13:30 Cheltenham

Wednesday 16 March 2022

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 20.38s

Haxo²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| BF

125/1

French bumper winner for E. Leray. Off 10 months and runner-up on hurdles debut at Punchestown 3 weeks ago (2m). In top hands but this is a huge ask at this stage of his career.

Form: 08-162

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Hemlock²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney

200/1

Eased in class and made sole run for Robert Widger a winning one in bumper at Perth in June. Runner-up both starts over hurdles for current yard this winter but looks out of his depth.

Form: 57-1D22

I Am Maximus⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134| BF| C

12/1

Won sole bumper at this track in 2020. Found wanting for know-how on hurdling debut but made no mistake at Newbury. Took form up another notch when runner-up over 20.3f at listed level here latest.

Form: 1-312

Journey With Me³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

5/1

Wide-margin bumper scorer and made most impressive winning debut over hurdles at Leopardstown (2m4f) in December. That race worked out well and he did his bit for the form at Naas. Exciting prospect.

Form: 11-11

Scarface²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 128

66/1

Related to hurdling winners and found only one too good on hurdles debut at Exeter in January. Stuck to his task when occupying same spot over 19.3f at Ascot and more to come as stamina is drawn out.

Form: 54022

Sir Gerhard³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151| C

8/11

£400,000 point recruit who was unbeaten last term, notably in the Champion Bumper. Landed odds both starts over hurdles (2m), looking every inch a top-class prospect despite odd error at Leopardstown.

Form: 1113-11

Stage Star⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| D

7/1

Highly-promising bumper winner who is unbeaten over hurdles, taking the step up in class in his stride when slamming the opposition in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury. Limit not yet reached.

Form: 123-111

Three Stripe Life³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 144

8/1

Fourth in the Champion Bumper last year and very positive start over hurdles, successful at Fairyhouse before a brace of runner-up efforts in Grade 1 company over 2m. Promises to stay this far.

Form: 14-122

Whatdeawant⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

18/1

Beat Ginto in a bumper and made a successful debut over hurdles at Navan in December. Shaped better than the result suggests in Grade 1 at Naas subsequently, so well worth another chance.

Form: 13-15

Forecasts

Sir Gerhard (8/11), Journey With Me (5/1), Stage Star (7/1), Three Stripe Life (8/1), I Am Maximus (12/1), Whatdeawant (18/1), Scarface (66/1), Haxo (125/1), Hemlock (200/1)

SIR GERHARD wasn't foot perfect in the Brave Inca at Leopardstown but still proved way too good for the opposition in what has traditionally been the key novice trial for this meeting. That sets the clear standard and, with hopes high that he will stay this trip, he'll take some stopping. Stage Star and Journey With Me have done everything right over hurdles so far and they head the opposition.