13:15 Cheltenham

Friday 10 December 2021

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Catesby Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 4m 3.7s

Esprit Du Large²⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 138

20/1

Made up into smart novice chaser in 2019/20, including a Grade 1 win. However, he lost way over fences last term and also dropped away tamely back hurdling in February. Something to prove on return.

Form: 1F/F3FP-

Quinta Do Mar²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 137| D

9/2

Largely progressive hurdler, winning eased down in Fontwell handicap last month. In a more competitive environment now but a 6 lb rise doesn't look severe.

Form: 3124-11

Mengli Khan^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr Nathan Brennan⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135

22/1

Landed small-field events over hurdles/fences in Ireland in summer 2020 but little show in his 3 starts over jumps since joining this yard, pulling up in Ascot chase on return in October.

Form: 17220-P

Broomfield Burg^h³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130| BF

5/2

Looked a good prospect when winning bumper/novice hurdle in spring. Outbattled to some extent when second in Newbury novice last month but retains plenty of potential now handicapping.

Form: 17-112

Jan Maat¹³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 127| D

125/1

Useful chaser at his best for Henry de Bromhead, leaving that yard sincea disappointing run at Galway in July. Fair bit to prove back hurdling for new trainer.

Form: 4F00-40

Robinshill^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 124| D

25/1

Completed a hat-trick last autumn and returned with a bang to win 2m Leicester handicap on return 25 days ago. Won off 8 lb higher over fences last year so retains handicapping scope.

Form: 11145-1

Royaume Uni⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 123

14/1

Ready winner of 2m Plumpton handicap in October. Shaped as if amiss returned to the Flat at Newmarket 11 days later but he remains unexposed as a hurdler.

Form: 41424-1

Castel Gandolfo^p,t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 120

9/1

Maiden/novice handicap winner (at 2m) during the summer who ran best race yet when runner-up on his course reappearance last month. Another who has to enter the reckoning.

Form: 2-11322

The Grey Falco³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: A Ralph| OR: 119

11/1

2m Chepstow novice winner last season who shaped like a non-stayer when fifth of 12 on his 2½m Bangor reappearance. Remains relatively unexposed now dropping back to 2m.

Form: 7132P-5

Feel The Pinch⁶⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Max Kendrick| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115

100/1

Fair winning novice hurdler in 2019/20 but absent for 21 months ahead of this handicap debut from a mark which isn't obviously generous.

Form: 698102/

Punxsutawney Phil²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: S Bowen| T: B Ellison| OR: 113| D

5/1

AW bumper winner who continued steadily progressive start over hurdles with win in 17f maiden at Sedgefield in October. Creditable fourth in 21f handicap here since. Another who can't be discounted.

Form: 14-3214

Lively Citizen³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Archie Bellamy⁽⁷⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 111| C

6/1

Prominent racer who landed a course handicap last November before finishing second in this race last year off a 2lb higher mark than this afternoon. Fair third on return. Respected.

Form: 12233-3

Forecasts

Broomfield Burg (5/2), Quinta Do Mar (9/2), Punxsutawney Phil (5/1), Lively Citizen (6/1), Castel Gandolfo (9/1), The Grey Falco (11/1), Royaume Uni (14/1), Esprit Du Large (20/1), Mengli Khan (22/1), Robinshill (25/1), Feel The Pinch (100/1), Jan Maat (125/1)

BROOMFIELD BURG is an unexposed type representing top connections and is fancied to make light of an opening handicap mark of 130. This is much deeper than the Fontwell race Quinta Do Mar won last time but a 6 lb rise for that wide-margin success doesn't look excessive so he's put forward as the chief threat ahead of Robinshill.