15:25 Cheltenham

Saturday 13 November 2021

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:2515:55

Paddy Power Feel Like A Favourite Intermediate Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 5m 15.38s

Benson^t³²⁹

14/1

Bumper winner who made it 3-3 over hurdles in Sandown handicap before creditable fourth from 10 lb higher in Grade 3 event at Ascot. This step up in trip worth exploring on return. Had had a wind op.

Form: R7/1114-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Capilano Bridge¹⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 136

18/1

Dual hurdles winner who eked out a bit more improvement when excellent second of 25 in 3m handicap at Punchestown on final outing in April. Not taken lightly on this return to action.

Form: 161242-

Breffniboy²³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 134| C

28/1

Much-improved handicapper last term, gaining a fifth win of the campaign here (2m) in December. Went close to adding to his tally at Kempton on final outing and has since joined Philip Hobbs.

Form: 111242-

Gowel Road³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 134

13/2

Decisive winner of Newbury handicap in January before following up in a novice over same C&D. Things haven't quite gone to plan since, but he remains with potential now stepping up further in trip.

Form: 24110-6

Severance^h³²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 127

28/1

Useful on Flat and made an impressive winning debut over hurdles in 17f Carlisle maiden. Failed to match that form next 2 starts and now goes handicapping up in trip after 10 months off.

Form: 153-

Good Time Jonny^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Peter Carberry| T: A J Martin| OR: 126

10/3

Posted a career best to get off the mark over hurdles in 11-runner handicap at Gowran (20f) 43 days ago, scoring readily. This is tougher but he's still relatively unexposed at this sort of trip.

Form: 4-95F31

Pyramid Place^h³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: M F Harris| OR: 123

14/1

Hit the target 3 times in juvenile campaign and stepped up on that form when very good second in 2m Chepstow handicap on return, though clear lacked nothing in fitness after 6 months off.

Form: 71168-2

Mackelduff²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 122

6/1

Progressive hurdler who followed up his Southwell maiden success on handicap debut at Aintree (20f) 20 days ago, quickening to lead final 1f and driven clear. Open to further improvement.

Form: 43-11

Small Bad Bob²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 121

50/1

Made a sound start for this yard, winning Newton Abbot novice and following up back in handicap company at Fontwell. However, was found out from a 6 lb higher mark in a tougher race here last time.

Form: 5-22119

Unexpected Party¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 120| D

3/1

Made a mockery of his opening mark upped markedly in trip when winning with any amount in hand at Wetherby (21.1f) 15 days ago. Hit with 11 lb rise but promises to go on improving for a while yet.

Form: 2-41

Punxsutawney Phil³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: B Ellison| OR: 113

10/1

AW bumper winner who continued his steadily progressive start over hurdles with success in 16.8f maiden at Sedgefield 38 days ago. Into handicaps now up in trip and may do better still.

Form: 14-321

Non-Runners

Vis A Vis⁷¹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 7

T: N P Mulholland J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Unexpected Party (3/1), Good Time Jonny (10/3), Mackelduff (6/1), Gowel Road (13/2), Punxsutawney Phil (10/1), Benson (14/1), Pyramid Place (14/1), Capilano Bridge (18/1), Vis A Vis (20/1), Breffniboy (28/1), Severance (28/1), Small Bad Bob (50/1)

UNEXPECTED PARTY hardly won the deepest of handicaps at Wetherby, but he did it with ridiculous ease and promises to go on improving for a while yet, so the 11 lb rise is unlikely to prove a barrier. Mackelduff is another progressing well and commands plenty of respect, as does Gowel Road, who remains with potential, especially now stepping up further in distance.