16:10 Cheltenham

Saturday 30 January 2021

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

SSS Super Alloys Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 2 | 2m 179y | 10 Runners | Turf

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 142| BF

Successful on return at Ffos Las last term and excellent second in a big-field handicap at Ascot around a year ago. Now 8 lb below that mark but yet to get going this term. Tongue tie applied.

Form: 275-463

Chti Balko²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 141

Dropped in weights and back on song with emphatic win in 2m handicap at Haydock last month. Wasn't in the same form at Kempton but this mark needn't prove beyond him.

Form: 124-615

Highway One O Two^h²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: C Gordon| OR: 141

Made up into a smart novice hurdler last term, signing off with an all-the-way Kempton Grade 2 success. Failed to complete both starts over fences and needed to see more at Sandown latest.

Form: 111-FU6

Sir Valentine^p1⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 131

Useful winning 2m hurdler who shaped well on chase debut when runner-up here in October. Mistakes crept in both starts since and now back over timber in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 349-224

Witness Protection²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: James Best| T: M Keighley| OR: 129

Promise in bumpers and successful twice in novice company this season, latterly strong at the finish at Chepstow 3 weeks ago. More to come in handicaps.

Form: 342-121

Nordic Combined^b,t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 129

Opened hurdles account at Taunton final run last term. Resolution when push comes to shove often missing with him though, and he hung left before falling at Newbury a month ago.

Form: 1-6525F

Time Flies By⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128| C

Useful bumper winner who showed definite promise in pair of Grade 2 hurdle contests in 2019/20. Needs to step up on last month's handicap debut effort but he's certainly in the right hands.

Form: 1235-29

Martinhal^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 123| D

Heavy-ground bumper winner at Huntingdon in March and showed a willing attitude when making third hurdles start a winning one (on the back of a wind op) at Exeter 3 weeks ago. Open to improvement.

Form: F1-441

Stormy Flight²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 123

Taunton maiden hurdle winner and arrives at the top of his game, again ridden with restraint when runner-up at Exeter 3 weeks ago. Same mark here and he can remain competitive.

Form: 31-3732

Song Of The Hunter¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: B S Hughes| T: J Farrelly| OR: 114

Winning Irish pointer who made all on Taunton hurdle debut in March. Looked set to go close before falling in a handicap on reappearance but was a shade disappointing last time. Has left Gail Haywood.

Form: F151-F3

Forecasts

Witness Protection (4/1), Time Flies By (9/2), Martinhal (6/1), Monsieur Lecoq (7/1), Chti Balko (8/1), Stormy Flight (8/1), Nordic Combined (8/1), Sir Valentine (10/1), Song Of The Hunter (14/1), Highway One O Two (14/1)

MARTINHAL displayed the right attitude when opening his hurdles account at Exeter 3 weeks ago, and with a good test of stamina kept to this trip in his favour, he can cash in on a lenient-looking opening mark. Chti Balko is a smart performer on his day and is feared, along with Stormy Flight.