13:10 Cheltenham

Friday 12 November 2021

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Markel Insurance Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:11 | Winning time: 5m 9.35s

The Wrekin³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Godfrey| T: H D Daly| OR: 125| D

11/1

Three-time winner of novice hurdles last term who also posted good seventh of 17 in Chepstow handicap last month. Not discounted eased 2 lb now.

Form: 02-1117

An Tailliur²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125| D

3/1

Improving at a rate of knots, and he readily completed a five-timer in 23f Exeter handicap 24 days ago. Up another 4 lb, but he has plenty more to offer and weighted to go in again.

Form: 2-11111

Breaking Waves^b¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jordan Nailor| T: H Whittington| OR: 124| D

40/1

Unreliable sort who turned in a laboured effort when only seventh of 11 in handicap at Plumpton (20.5f) 11 days ago. Others are much preferred.

Form: 341227

Skatman^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 122

4/1

Made it 2-2 over hurdles when making all in 2m novice at Newton Abbot last month, That form is working out well, so he's worth a close look now up in trip for his handicap bow.

Form: 18/1-1

Finisk River²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 121

33/1

Fairly useful hurdler who reverts to this sphere after coming in last of 5 in Carlisle handicap chase. No forlorn hope off a reduced mark for yard among the winners.

Form: 022435

Fontana Ellissi^p1⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Fergus Gregory| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 120| BF| D

40/1

Dual hurdles scorer who also posted good second in Sedgefield novice in September on final run for Nigel Twiston-Davies. Cheekpieces on for new yard, and others are better treated at these weights.

Form: 1-74212

Enemenemynemo²⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Archie Bellamy⁽⁸⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 120

12/1

Placed in Irish point and in 20f maiden hurdles at Southwell and Perth in the spring. May do better still now going handicapping.

Form: 442/32-

Neon Moon^p1,t²⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 120

11/1

Had wind op and tongue strap on when landing 20f novice hurdle at Wincanton 8 months ago. More to offer on his return now going into handicaps. Considered.

Form: P/1461-

Groveman⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: C P McNamara| T: E McNamara| OR: 120

28/1

Scored at Tramore in August and not discredited when seventh of 16 in handicap hurdle at Listowel (20f) 48 days ago. Irish challenger needs more off 7 lb higher mark here.

Form: 05/9-177

Subcontinent²⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Hugh Nugent| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120| D

125/1

Fairly useful 21f hurdles winner who came good over fences in 3m Ludlow handicap in February. Pulled up at Stratford on only start since though so has something to prove now.

Form: 24351P-

Alohamora^b¹⁰⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Gavin Brouder⁽³⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 120

66/1

In good form until only twelfth in 21f handicap hurdle at Galway in July. Irish mare needs to step forward from 4 lb higher mark.

Form: 0P-6U30

Ballinslea Bridge³¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Tabitha Worsley| T: R Dickin| OR: 120WS

200/1

Ended 2018 with back-to-back 19f hurdling wins for Olly Murphy. Never got going over fences for Gary Moore (lightly raced) reportedly bled when last seen in December. Has had a wind op for new yard.

Form: 7236/FP-

Apple Rock²¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 120

20/1

Added third handicap success to tally at Carlisle (19f) in February and signed off with good fifth in 3m handicap here 7 months ago. Yard going well, so he's not ruled out.

Form: 461165-

Art Approval²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 120

10/3

Bagged 2m wins at Market Rasen and Exeter last term before returning with creditable fourth in 20f handicap here three weeks ago. Possibilities.

Form: 22711-4

Billingsley²¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Jay Tidball⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 119

100/1

Completed a hat-trick in 2m handicap chases in 2019 but disappointing last season, having wind surgery before pulled up final run. Needs a lot more on his return to this sphere.

Form: 1/FU6PP-

Asserted¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 119

50/1

Progressive winning novice hurdler for Joseph O'Brien in Ireland this summer. Beat only one in 3m Aintree handicap on yard bow 19 days ago though, so needs a big step forward.

Form: 5/1630

Captain Blackpearl^t²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Cillin Leonard⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 119| DWS

14/1

Has had jumping issues since his successful chasing debut at Kempton last November. Back hurdling after a wind op for his comeback and he's no forlorn hope for new yard.

Form: 4/123U4-

Johnny B¹⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 118

33/1

Still a maiden, but reliable sort who recorded good third in 23f Worcester novice in May. Highly respected back in handicap company on his comeback run.

Form: 2232-23

Paricolor^b,t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Philip Armson⁽⁶⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 118| D

50/1

Prolific in sellers and bagged his sixth win at Hexham in May. Not disgraced given in need of run when fifth at Newton Abbot 22 days ago. Should strip fitter now.

Form: 1041-15

My Bobby Dazzler¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Alex Edwards| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 118

25/1

Dual 20f scorer at Aintree in early summer who looked rusty after 5 months off when seventh in 19f Ascot handicap 13 days ago. Should build on that now.

Form: 1/44-117

Forecasts

An Tailliur (3/1), Art Approval (10/3), Skatman (4/1), The Wrekin (11/1), Neon Moon (11/1), Enemenemynemo (12/1), Captain Blackpearl (14/1), Apple Rock (20/1), My Bobby Dazzler (25/1), Groveman (28/1), Finisk River (33/1), Johnny B (33/1), Fontana Ellissi (40/1), Breaking Waves (40/1), Paricolor (50/1), Asserted (50/1), Alohamora (66/1), Billingsley (100/1), Subcontinent (125/1), Ballinslea Bridge (200/1)

AN TAILLIUR extended his winning sequence to five in most taking style at Exeter so is fancied to defy a 4 lb rise in the weights with top conditional jockey Kevin Brogan back in the saddle too. Hat-trick seeking Skatman looks to have got in on a good mark for his handicap bow and rates a big threat while Neon Moon, Apple Rock and Captain Blackpearl are all shortlisted.