13:35 Cheltenham

Friday 21 October 2022

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Showcasing Sustainability Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:36 | Winning time: 3m 57.61s

Duffle Coat^b⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| CD

20/1

Won a C&D Grade 2 in his juvenile campaign but has struggled to reach the same heights since, finishing well held in conditions hurdles at Down Royal and Galway at the end of the summer. Always dangerous to rule out anything from this yard but his claims aren't obvious.

Form: 1/00P-48

Pisgah Pike^p,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: William Featherstone⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 131| D

20/1

Career best when winning 11-runner Summer Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen in July. Bounced back quickly from a poor run at Worcester when good third of 12 back at Market Rasen last month. Ought to be competitive for in-form yard.

Form: 32-7163

Thibault^t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽³⁾| T: A West| OR: 128| D

28/1

Dual-purpose performer who won on the Flat at Chepstow and over hurdles at Plumpton (20.5f) this spring. Creditable third of 7 in a 2m Plumpton handicap last month. This is more competitive, though.

Form: U517-13

Nayati²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 127| D

16/1

Made light of a monster 34-month absence when taking a 2m Perth handicap 29 days ago. Had a bit in hand so a 5 lb rise may not prevent a prominent showing if turning up in similar form.

Form: 23FF3/1

Swaffham Bulbeck²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: S Edmunds| OR: 127| D

12/1

Fairly useful hurdler who opened his account over fences in a 3-runner novice at Fontwell last autumn. Fit from a run on the Flat when respectable third in a handicap hurdle back at Fontwell 3 weeks ago.

Form: 241/21-3

Calico^t²⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 126| D

17/2

Won a pair of novice hurdles in early-2021. Failed to kick on as might have been expected in handicap hurdles last season but he has been given a chance by the handicapper if bouncing back to his best after a break. Market support worth noting.

Form: 842306-

Glimpse Of Gold^t⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 122| D

33/1

Completed a hat-trick in 2m hurdles from April to June and has largely continued in good order without suggesting he has a great deal in hand of his mark.

Form: 165224

No Trouble^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Kieren Buckley| T: J C McConnell| OR: 122

16/1

Found a bit of improvement when off the mark over hurdles in 19f Downpatrick novice a fortnight ago. Has his first handicap start in this sphere here. Interesting contender.

Form: 373221

Castel Gandolfo^b,t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 122| BF| D

11/1

Successful twice over hurdles at around 2m during 2021 and filled runner-up spot on 4 occasions since. Latest Market Rasen fourth (Pisgah Pike third) was also creditable. Each-way claims.

Form: 752-424

Lively Citizen¹⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Archie Bellamy⁽⁶⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 121| CD

11/2

Likeable and consistent sort who was a cracking second in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March. Not in quite the same form when sixth at Aintree the following month but this former C&D winner could play a part if ready to roll on his return.

Form: 31P126-

Tullypole Annie^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: P J O'Hanlon| T: P Flood| OR: 121

20/1

Dual Ballinrobe winner at the start of the season and even better form when runner-up on his last 3 outings, the latest under today's rider Patrick O'Hanlon. Respected Irish raider.

Form: 241222

Elham Valley^b,t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁶⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 119| D

11/2

Successful at Warwick in May and back on-song following a couple of low-key efforts when narrowly prevailing at Newton Abbot (17f) in August. Another good run when second at Southwell since. Another to consider.

Form: 4-13412

Wojood^p,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Daniel King⁽⁶⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 119| D

40/1

Winner over hurdles at Ballinrobe and on the Flat at Tramore in August. Might have been stretched by 2½m at Listowel last month and respectable fifth on the Flat at Thurles since.

Form: 16-UF17

One Cool Poet^t¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: J B Foley| T: M J Smith| OR: 119

14/1

Winner of a 2m Down Royal handicap hurdle in August. Unable to make an impact on the Flat on his next 3 starts but back on track returned to hurdles when second of 20 at Punchestown (2m) 10 days ago.

Form: 49/P-012

Soul Icon^h,t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Kimber| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 117

11/4

Has proved a different proposition since switched to handicaps, making it 6 wins from 7 starts when seeing off 5 rivals over 2¼m at Fontwell last month. Up 9 lb in a much deeper race now but still dangerous to rule out in current mood.

Form: 12-1111

Non-Runners

Clay Rogers⁴¹⁵

Weight: 10-7| Age: 7

T: O Murphy J: Daire Davis

Forecasts

Soul Icon (11/4), Elham Valley (11/2), Lively Citizen (11/2), Clay Rogers (8/1), Calico (17/2), Castel Gandolfo (11/1), Swaffham Bulbeck (12/1), One Cool Poet (14/1), Nayati (16/1), No Trouble (16/1), Duffle Coat (20/1), Tullypole Annie (20/1), Pisgah Pike (20/1), Thibault (28/1), Glimpse Of Gold (33/1), Wojood (40/1)

This is wide open. A tentative vote goes the way of ELHAM VALLEY as his trainer has won 2 of the last 3 running of this race. Tullypole Annie, who has thrived in Ireland lately, unexposed handicap newcomer Clay Rogers and the prolific Soul Icon head the many possible danger.