13:30 Cheltenham

Wednesday 13 April 2022

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 1.01s

Champagne Well¹³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 137| C

20/1

Ex-pointer who made up into useful novice hurdler during 2019/2020 campaign. Big step up from his reappearance when winning at Plumpton in November but found less than looked likely over fences a month later. Off since.

Form: 332-P15

Chapmanshype^t¹⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 134

28/1

Fine strike rate over hurdles and made a winning chase debut at Fontwell in May. Well held in hot handicap at Chepstow in October and off the track since.

Form: 134520

Captain Morgs¹⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 131| BF

4/1

Probably a bit fortunate to win at Ascot (2m) in November but backed that up with a fair run in a messy renewal of the Gerry Feilden at Newbury a week on. Off since a lesser effort at Kempton in December but can bounce back away from the mud.

Form: 0F-3128

Straw Fan Jack¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 130| D

6/1

Has been in rather patchy form this season, always on the back foot at Newbury 12 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 206P24

Sizable Sam^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 130| D

13/2

Won novice/handicap at Wincanton last season and, after a disappointing spell chasing, looked at least as good as ever as he resumed winning ways back there in February. Didn't do a lot wrong when second at Ascot and he remains of interest.

Form: P-5P312

Mongol Emperor^h³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 125

11/2

Won back-to-back handicaps over 2m last March and all the fitter for reappearance when runner-up at Doncaster last month. Rallied well that day, suggesting he's well worth a go at this trip. Interesting.

Form: 8411-42

Bold Plan³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 125

6/1

Useful hurdler/chaser at best and having dropped markedly in the weights, he now chases a hat-trick following wins at Market Rasen and Newbury. Has to be feared.

Form: 786911

Romeo Brown¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 121

15/2

Went with more zest than has been the case when second of 12 at Carlisle in February and responded really well to a positive ride when going one place better at Kelso 18 days ago. Up 7 lb in a better race but still warrants respect.

Form: 149421

Whatsupwithyou^p¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 119| BF

5/1

Losing run dates back to 2019 but nearly snappped that sequence when a narrow second of 5 at Fontwell a fortnight ago. Winner has since gone in again and a 2 lb rise still leaves him on a good mark.

Form: 636842

Forecasts

Captain Morgs (4/1), Whatsupwithyou (5/1), Mongol Emperor (11/2), Bold Plan (6/1), Straw Fan Jack (6/1), Sizable Sam (13/2), Romeo Brown (15/2), Champagne Well (20/1), Chapmanshype (28/1)

The way MONGOL EMPEROR rallied at Doncaster last month suggests he is well worth a try at this sort of trip and he could be the answer to a competitive handicap for the field size. Bold Plan is back in excellent order and still retains handicap scope, with Whatsupwithyou also of interest given the form of his latest second has been boosted recently.