17:00 Cheltenham

Wednesday 13 April 2022

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

Cheltenham Pony Racing Authority Graduates Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys And Amateur Riders)

Off time: 17:17 | Winning time: 4m 6.05s

Herbiers^p,t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Toby Wynne⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 132

15/8

Successful 3 times in a very productive juvenile campaign and back to winning ways in 19.5f Doncaster handicap in November. Creditable efforts from inflated mark since, ninth in last month's Martin Pipe. Ease back in trip no problem and yard in good order.

Form: 1-P4149

Peaked Too Soon^t¹⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Chester Williams⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 122

22/1

5-y-o who showed fair form in bumpers and similar efforts in landing first 2 starts in maiden/novice hurdles last summer. Exploits proved mixed thereafter, well held in a Taunton handicap final start in October and the betting may prove a useful guide here.

Form: 113636

Pasvolsky^p1⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁷⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 121

17/2

Fairly useful hurdles winner who landed a match on second chase start at Plumpton (19.7f) in December. Well held in that sphere at Wincanton in January but returns to hurdling with yard in rude health and no surprise to see a much better showing.

Form: 0-55414

Lord Of Cheshire^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120

9/2

Low-mileage 5-y-o who has stepped up with each outing over hurdles, supplementing his Ludlow maiden (15.7f) victory with a hard fought success on handicap bow at Wincanton (15.2f) 23 days ago. That unlikely to prove his limit.

Form: 6211

Rock Legend²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 112

3/1

Promising 5-y-o who didn't need to match previous best when landing cramped odds in a Newcastle novice (16.2f) last month, asserting between last 2 and doing it comfortably. More to come now handicapping and high on shortlist.

Form: 4D-321

Koi Dodville^b¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 110

5/1

Fair 1¼m winner on Flat in France and good start in juvenile hurdles for present yard last summer, winning twice. Struggled in graded company but ran up to best when runner-up in a Fontwell handicap (17.7f) 2 weeks back. Does need to sharpen up his jumping, though.

Form: 134602

Applesandpierres^b³¹

Age: 14| Weight: 10-0| J: Roisin Leech⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 95| D

33/1

Latest win in France summer in 2020. Recent efforts have been respectable, albeit posing no threat when 14 lengths fourth of 7 at Warwick (2m) last month. Looks vulnerable to less exposed sorts once more, operating from out of weights.

Form: P43374

Non-Runners

Valentino Dancer¹⁸⁶

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: Liam Harrison

Forecasts

Herbiers (15/8), Rock Legend (3/1), Valentino Dancer (4/1), Lord Of Cheshire (9/2), Koi Dodville (5/1), Pasvolsky (17/2), Peaked Too Soon (22/1), Applesandpierres (33/1)

ROCK LEGEND didn't need to match his previous best when landing cramped odds on return at Newcastle last month yet he's just the type to step forward now handicapping from what rates an appealing opening mark and earns the vote to come out on top. Pasvolsky, for the very much in-form Chris Gordon team, is feared back over hurdles, as is Lord of Cheshire who arrives in search of the hat-trick.