise²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 125| C| D

28/1

Popular veteran but it's now almost four years since his last win and has been beaten out of sight in two chases this term albeit in hot races. Hopefully do better here but risky proposition now.

Form: 610U-64

Lygon Rock²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 125

9/2

Lightly raced hurdler won final start of last season at Ludlow and good second first time out at Aintree. Faded into eighth here over 2m5f latest so 3m trip a doubt but that looked a warm contest and genuine chance if he does stay.

Form: 233-128

Worthy Farm¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 124| D

7/2

Very lightly raced former point-to-point winner built on two thirds latest when narrowly scoring in a Taunton novices handicap over 3m. 8lb higher now and into open company but has huge potential for top yard so highly respected.

Form: 13-31

Wicked Willy^t1⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122| D

22/1

Dual chase winner last season failed to complete in last two starts of the campaign. Well beaten fifth of eight on return at Newton Abbot when heavy ground took its toll so could do better but looks yard second string.

Form: 414FP-5

Non-Runners

Clondaw Cian¹⁴

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: Mrs S Leech J: P J Brennan

Forecasts

Worthy Farm (7/2), Lygon Rock (9/2), Aaron Lad (15/2), Dans Le Vent (10/1), The Eaglehaslanded (10/1), Clondaw Native (10/1), Great Trango (11/1), Sizing Granite (11/1), Keeper Hill (14/1), Goodbye Dancer (16/1), Wicked Willy (22/1), Clondaw Cian (25/1), Buywise (28/1)

WORTHY FARM could very easily be well handicapped given he has only had the three races under rules so far and this former 30L point-to-point scorer won last time with more in hand than the official margin when he wandered under pressure so there looks plenty more to come and he gets the nod. Great Trango is the only runner this afternoon for his Irish trainer and jockey so surely is expected to go well and after a good run of form he indeed should do. Goodbye Dancer bumped into a very well handicapped type last time out but ran creditably nevertheless and has sound claims here.