12:45 Cheltenham

Sunday 17 November 2019

All12:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

Cheltenham Club Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:47 | Winning time: 5m 31.30s

Don't Shout³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁶⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120

6/1

Promise in bumpers and on hurdles debut, and improved when winning a 2m3½f novice at Hereford last time by 6L from Red Nika. Stayed on well there, but tendency to jump right a potential issue on this track.

Form: 62-31

Duc De Beauchene^t²⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: D Pipe| OR: 119| DWS

10/3

Won at Plumpton on handicap bow in February, and fair second next time. Tongue tied when below form on final start last season, but has had wind surgery in the interim, so could bounce back. Jockey booking takes the eye.

Form: 59412-0

Electron Bleu⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Price⁽⁶⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 119

16/1

Showed useful form over fences in France for Isabelle Pacault, but held back by jumping for current yard. Returns to hurdles after making mistakes at Warwick on return, and on a fair mark if he can find more fluency.

Form: 5F335-6

Valhalla^t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁸⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 119

18/1

Below form since finishing third over fences at Kempton over a year ago, and returns to hurdles after taking a heavy fall in a handicap chase at Wetherby a couple of weeks ago. Best watched.

Form: 33P47-F

Demon Fou²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 119| D

7/1

Showed improved form when landing a 2m5½f handicap hurdle at Wincanton last month, and ran at least as well when fourth in a similar event last time. Should benefit from a stiffer test at this trip, and one to bear in mind.

Form: 573-414

Ozzy Thomas⁴⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Nathan Brennan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 118

33/1

Best form on a sound surface and not sighted since running over fences in August last year. Not firing fully then, and plenty to prove on belated return with conditions likely to be testing.

Form: 3P/2655-

Applesandpierres^p²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 117

33/1

Useful at his best over hurdles he's yet to really suggest that he retains enough of that old ability, his efforts this season singularly uninspiring. Let down by jumping here last month, and of little appeal now.

Form: 3P-647F

Volcano²¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 117| BF

16/1

Runner-up three times last season for Nigel Twiston-Davies, and joined current yard for £38,000 in May. Disappointing favourite when last seen, but excellent jockey booked, and not taken lightly as a result.

Form: 325322-

Mon Palois¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ned Curtis⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 117

20/1

Took a heavy fall over fences last December, and ran poorly back over hurdles on subsequent 2018/19 start. Well held again on return at Wetherby (2m3½f, heavy), and has something to prove at present.

Form: 0/53FP-9

Colditz Castle²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁶⁾| T: A King| OR: 117

9/2

Best hurdles effort when second over 2½m at Wincanton in March, but not gone on from that despite a couple of creditable placed efforts at Worcester the last twice. Plugged on for third last time, and perhaps in need of a greater test of stamina.

Form: 342-623

Voodoo Doll^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁶⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 115

16/1

Won three times in summer 2018, and got back to near his best when 2½L third of 5 to Stoney Mountain at Aintree (2½m, good/soft) last time. Claims if backing that up.

Form: 337-553

Royal Plaza^t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Ben Hicks⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs K Stephens| OR: 114

100/1

Landed a heavy-ground handicap chase at Worcester in September, but well below that form at Exeter last time, and his last win over hurdles came in a lowly seller in August last year for another yard.

Form: 6-34315

Mc Alpine²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Darragh O'keeffe| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 109

8/1

Much his best effort upped to 2½m at Wexford last time, travelling well and staying on. Opening mark stiff enough, but unexposed at this trip, and remains open to progress.

Form: 76-42

Trendsetter^t⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny McMenamin| T: B Cawley| OR: 107

33/1

Ended a lengthy losing sequence at Sligo in July, and ran well when runner-up at Listowel last month. Disappointing at Downpatrick last time, though, and his mark looks a stiff one based on historical form here.

Form: 415226

Sammylou^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 107

14/1

Won off 4lb lower at Huntingdon in January, and shaped well until a late mistake when sixth on return to action at Wincanton (2m5½f) last month. Should improve a fair bit for that run.

Form: B1350-6

Little Boy Boru¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 107| D

33/1

Took advantage of a fall in the weights to end a very long losing run when scoring at Plumpton in February. Below that form since, however, including when fifth at Chepstow after a break last time.

Form: 0715U-5

Non-Runners

Lungarno Palace¹⁷⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: F O'Brien J: Tom Buckley

Le Milos¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 4

T: Tim Vaughan J: R Patrick

Jacamar¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 4

T: M F Harris J: Non Runner

Treasure Dillon¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: Evan Williams J: Mitchell Bastyan

Forecasts

Duc De Beauchene (10/3), Colditz Castle (9/2), Don't Shout (6/1), Demon Fou (7/1), Mc Alpine (8/1), Treasure Dillon (8/1), Lungarno Palace (12/1), Sammylou (14/1), Jacamar (14/1), Electron Bleu (16/1), Voodoo Doll (16/1), Volcano (16/1), Le Milos (16/1), Valhalla (18/1), Mon Palois (20/1), Ozzy Thomas (33/1), Applesandpierres (33/1), Trendsetter (33/1), Little Boy Boru (33/1), Royal Plaza (100/1)

DUC DE BEAUCHENE looked a good prospect in the spring, and he has had wind surgery since running poorly on his final start, so is expected to bounce back. McAlpine was much improved when second at Wexford last time, and remains open to improvement now handicapping, so is respected, while the jockey booking for Volcano on his debut for Sheila Lewis is encouraging, and he could go well at a bigger price.