15:50 Cheltenham

Wednesday 1 January 2020

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:50

EBF Stallions & Cheltenham Pony Club (Listed Standard Open NH Flat Race)

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 3m 26.55s

Audacity²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex

16/1

No match for re-opposing Grand Roi last time out and will surely struggle to reverse that form now that he's worse off at the weights. Still unexposed at least.

Form: 32

Be The Best²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Bargary| T: O Signy

40/1

Shaped with promise on debut at Wincanton behind some of these including winner Grand Roi. Ought to improve for that run but hard to envisage a reversal of the form.

Form: 5

Dont Go Gentle⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| BF

25/1

Third on debut at Market Rasen last time out but that form hasn't been done many favours since. Well bred enough to warrant respect if there's market support for him.

Form: 3

Fair Star⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison

16/1

Has an eye-catching pedigree and made relatively easy work of his debut (Dont Go Gentle third) but that form perhaps not the strongest and he will have to improve to have any say against some of these.

Form: 1

Getalead²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Rex Dingle| T: Ella Pickard

50/1

Beaten a long way behind several of these at Wincanton last time; half-brother to a bumper winner but one who might do better in time.

Form: 6

Grand Roi²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

7/4

Showed some promise in French bumpers but left that form behind when bolting up in front of several of these at Wincanton last time. Could come on for that and rates as the one to beat.

Form: 6-31

Harrowby

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

20/1

Gentlewave gelding, cost £50,000. Dam a sister to Champion Bumper winner Cheltenian. Fascinating contender on paper and yard do well in bumpers.

Form:

Ocean Wind⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Teal| T: R A Teal| D

9/1

Surprise winner at Huntingdon on debut in November and that form was boosted by the third Audacity who went on to finish runner-up next time out; should improve again.

Form: 1

Quick Draw⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: T Lacey| BF

16/1

No match for the winner in an Aintree bumper on debut but beat the rest well enough and the winner has boosted the form by winning since; yard do well in this sphere.

Form: 2

Shinobi^t⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

22/1

A winner at Exeter on debut but in behind some of these at Huntingdon subsequently and will need to improve to figure here.

Form: 14

Whataboutwalt²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Jones| T: Ella Pickard

66/1

Beaten a long way at Wincanton on debut behind several of these rivals and hard to make a case for on all known form.

Form: 7

Belle De Manech^t1⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| D

9/2

Won a bumper in good fashion at Warwick in November. More needed now taking on the opposite sex but can't be ruled out given that the form of her run has been boosted since; wears first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 1

Dreaming Of Glory¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

14/1

Unseated the rider at the start on debut at Newbury but had come in for some market support that day. Attractive enough pedigree and worth seeing what the market makes of her.

Form: U

Gavina³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: A Poirier| T: A Couetil

16/1

Arrives with more experience than most in here having already had three runs and she returned from 140 days off the track to land a bumper at Craon last time; should continue to improve.

Form: 231

Genola⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Maryline Eon| T: A Couetil| D

8/1

Unbeaten following two bumper wins in France and impressive last time out, despite meeting interference in the run; likely to need more against these rivals but not ruled out.

Form: 11

Scarlett O'halo²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: J J Burke| T: J Tuite

66/1

Clipped heels and fell on debut at Huntingdon but showed she was no worse for that experience when third at Warwick on her latest start; showed signs of inexperience that day and should improve.

Form: F3

Forecasts

Grand Roi (7/4), Belle De Manech (9/2), Genola (8/1), Ocean Wind (9/1), Dreaming Of Glory (14/1), Audacity (16/1), Fair Star (16/1), Quick Draw (16/1), Gavina (16/1), Harrowby (20/1), Shinobi (22/1), Dont Go Gentle (25/1), Be The Best (40/1), Getalead (50/1), Whataboutwalt (66/1), Scarlett O'halo (66/1)

It's hard to look past the claims of GRAND ROI following his devastating success at Wincanton on debut where he had several of these in behind. The French raiders Genola and Gavina are both interesting but the main danger could be Belle De Manech who won in good style on debut. Any market support for the newcomer Harrowby is probably worth noting.