16:30 Stratford

Monday 9 March 2020

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

Low6 Cheltenham Festival Preview Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 4m 8.60s

William H Bonney²⁹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 129| D

10/1

Lightly raced these days and back after another lengthy absence today. Pulled up when last seen in May and market likely to be the best guide on return to action.

Form: 01107-P

River Bray^p1,t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 125

11/1

Winner of two of his 13 starts over hurdles, the Arakan gelding has sent out a number of mixed messages in his runs since October. Overall profile suggests he may be worth taking on again in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: F6P628

Esprit De Baileys⁴⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 125

20/1

77-rated handicapper on the Flat, off the mark at the second attempt landing a 2m½f Doncaster novice hurdle on good ground when last seen in December 2018. Market likely to be best guide on return.

Form: 21-

Faro De Kerser^t1⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 122

11/1

French import. Not seen for 18-months when making GB debut in a Wetherby introductory hurdle over 2m on soft ground in November finishing fourth of the six runners. Beaten 24L in a subsequent contest at Doncaster in December.

Form: 1-47

Capital Force^p⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 122| DWS

33/1

Former Henry De Bromhead inmate. Kept busy throughout the summer months after winning over fences at Ludlow over 2m on good ground in May. Reverts back over hurdles where the gelding is one from his 10 starts over timber.

Form: 3339U4

Rootless Tree⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120| D

6/1

Has struggled a little in a couple of handicap chases since winning a novice contest at Leicester in early December. Better than last run in January suggests and worthy of further consideration as post time approaches.

Form: 15-41P5

Suggestion¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 120| D

50/1

Three-time winner last season, all victories coming on good ground. A couple of heavy defeats this term has seen his mark return to last winning rating. Ground and trip wouldn't be a problem.

Form: 318-709

Le Cameleon³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 120| BF| D

9/4

Off the mark for connections at the fourth time of asking in a Chepstow maiden over a similar trip in January. Beaten on handicap debut later in the month but put up a gallant performance in defeat. Big danger on similar mark.

Form: 6-3312

Raven's Tower⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 119| D

25/1

Fair handicap hurdler who ran as though in need of outing when weakening from two out at Fakenham in January following 105-day break. Beaten 12L later in the month at Taunton and needs to improve to take a hand here.

Form: 724697

Karakoram^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 118| D

8/1

Holding his form well in a number of starts since winning a Ludlow handicap off a 10lb lower mark in October. May find one or two better handicapped sorts lurking once again.

Form: 135223

John Constable^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 118| D

16/1

Very useful handicapper at his peak, chanced his arm in the 2018 Champion Hurdle. Losing run dates back to June 2017 and now races 32lb lower than last winning mark. Others preferred.

Form: 977867

Shut The Box⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: C Gordon| OR: 117| D

17/2

Found life a little tougher this season compared to last. Well held when last seen at Cheltenham on their trials day in January but handicapper drops the gelding 4lb here. More than capable of hitting the frame.

Form: 51-3508

Shanroe Tic Tec⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Adrian Heskin| T: B Pauling| OR: 112| D

11/1

Landed a hat-trick of victories in March last year but the handicapper has appeared to have been in control in a number of starts since including three runs since December. Improved effort on the cards now 2lb lower than last winning mark.

Form: 4-03474

Forecasts

Le Cameleon (9/4), Rootless Tree (6/1), Karakoram (8/1), Shut The Box (17/2), William H Bonney (10/1), River Bray (11/1), Faro De Kerser (11/1), Shanroe Tic Tec (11/1), John Constable (16/1), Esprit De Baileys (20/1), Raven's Tower (25/1), Capital Force (33/1), Suggestion (50/1)

LE CAMELEON got off the mark for connections at the fourth time of asking in a Chepstow maiden over a similar trip in January before bumping into one on handicap debut at the same venue at the end of January. The five-year-old can get back to winning ways for trainer Nick Williams with William H Bonney emerging as the biggest danger for the yard that won this race 12 months ago with Dino Velvet. Espirit De Baileys who makes a long-awaited comeback here and Karakoram, who has been holding his form well in a number of starts since winning a Ludlow handicap off a 10lb lower mark in October, can compete for remaining prize money.