15:55 Cheltenham

Friday 21 October 2022

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

Abu Dhabi Digital Exchange Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:56 | Winning time: 4m 54.3s

Coole Cody¹⁹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 141| CD

5/1

Admirably tough front runner who landed Plate at the Festival here in March. Runner-up in this event on his seasonal return 12 months ago so he's firmly in the picture.

Form: F18713-

Francky Du Berlais^t⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 133| D

22/1

Found plenty for pressure when landing Summer Plate for the second year at Market Rasen last month before posting good second back in this sphere at Bangor in August. Considered.

Form: 4-15312

Hooper^p⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130| BF| C| DWS

9/1

Useful hurdler at his best but tried in blinkers when below-par third of 6 at Newton Abbot (21.6f) 62 days ago. Has since had a wind op and needs it to spark a resurgence.

Form: 20-3333

Bigz Belief^b,t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M J Smith| OR: 130

50/1

Fairly useful winning Irish hurdler but he came in last of 7 in novice chase at Listowel (22f) on debut over fences 30 days ago. Back over hurdles and no surprise to see him bounce back.

Form: P0310-7

Seddon³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 129| D

10/1

In good form since leaving Harry Whittington, third of 12 in 2m handicap hurdle at Navan 34 days ago. Back up in trip and one for the shortlist.

Form: 328F23

Onagatheringstorm^t²⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 129WS

11/2

Made a good start in handicaps when runner-up here but tongue strap on when fading tenth over 3m at Sandown 8 months ago. Has since had a wind op and returns on a handy-looking mark so he's an interesting contender.

Form: 1/13250-

Glentruan^t²⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: G Sheehan| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 123| DWS

22/1

Doubled hurdles tally when dead-heating in 20.5f Ayr handicap on first start for Ann Duffield. Not disgraced when fifth at Wetherby 9 months ago so he's no forlorn hope on his return after breathing surgery.

Form: 2/83515-

Arabian King^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: M J Smith| OR: 122| D

50/1

Made a winning hurdling debut at Killarney in July but has found life tougher in two handicaps since, hooded when sixth of 12 at Gowran (20f) 21 days ago. Needs to take a step forward.

Form: 196

Garo De Juilley^t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Roisin Leech⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 122| D

66/1

Hasn't won on these shores since October 2018 and well below par fifth of 7 in minor event at Nantes (19.4f) 35 days ago. Hard to warm to.

Form: 6860P-5

Aurora Thunder¹⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120| BF| D

16/1

Resumed with good second of 10 in handicap hurdle at Perth (20.2f) in May. Has gone well fresh so she enters calculations off an unchanged mark.

Form: P123F-2

Listentillitellyea²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| OR: 118

17/2

Still to get his head in front but he arrives in good nick, second of 15 in handicap hurdle at Listowel (20f) 27 days ago. Irish raider needs considering despite a 7 lb rise here.

Form: 322832

Spanish Present²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 116| D

13/8

Got off the mark on just his second start over hurdles in novice at Worcester (20f, 13/8) 28 days ago. Goes into handicaps open to further improvement. Shortlisted.

Form: 4319-41

Fontana Ellissi²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 113

22/1

Looked rusty after 6 months off when last of 5 in handicap hurdle at Worcester (20f) 28 days ago. Weighted to have a say if back on song now.

Form: 51244-5

Forecasts

Spanish Present (13/8), Coole Cody (5/1), Onagatheringstorm (11/2), Listentillitellyea (17/2), Hooper (9/1), Seddon (10/1), Aurora Thunder (16/1), Fontana Ellissi (22/1), Francky Du Berlais (22/1), Glentruan (22/1), Arabian King (50/1), Bigz Belief (50/1), Garo De Juilley (66/1)

A very open handicap. ONAGATHERINGSTORM failed to go on after a promising start in handicaps last term but returns after a wind op on a handy mark here and with Fergal O'Brien's yard in excellent nick he can bounce back in style. Francky du Berlais and Coole Cody are better known for their chasing exploits but are still greatly respected back in this sphere and can chase home the selection in that order. Aurora Thunder and Listentillitellyea complete the shortlist.