17:15 Cheltenham

Friday 23 October 2020

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

Back And Lay At Matchbook Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:16 | Winning time: 3m 54.43s

Sternrubin^p⁵³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 140| D

20/1

Useful on Flat/over hurdles and was as good as ever when second in a handicap at Warwick 17 months ago. Not seen since, but hard to completely dismiss from same mark.

Form: 13264/2-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Benny's Bridge³⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 136| BF| CD

6/1

Patiently-ridden hurdler who landed this last season from a 9 lb lower mark but seemed amiss on his only subsequent outing. Not ruled out despite a lengthy absence.

Form: 1719/10-

Clemencia^t²²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 134| D

18/1

Juvenile hurdle winner for Brendan Duke in December 2019 but looked averagely handicapped when only fifth over C&D on debut for this stable 7 months ago. Likely to need the run.

Form: 61445-

Wild Max^t1²⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133| D

17/2

Form: 114-

Fair Mountain¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum McKinnes⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| D

50/1

Form: 12/20P6

Nanabelle²⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Tudor| T: N J Henderson| OR: 129| BF| D

18/1

Landed 2 juvenile hurdles in France but turned over at 30/100 on debut for new yard in juvenile at Market Rasen 8 months ago. In excellent hands so likely to prove a different proposition.

Form: 115-

Ashington³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 126| BF| D

11/1

Dual novice winner last season who shaped as if ahead of his mark on both handicap outings. Ran respectably back on the Flat last month, so no forlorn hope if his jumping holds up.

Form: 21132-

Hijran²⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 125| D

125/1

Three handicap hurdle win in 2018/19 and back on track when runner-up at Ludlow 8 months ago. Up in grade off a 4 lb higher mark now, though.

Form: 116/6P2-

Endlessly^h²⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 125| D

28/1

Fairly useful Flat winner who was progressive over hurdles last winter, winning novices at Ayr and Newcastle. Opening mark looks reasonable and should be tuned up after 8 months off.

Form: 511-

Miss Heritage²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Maxime Tissier| T: L Wadham| OR: 125| D

14/1

Dual scorer over hurdles last season and shaped as if retaining all her ability when fourth in handicap at Fontwell on return. Solid gallop should suit but she has a bit to find.

Form: 21313-4

One True King¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 125| D

4/1

Point/bumper winner who left hurdling debut form to readily get off the mark in this sphere in a novice at Uttoxeter 19 days ago, making all. More to come switched to more competitive environment.

Form: 5110-31

Scorched Earth^t1⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: William Marshall⁽⁸⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| DWS

22/1

Fairly useful hurdler who made a winning reappearance at Southwell in July but dropped out tamely at Stratford later that month. Not seen since and others make more appeal.

Form: 1436-25

Percy³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Reed| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 125| D

33/1

Confirmed encouragement of reappearance when landing a handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter in August. Below form in France subsequently and will probably find this too competitive.

Form: 8/22-216

Magic Dancer^p,t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 125| CD

5/1

Losing run dates back to 2018 but has gone close on a few occasions. Didn't shape at all badly on Plumpton reappearance last month and not ruled out off 2 lb lower mark here.

Form: 3/6420-4

Tegerek²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124| D

5/1

Fairly useful on the Flat in France and came good over hurdles with a hood added at Huntingdon (2m, heavy) in March. Good second both subsequent efforts and has the benefit of a recent run.

Form: 30412-2

St Gallen^t⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁶⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 123| D

28/1

Boasts an excellent strike rate for this stable and can be excused a lesser effort at Stratford 48 days ago. Needs further improvement on the back of a break, though.

Form: 5/110-17

Hallings Comet⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny McMenamin| T: S Lycett| OR: 118| D

22/1

Front runner who has hit the frame on all 3 outings this term but is likely to find this a bit too competitive.

Form: 744-224

Non-Runners

Byron Flyer²⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 9

T: Ian Williams J: C J Todd

Forecasts

One True King (4/1), Tegerek (5/1), Magic Dancer (5/1), Benny's Bridge (6/1), Wild Max (17/2), Ashington (11/1), Miss Heritage (14/1), Byron Flyer (14/1), Nanabelle (18/1), Clemencia (18/1), Sternrubin (20/1), Hallings Comet (22/1), Scorched Earth (22/1), St Gallen (28/1), Endlessly (28/1), Percy (33/1), Fair Mountain (50/1), Hijran (125/1)

ONE TRUE KING readily opened his account at Uttoxeter last time and, provided his lack of experience doesn't hold him back in this much bigger field, he could show an opening mark of 125 to be rather lenient. Nanabelle and Wild Max both have disappointing runs to put behind them, but they're fresh and likely to get back on track.