13:30 Cheltenham

Saturday 22 October 2022

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

888Sport Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 5m 57.63s

Rexem⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Simon Torrens| T: J C McConnell| OR: 119| D

5/4

Bumper winner who has taken very well to hurdling, following up his Downpatrick success with something to spare at Killarney (22.8f) in August. Open to further progress.

Form: 2-31311

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No No Maestro^p,t¹⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 116| D

25/1

Fairly useful chaser who opened his account over hurdles in a 3-runner novice at Worcester (23f, good) in July, well ridden. This is a whole lot tougher.

Form: 11-2341

Serious Operator²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| D

10/1

Well held in a couple of bumpers (for Daniel Murphy), but he was successful in 2 of his 3 starts in points and made a winning start over hurdles in likeable fashion at Kelso (20.9f) 20 days ago. That wasn't a particularly strong race but he's open to improvement.

Form: 61461-1

Shearer^p,t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131

10/3

Improved in first-time cheekpieces when opening his hurdles account in a 9-runner handicap (3/1) at Newbury in March. Disappointed at Ayr on final outing but quickly back to winning ways at Worcester (23f) on reappearance. Solid contender.

Form: 23215-1

Twig¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Beau Morgan| T: B Pauling| OR: 134| D

11/1

Multiple winning pointer who landed a pair of hunter chases for Matthew Hampton back in the spring. Added to his tally in 3-runner handicap at Warwick 16 days ago, though typically looked less than straightforward. Faces a stiff task on hurdles debut.

Form: 111-121

The Moon Sea's Me²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

7/2

Won sole start in points in April and followed up in 12-runner maiden hurdle at Clonmel (16.7f) on Rules debut 23 days ago, despite going in snatches. Will improve.

Form: 1-1

Non-Runners

Music Drive¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: D N Russell

Saint Palais²¹⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: R Bandey J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

Rexem (5/4), Shearer (10/3), The Moon Sea's Me (7/2), Saint Palais (4/1), Music Drive (8/1), Serious Operator (10/1), Twig (11/1), No No Maestro (25/1)

REXEM has taken extremely well to hurdling and is selected to complete the hat-trick with further progress on the cards. Smart chaser Saint Palais should have more to offer back in this sphere, while Shearer and Music Drive are others in the mix.