15:00 Cheltenham

Friday 23 October 2020

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

squareintheair.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 5m 9.1s

Golan Fortune²²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr S Lee⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 138| C| D

50/1

Winner of 3m listed handicap here last November but he was well held on his reappearance in this race prior to that and got to be chance that 3m contest next month is the target again.

Form: 30/01P0-

Fix Sun²⁵²

17/2

French bumper winner who looked useful when winning 2 of his 3 starts in novice hurdles last term. Unexposed sort from a top yard who should have more to offer now handicapping. Has had wind op.

Form: 21/112-

Our Power²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 136| D

8/1

Having just third start for this yard when bagging very competitive event at Kempton (21f) in March. 6 lb rise not excessive (race thrown up winners) and contender if ready to roll after 7 months off.

Form: 94/6331-

Up The Straight²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| OR: 135| D

11/1

Had a good first season over hurdles winning novices at Lingfield and Kempton at up to 21f. Shaped well when fourth of 7 in 19f Fontwell handicap on return, leaving impression run just needed.

Form: 2/1731-4

Good Man Pat²²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 133

20/1

Campaigned over fences in recent campaigns but was a useful novice hurdler a couple of years back. On a competitive mark if primed for this reappearance.

Form: P5/4704-

Whatsupwithyou²²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 132

22/1

Point winner who defied odds of 33/1 to score on hurdle debut at Ascot (21.5f) in December. Also a good third in Kempton novice in March and returns as an unexposed sort.

Form: 421/1P3-

Dagueneau¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 132| BF| D

18/1

Dual novice hurdler who was a good second when switched to handicap company at Uttoxeter in August. Not in the same form when only fifth at the same venue since, though.

Form: 421-125

Weather Front³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 131

14/1

Fairly useful Flat winner and equally as good over hurdles, running as well as he's ever done when second at Kelso (21f) in September. Not long with this yard and possible he can build on that.

Form: 211/42-2

Hijack²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130| BF

11/2

Dual 2m Ludlow novice hurdle winner. Stepped up on any of those efforts when second in 19f Fontwell handicap on return and every chance there's more to come as a lightly raced sort from top yard.

Form: 5113-2

Yeavering Belle¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 128| D

9/1

Made it 4 wins from 6 starts over hurdles when battling well to shade tight finish at Ludlow (21f) 16 days ago. 3 lb rise fair but this is definitely a deeper race.

Form: 11-12P1

Imperial Elysian^t⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 128| BF| D

12/1

Completed a handicap hat-trick on Southwell return in July but a further 11 lb rise was enough to find him out at Perth last time.

Form: 6F11-13

Storm Goddess^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 127

33/1

Ended last season with comfortable 19.5f Doncaster handicap win. Performed just as well when third of 8 to reopposing Yeavering Belle at Ludlow latest but this demands an even bigger performance.

Form: 5731-33

Solstice Star^t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 127| C

100/1

Ended last season on a high with Uttoxeter win in March. Never involved on his involved on his reappearance over fences last month but this former course winner may fare better back hurdling.

Form: 3P731-0

Exod'ela^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 125| D

12/1

Improved when ready winner of 21f Ludlow handicap debut in February. May have just needed the run when third on Hexham reappearance 3 weeks ago and should be spot on now. Remains unexposed.

Form: 23231-3

Lungarno Palace²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 123

14/1

Has posted respectable efforts over hurdles/fences this term and is 4 lb lower than when fourth in this race 2 years ago.

Form: U7-2437

Young Lieutenant^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 122

9/1

Point/bumper winner who came good over hurdles with a tongue tie added (also had wind op over summer) in Sedgefield novice hurdle last month. Makes handicap debut in strong race, though.

Form: 26233-1

Debestyman¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: M G Nolan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 122| D

28/1

Yet to make a significant impact in handicaps and finished down the field on his Uttoxeter reappearance 19 days ago. Hard to fancy here after that.

Form: 1/765U-0

Captain Tom Cat⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 121

15/2

Failed to win in points but he's made a good start to his hurdle career, making all in 2m novices at Uttoxeter this summer. Steps up in trip now handicapping for yard which won this last year. Player.

Form: PF/7-211

Star of Rory^t²⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 120| D

100/1

Improved since fitted with a tongue tie, making it 3 wins in last 6 starts when seeing off 10 rivals at Ludlow (21f, heavy) in February. Needed the run on reappearance last season, though.

Form: 1/71251-

Non-Runners

Hometown Boy²²³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: S Edmunds J: C Gethings

Forecasts

Hijack (11/2), Captain Tom Cat (15/2), Our Power (8/1), Fix Sun (17/2), Yeavering Belle (9/1), Young Lieutenant (9/1), Hometown Boy (10/1), Up The Straight (11/1), Exod'ela (12/1), Imperial Elysian (12/1), Weather Front (14/1), Lungarno Palace (14/1), Dagueneau (18/1), Good Man Pat (20/1), Whatsupwithyou (22/1), Debestyman (28/1), Storm Goddess (33/1), Golan Fortune (50/1), Star of Rory (100/1), Solstice Star (100/1)

Dr Richard Newland and Cillin Leonard combined to take this last year and may be able to stage a repeat with CAPTAIN TOM CAT who doesn't look overburdened from a mark in the low 120s on the back of a pair of Uttoxeter novice wins. Nicky Henderson's Hijack and Fix Sun are similarly unexposed types and rate obvious dangers, while Our Power is also respected having won a strong race when last seen.