13:30 Cheltenham

Thursday 12 March 2020

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

Marsh Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Golden Miller)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 7.32s

Bapaume^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153

20/1

Fourth (beaten 8L) in last year's Grade 1 Stayers' Hurdle; mixed fortunes over fences this season (1-3); justified favouritism at Naas (2m3f, soft) in December before a toothless display in the Grade 1 Arkle at Leopardstown; same silks as Faugheen.

Form: 342716

Faugheen³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 158| C| D

3/1

An absolute warrior (Champion Hurdle winner in 2015) and the flag-bearer for Rich & Susannah Ricci; belatedly enjoying a new lease of life over fences - already a dual Grade 1 winner at Limerick (beat Samcro by 10L) & Leopardstown (Flogas Novices').

Form: F3P-111

Itchy Feet⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: O Murphy| OR: 155| D

7/2

Third in last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle (beaten 5L by Klassical Dream); unbeaten in two starts over fences, bravely overcoming a late stumble to beat Midnight Shadow by 3½L in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' at Sandown (2m4f, soft).

Form: 234-411

Melon^p⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151

14/1

Runner-up in successive Champion Hurdles (to Buveur D'Air & Espoir D'Allen); was no match for Fakir D'oudaires on chasing debut (Navan) before making amends at Leopardstown (2m1f, soft); interesting to see how he copes with this extra yardage.

Form: F-70214

Midnight Shadow⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 150| CD

22/1

Progressive over fences; was desperately unlucky at Carlisle in November (fell at the last); idled in front when winning the Grade 2 Dipper here (2m4½f, soft) on New Year's Day; 3½L runner-up to Itchy Feet in Sandown's Scilly Isles Novices' since.

Form: 0-3F212

Mister Fisher⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 153| C

7/1

Finished in the ruck in last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle; on an entirely positive trajectory over fences (2-3); ridden out to fend off Al Dancer in the Grade 2 Lightning Novices' Chase at Doncaster (2m) in January; no thorny issues over further.

Form: 18-7211

Poker Play^b1⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 137| DWS

100/1

Mudlark; displayed a thoroughly genuine attitude when scoring on chasing debut at Ffos Las (2m5f, soft) in October; found out subsequently in stronger races (here) and comfortably out of his depth again today; sports newly-applied blinkers.

Form: 210-150

Reserve Tank¹⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 151| BF| D

12/1

Developed into a top-notch novice hurdler last season with 2m4f Grade 1 wins at Aintree (Mersey) & Punchestown (Champion Novice); only workmanlike over fences (1-3) to date - best effort came when beating If You Say Run by 3¾L at Wincanton (2m4f).

Form: 11-1212

Samcro^t⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 157| BF| C| DWS

4/1

Unbeaten and looked every inch a future star when readily winning the 2018 Ballymore; remains low-mileage over fences (1-3) and returns fresh from wind surgery, but there's no doubting that his cloak of invincibility is slowly slipping away.

Form: 225-1F2

Tornado Flyer³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| BF| D

10/1

Third in the Champion Bumper (2018); solid start over fences with successive soft/heavy ground wins at Naas (2m3f) & Navan (2m1f); bounced back from a respiratory infection when third (beaten 6½L) to Faugheen in the Grade 1 Flogas (Leopardstown).

Form: P-411P3

Saint Sonnet¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145

33/1

Former French racer (for Augustin A D Boisbrunet); maintained his unbeaten record over fences (2-2) when cosily landing the odds on debut for Paul Nicholls at Catterick (2m3f, heavy) 16 days ago; somewhat thrown in at the deep end though.

Form: 115631

Annie Mc³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 145| D

18/1

Grade 2 winning hurdler; faultless over fences (3-3) in small-field affairs against her own sex - eased down when beating If You Say Run by 5½L at Bangor (2m4½f, soft); is improving at a rate of knots, but this race asks a much sterner question.

Form: 51-4111

Forecasts

Faugheen (3/1), Itchy Feet (7/2), Samcro (4/1), Mister Fisher (7/1), Tornado Flyer (10/1), Reserve Tank (12/1), Melon (14/1), Annie Mc (18/1), Bapaume (20/1), Midnight Shadow (22/1), Saint Sonnet (33/1), Poker Play (100/1)

Willie Mullins attacks the Marsh with four runners, headed by the old warrior Faugheen who has enjoyed a new lease of life over fences. He outbattled Samcro (wind surgery since) when that pair clashed in a much anticipated heat at Limerick (2m4f, heavy) on Boxing Day. Meanwhile, Mister Fisher (2-3) and Scilly Isles foes Itchy Feet (2-2) and Midnight Shadow (1-5) all continue on upward curves, while the enigmatic Melon could have more too offer over this trip. However, seeking clear each-way value the selection is the Punchestown Grade 1 bumper scorer TORNADO FLYER. It's certainly not unthinkable that he can reverse Flogas form with Faugheen.