15:05 Cheltenham

Friday 22 October 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

888sport What's Your Thinking Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 5m 46.86s

Bardenstown Lad³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: J C McConnell| OR: 130| BF| D

85/40

Bumper winner who impressed when making a successful hurdles debut in a Wexford maiden. Landed odds at Cartmel next time before unsuited by emphasis on speed at Navan. Remains a useful prospect.

Form: 11-3113

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Calagogo^p,t⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

5/1

Took a huge step forward in first-time headgear when completing hat-trick in novice (22/1) at Killarney (22.8f, good to soft) 63 days ago, albeit having the run of the race. Big player with a repeat.

Form: 24-4111

Drumlee Watar^t,v1³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 128| D

18/1

Idled but still got the job done when completing the hat-trick at Worcester in July. Sound effort back in a handicap at Bangor and quickly resumed winning ways at Perth last month. Change of headgear.

Form: 211131

Onagatheringstorm¹⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130| D

8/1

Winning pointer who confirmed hurdles debut promise when running out a comfortable winner of a Warwick maiden (21f) in April. Comfortably landed odds at Aintree following month but more needed here.

Form: 31321-1

Dragon Bones¹⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: Ian Williams| OR: 130| D

10/3

Bumper winner who sprung a surprise when winning 3m Doncaster listed event on hurdling debut in March. Successful all 3 completed starts since. Leading claims.

Form: 41U11-1

Almazhar Garde^p,t¹⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 133

12/1

Useful handicap chaser who picked up a couple of wins last season. Poor effort when last seen in May and back over hurdles now.

Form: 51P71-6

Grace A Vous Enki¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| BF

9/1

Useful French chaser who was picked up for a six-figure sum after finishing third in Auteuil Group 3 11 months ago. Failed to land the odds on British debut at Worcester but should come on for that.

Form: P3163-2

Siruh Du Lac³⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 141| C

12/1

Smart chaser who has been seen sparingly since 2019 and got no further than the first at Cheltenham 11 months ago on debut for this yard. Back over hurdles now and upped in trip. Interesting.

Form: 111PF/U-

Forecasts

Bardenstown Lad (85/40), Dragon Bones (10/3), Calagogo (5/1), Onagatheringstorm (8/1), Grace A Vous Enki (9/1), Almazhar Garde (12/1), Siruh Du Lac (12/1), Drumlee Watar (18/1)

SIRUH DU LAC would prove hard to beat if reproducing his smart chase form on a rare outing over hurdles so could be worth chancing back from another lay-off. Dragon Bones has won all of her completed starts over timber and is high on the shortlist on these terms, while Grace A Vous Enki and Bardenstown Lad both remain with potential.