13:30 Cheltenham

Wednesday 11 March 2020

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 5m 18.73s

Decor Irlandais⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr N McParlan| T: N C Kelly| OR: 143

66/1

Only out of the money once in six runs over hurdles (three wins) and chased home Mossy Fen in soft-ground Grade 2 at Warwick in January; likely a career-best will only be good enough for a minor role here.

Form: 112412

Easywork^h³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| BF

12/1

Won his first two over hurdles before finishing 9½L second behind Asterion Forlonge in Leopardstown Grade 1 last month (2m); has winning form over 2m4f on heavy but quite clearly second-choice from Gordon Elliott's pair.

Form: 3-1112

Envoi Allen⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 156| C

4/7

Champion Bumper winner here last year and unbeaten in three over timber; two of them at Grade 1 level. This is the longest trip he's faced but very hard to know the depth of his talent; huge player and will take the beating.

Form: 111-111

Getaway Fred⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 133| BF

100/1

Chepstow winner earlier in the season (2m, soft; 11-10f) but passed up a great chance in a novice race over 2m3½f (heavy) there in January when odds-on jolly. Leaves him with a serious mountain to scale in this company.

Form: F-12132

Longhouse Poet^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: M Brassil| OR: 146

14/1

Navan maiden winner in December (2m4f, soft; 1-1f) has twice finished third in Grade 1s since; 7L behind Envoi Allen in the first of those over 2m4f. Likely contesting for the minor money again. Trainer/jockey won this last year for same owners.

Form: 1-12133

Mossy Fen⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 143| D

33/1

Has won 3-4 over timber so far including a Warwick Grade 2 (2m5f, soft; 7-2) in January with Decor Irlandais in second spot. Milan gelding has plenty improvement to find on ratings with the best of this field.

Form: F1-1141

Shakem Up'arry⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 127| BF

66/1

Yet to win over hurdles but definite promise in three runs; was fancied to beat Shishkin at Newbury in January but only good for second spot (looks good since); yard in better form now but would rate a shock winner for 2017s winning stable.

Form: 3-F22

Shan Blue³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| BF

100/1

Behind Mossy Fen and Decor Irlandais in Warwick Grade 2 in January and then 11L inferior to Shishkin subsequently in a Listed race at Huntingdon; appears to fall a long way short of what should be required and stable rather quiet of late.

Form: 3-2F132

Son Of Camas⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 133WS

50/1

Form of his soft-ground Newbury maiden win worked out well and second-fav for Grade 1 Tolworth next time; never threatened to plunder that prize as Fiddlerontheroof won easily. Wind op since and must improve generously upped in trip for top yard.

Form: 0113

Sporting John²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 149

5/1

Point-to-point winner last spring and joined top owner for £160,000; briefly looked in trouble on hurdles bow at Exeter before winning snugly; untroubled in impressively making it 3-3 over timber since but this his toughest task. Pace to come late.

Form: 1-111

The Big Breakaway⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 144| D

8/1

Cost €360,000 after winning a point-to-point and easy winner of both starts over hurdles; entitled to improve any amount but is taking on a different calibre of opposition now.

Form: 1-11

The Big Getaway⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146

9/1

Another expensive purchase (£230,000) he let his supporters down on hurdles bow at Leopardstown but has since won a maiden at Naas (2m3f, yielding; 2-5f) in effortless fashion from a next-time-out winner. Yard have won this four times.

Form: 1/2-2141

Forecasts

Envoi Allen (4/7), Sporting John (5/1), The Big Breakaway (8/1), The Big Getaway (9/1), Easywork (12/1), Longhouse Poet (14/1), Mossy Fen (33/1), Son Of Camas (50/1), Decor Irlandais (66/1), Shakem Up'arry (66/1), Shan Blue (100/1), Getaway Fred (100/1)

Five of the last six winners have been trained in Ireland and that tally may extend with the exiting ENVOI ALLEN. He won a well above average Champion Bumper last March and has become the torch-bearer for that race. Nothing has fazed him over flights so far, but the way he knuckled down to win here last March bodes well if something can engage him. Sporting John has done nothing wrong and looks best-placed to give the favourite something to think about if he can utilise his pace late on. Longhouse Poet should harbour some each-way claims for last year's winning connections while The Big Getaway and The Big Breakaway are possible improvers for highly-respected yards.