14:05 Cheltenham

Thursday 15 April 2021

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

NAF Fillies' Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 4m 10.73s

Fiveandtwenty⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 132

13/2

Fairly useful on Flat for Mark Johnston and has relished the switch to hurdling, winning her first 3 starts at Musselburgh before a respectable third to Monmiral up in grade at Aintree last week.

Form: 1113

Talking About You²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: S Curran| OR: 132| D

12/1

Improved model since undergoing wind surgery, completing hat-trick in listed company at Taunton in December. Not at best since (no chance in Triumph here last time) and mark looks rather harsh.

Form: 411127

Her Indoors³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 126| D

6/1

Fairly useful Flat winner who has made a positive start over hurdles, runner-up twice before taking Doncaster listed in January. Not disgraced in Fred Winter last time and this is more realistic.

Form: 2210

Scholastic¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 121| D

9/4

Fair hurdler who was a good third to Jeff Kidder in Grade 2 company at Fairyhouse 10 days ago. A mark of 121 may well underestimate her, so she's worth chancing.

Form: 12P453

Raffles Gitane²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 117

40/1

Fair hurdler who made hard work of justifying favouritism at Hereford in February then came unstuck under a penalty at Huntingdon 23 days ago. Bit to find from this mark, but not fully exposed.

Form: 4513

Progressive²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 117| D

9/2

Flat winner who made winning start over hurdles at Doncaster in December. Bounced back from a couple of disappointing runs when second on handicap bow at Musselburgh last time, but mark sums her up.

Form: 1442

See The Eagle Fly^t1⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: H Whittington| OR: 115WS

9/1

Fair form when landing a juvenile hurdle at Fontwell (17.7f) in October and was back on track when fourth at Newbury last time. Switches to handicaps with tongue strap fitted, but needs to improve.

Form: 14634

Table Mountain^p1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 106

11/2

Fairly useful winning stayer on Flat for Andrew Balding. Yet to match that form over hurdles but has been handed a potentially lenient opening mark. One to consider.

Form: 3452

Sarceaux⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 95

66/1

Fair 12.5f Flat winner in France but no promise in juvenile hurdles. Stiff task from out of the weights.

Form: 56P

Forecasts

Scholastic (9/4), Progressive (9/2), Table Mountain (11/2), Her Indoors (6/1), Fiveandtwenty (13/2), See The Eagle Fly (9/1), Talking About You (12/1), Raffles Gitane (40/1), Sarceaux (66/1)

SCHOLASTIC arrives on the back of an improved showing at Fairyhouse and wouldn't be the only Irish hurdler to have been let in lightly this year, so she's a fairly confident selection ahead of the likeable Fiveandtwenty, who fared as well as could be expected behind Monmiral at Aintree last week. Table Mountain is another one to consider.