15:35 Cheltenham

Friday 9 December 2022

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Citipost Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 5m 52.97s

Dusart²⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 150| DWS

9/4

Highly promising novice hurdler during 2020/21 campaign and quickly made up into a very smart performer over fences last season, winning 3 of his 4 starts in that sphere. Back over hurdles following an 8-month break (has undergone a wind op in the interim) and remains open to improvement.

Form: 13/1151-

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Indefatigable⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Rex Dingle| T: P R Webber| OR: 145| C| D

14/1

Good strike rate over hurdles and has performed well on each of her 7 previous starts at Cheltenham (still going well when falling 2 out in the Close Brothers at the Festival on latest visit in March). Easy to excuse rare poor effort at Wetherby last time and she's not without each-way hope.

Form: 623F2-6

Annual Invictus²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Cobden| T: C Gordon| OR: 139| CD

7/2

Didn't really kick on over fences following a promising start last autumn but revived back in this sphere when landing a 12-runner handicap on his seasonal reappearance here (3m, good). Remains on an attractive mark up 4 lb but it's unlikely that things will pan out so favourably this time.

Form: P33V-P1

Jatiluwih³³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138| C| D

16/1

Five-time winner in this sphere back in 2019 but clearly had his problems since, finishing lame when last seen at Ludlow over fences in January. Subsequent absence no great concern (has gone well fresh in the past) but will need to be at his very best if he's to get in the shake-up.

Form: 81P/243-

Uhtred²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 136

18/1

Useful hurdler who ended time with Joseph O'Brien in good heart, successful in 19.3f beginners' chase at Downpatrick in August. Hasn't made much of an impact in 3 starts for present connections, though, including when reverting to this sphere at Ascot last time.

Form: 411P33

Captain Morgs^p1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134| BF

7/2

Landed an Ascot handicap last November and was unlucky to not win again when second at Aintree during the spring. Good second back from a break/wind op returned to this sphere at Kempton (21f, soft) where he hung left under pressure (addition of cheekpieces here may help in that regard).

Form: 285-232

Shantou Express⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 133| BF

20/1

Dual hurdles winner last season and no surprise that he's returned to this sphere following a second, decidedly unsuccessful spell over fences. Trip/ground here no problem but a clear career-best will be needed if he's to emerge on top.

Form: 5123F3

Brazos^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Murphy| OR: 122

6/1

Useful performer on the Flat in his pomp but hasn't really gone from his Navan maiden hurdle success in January 2021, offering little in the way of immediate promise on return here last month. Also engaged 2.05 Bangor.

Form: 3/32P0-9

Non-Runners

Flight Deck¹²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 8

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Up The Straight⁴¹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 8

T: R Rowe J: James Davies

Forecasts

Dusart (9/4), Captain Morgs (7/2), Annual Invictus (7/2), Brazos (6/1), Flight Deck (10/1), Indefatigable (14/1), Jatiluwih (16/1), Up The Straight (16/1), Uhtred (18/1), Shantou Express (20/1)

It's likely that DUSART's primary targets for the season ahead will be over the larger obstacles but he is nevertheless of strong interest back in this sphere given the huge promise he showed as a novice hurdler during a two-race 2020/21 campaign. The 7-y-o looks capable of defying top weight and will perhaps do so at the chief expense of Flight Deck, who got back on track when runner-up at Carlisle recently. Dusart's stablemate Captain Morgs and the mare Indefatigable also enter calculations.