15:50 Cheltenham

Saturday 1 January 2022

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

Pony Club 'Junior' NH Flat Race (Listed) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 3m 24.91s

Alazwar⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: A Watson| BF| D

14/1

Flat-bred gelding who made all in good style at Huntingdon in October and, while slightly disappointing there next time, he remains with potential having been given more of a break prior to this.

Form: 13

A Shining Moon⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Jones| T: Eve Johnson Houghton

40/1

Out of a Flat winner and showed plenty when runner-up at Huntingdon 53 days ago. Knew his job that day, so lacks the scope of some of his rivals.

Form: 2

Beyond Boundaries

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: A M Balding

15/2

Australia gelding. Brother to smart 7f-13f winner Western Australia and half-brother to 3 winners. Rare NH runner for his top Flat stable, so well worth monitoring in the betting.

Form:

Copperkin³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: B R Millman

125/1

Down the field behind Mr Sundancer at Wincanton on debut and more than likely to be outclassed in this field.

Form: 7

Diamond Egg

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

33/1

Diamond Boy gelding. Half-brother to Chimene. Dam, no show sole start over hurdles, half-sister to useful hurdler/chaser (17f-25f winner) Chamoss Royale. Up against it.

Form:

Idealdes Villerets³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Alex Edwards| T: Mrs M Rowley

22/1

Landed a French bumper, then acquitted himself well when third at Doncaster on stable/British debut. Will need more to trouble one or two of these rivals, however.

Form: 13

Legionar⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: M F Harris

11/2

Confirmed the encouragement of his debut when running out a comfortable winner at Aintree 56 days ago. Seems a likeable type, but improvement is needed if he's to prevail up in grade.

Form: 31

Mamoon Star⁸⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien

16/1

Good second to Alazwar at Huntingdon first time out 88 days ago and has more stamina in his pedigree than the majority of this field, so would be suited by a good test at the trip.

Form: 2

Mr Sundancer²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: J G Portman

22/1

Green but made the ideal start when scoring at Wincanton, then backed it up with a good second at Hereford under a penalty 3 weeks ago. Looks vulnerable up in grade, though.

Form: 12

Royal Max

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

4/1

£50,000 3-y-o, Maxios gelding. Closely related to 2 winners on Flat, including 6f winner Picador. Dam 7.5f winner. Makes plenty of appeal on paper.

Form:

Scud³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: J W Mullins

80/1

Shaped with a little encouragement when fourth at Huntingdon (13.7f, good) on NH debut but didn't really build on it at Wincanton subsequently. Others make more appeal.

Form: 45

Chic Avenue²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly

20/1

Champs Elysees filly who would probably have made a winning start at Wetherby (when third) had she not been so green under pressure. Not discounted with the benefit of experience.

Form: 3

Iliade Allen⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Chester Williams| T: Nick Williams| D

5/1

Half-sister to Galahad Quest and, following an encouraging debut, got off the mark with something up her sleeve in quite a hot contest at Warwick 45 days ago. She's well worth the step up in grade.

Form: 31

Kimberley Eve^t³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Ian Williams

40/1

Half-sister to 3 winners and showed plenty when second to Mr Sundancer at Wincanton first time out. Drop back in trip is unlikely to play to her strengths.

Form: 2

Poetic Music¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

7/2

Poet's Voice filly who has scored comfortably on both starts (at Newbury on latest), leaving John Butler for £60,000 in between. Another big effort expected.

Form: 11

Forecasts

Poetic Music (7/2), Royal Max (4/1), Iliade Allen (5/1), Legionar (11/2), Beyond Boundaries (15/2), Alazwar (14/1), Mamoon Star (16/1), Chic Avenue (20/1), Idealdes Villerets (22/1), Mr Sundancer (22/1), Diamond Egg (33/1), A Shining Moon (40/1), Kimberley Eve (40/1), Scud (80/1), Copperkin (125/1)

BEYOND BOUNDARIES is a full brother to a smart Flat type and represents top connections, so a chance is taken on him to make a winning start at the likely expense of Poetic Music, who is unbeaten in 2 so far. Iliade Allen also comes under consideration having opened her account at Warwick last time.