14:35 Cheltenham

Saturday 26 October 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Masterson Holdings Hurdle

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 4m 12.7s

Quel Destin¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| CD

7/2

Won Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow in December and was good fifth here in Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle in March. Close third on Flat at Bath recently and should strip fully fit now so can make bold bid to concede weight all round

Form: 111115-

Nelson River³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 142| C

14/1

Followed win at Bangor last November with victory here in December, then was excellent fourth at long odds in Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle. Had a spin on Flat last month so should be raring to go.

Form: 1164-

Torpillo^h¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 148| D

4/5

Won only outing in France prior to joining fine yard here and won first two starts last campaign. Bit disappointing final two outings but bounced back on seasonal bow at Chepstow recently and another bold show anticipated.

Form: 1/1140-1

Kaizer²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: A C Whillans| OR: 123| D

16/1

2-2 over hurdles with wins at Perth and Kelso and also won easily on the Flat at Musselburgh last motnh. Has quite a bit to find on form but is in great heart and won't be disgraced.

Form: 536-11

Soviet Pimpernel²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| D

7/1

Landed Listowel bumper last month then made winning hurdles debut at Gowran Park three weeks ago. This is a much higher level but shrewd Irish yard wouldn't be bringing him here for fun so worth a glance for any market confidence.

Form: 23-11

Havingagoodtime⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: R Johnson| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 130| C| D

20/1

Won Grade 3 fillies h'cap hurdle here in April and won again at Down Royal in June. Bit below-par two starts since and wouldn't want the ground to ease any further. Top Irish yard won this race two years ago.

Form: 141-134

Effernock Fizz¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: A W Short| T: Miss K Brown| OR: 123| D

40/1

Fully exposed Irish raider who scored at Bellewstown in August but has been well beaten since in two Flat outings. Has a lot to do and is hard to fancy on balance of evidence.

Form: 58-1151

Non-Runners

Construct²²

Weight: 10-12| Age: 4

T: J C McConnell J: D J McInerney

Fanfan Du Seuil²⁰⁵

Weight: 10-12| Age: 4

T: T R George J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Torpillo (4/5), Quel Destin (7/2), Fanfan Du Seuil (6/1), Soviet Pimpernel (7/1), Nelson River (14/1), Kaizer (16/1), Havingagoodtime (20/1), Construct (20/1), Effernock Fizz (40/1)

With a win already under his belt this term TORPILLO is fancied to land the spoils as long as the ground doesn't deteriorate. He showed good form last term and is marginally preferred. Nelson River was a fine fourth here in the Triumph Hurdle and will have benefitted from a recent spin on the Flat, whiel Quel Destin, fifth in the Triumph having won the Grade 1 Finale Hurdle last term, is very much respected but has to give weight away all round. He ran well though when third on the level at Bath recently. Fanfan Du Seuill is not out of it, nor are Irish raiders Soviet Pimpernel and Havingagoodtime.