14:35 Cheltenham

Saturday 1 January 2022

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:50

Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 6m 7.3s

Cracking Smart^p,v1²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 145| D

80/1

Fourth in the 2020 Coral Cup when trained by Gordon Elliott. Sold for £10,000 and low-key start for current connections in France.

Form: 500-0P6

Stoney Mountain⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 141| D

22/1

Better than ever when scoring over 3m at Newbury in November and backed that up when 12 lengths fourth to Dans le Vent in a valuable event at Haydock since.

Form: 9/37-P14

Ask Dillon²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 141| CD

12/1

Smart handicap hurdler last season, signing off with a C&D success in April. Easily best effort this term when third back here 3 weeks ago but looked very hard work without the headgear.

Form: 61-4603

Dolphin Square^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 139| D

28/1

Spent second half of last term over fences, easily landing the odds in a 3-runner Kelso hunter in May. As good as ever when landing 14-runner handicap hurdle at Newbury in November. Up 5 lb.

Form: 25-1221

Botox Has^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 139| C

13/2

Hasn't quite progressed as anticipated since taking a 2m conditions race here in October 2020. Reacted well to cheekpieces upped markedly in trip when second to Kansas CIty Chief over C&D.

Form: 06P-F82

Pileon²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137

9/2

Failed to shine (initially over fences) last term but he cashed in on a reduced mark at Sandown a month ago, keeping on well over 23.5f. Runner-up in the Martin Pipe in 2020 from 1 lb higher.

Form: PP8-041

The Mighty Don²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 136| CD

33/1

Useful chaser at his best for all he belts the odd one, as was in evidence when second at this venue in November. Didn't race with much zest at Sandown and now back hurdling.

Form: 065-927

Spiritofthegames^p³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| D

10/1

Regular in competitive handicaps and finished with running left when mid field in the Paddy Power over fences here. Easy enough to excuse Newcastle run and lurks on a tempting mark back hurdling.

Form: 283-49P

Tamar Bridge²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 134

11/2

Allotted a lenient mark and landed a few bets on handicap debut at Aintree a month ago, digging deep. Up 6 lb in a more competitive environment but he's on the up.

Form: 131-11

My Bobby Dazzler²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 132

15/2

Maiden/handicap winner at Aintree in May/June and maintained 100% record at that venue upped to 24.7f a month ago, readily. No surprise he is hit with a 14 lb rise on the back of that.

Form: 4-11741

Whatsupwithyou²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 130| D

14/1

Useful hurdler who finished a fine fourth in the 22-runner Martin Pipe at Cheltenham Festival in March. Hasn't gone with much fluency both starts over fences this term but respected back hurdling.

Form: 2540-63

Kansas City Chief^p²²

Age: 13| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss Victoria Malzard⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 129| CD

14/1

Veteran who was all the better for his comeback run in Jersey when landing a C&D handicap under this rider in October. Repeated the trick back here 3 weeks ago and he's a likeable front runner.

Form: 3U9-131

Art Approval⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 128| C

5/1

Bagged 2m wins at Market Rasen and Exeter last term and well ridden when adding to tally in a 21f course handicap in November. 8 lb rise perfectly fair but stamina is an unknown.

Form: 2711-41

Sirobbie⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 124

50/1

Five-time hurdles winner at Uttoxeter for Harry Whittington. Third 2 of 3 starts for current yard, latterly over fences but he's pretty exposed.

Form: 430-393

Forecasts

Pileon (9/2), Art Approval (5/1), Tamar Bridge (11/2), Botox Has (13/2), My Bobby Dazzler (15/2), Spiritofthegames (10/1), Ask Dillon (12/1), Kansas City Chief (14/1), Whatsupwithyou (14/1), Stoney Mountain (22/1), Dolphin Square (28/1), The Mighty Don (33/1), Sirobbie (50/1), Cracking Smart (80/1)

SPIRITOFTHEGAMES' strike rate will put a few off but from a handicapping perspective he has been given a massive chance back over hurdles so at the forecast odds, he is worth siding with. Tamar Bridge is on the up and has to be feared, along with Pileon and Whatsupwithyou, both of whom with placed form in the Martin Pipe to call upon.