12:10 Cheltenham

Sunday 1 January 2023

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Ballymore Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:10 | Winning time: 5m 10.36s

Firestep^t1⁶⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J HendersonWS

11/2

Mahler gelding out of a useful hurdler and created a fine impression when winning a brace of bumpers in 2020/21. Off 21 months after and fitted with a tongue strap for hurdles debut but he's certainly in the right hands.

Form: 11/

Future Investment²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 121

11/1

Useful staying handicapper on the Flat and shaped far better than previously over hurdles when fourth in novice at Warwick on return, catching the eye from off the pace. Built on that when second at Chepstow a month ago (19.5f).

Form: 40-42

G A Henty²⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: T R George| D

80/1

Milan gelding. Closely related to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser St Barts. Off mark in points at second attempt in March but this is a tough Rules debut.

Form: 41-

Gentle Slopes²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: M F Harris| BF| C

3/1

£90,000 purchase on back of point win in March and talented enough to win 2 of his 3 starts in bumpers this autumn, latterly in listed company at this venue. Wasn't foot perfect on hurdles bow here 3 weeks ago and now goes up in trip

Form: P/1-1513

Glorious Oscar^t1⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: K Brogan| T: B Pauling

80/1

£105,000 half-brother to fair hurdler Eaton Collina. Couldn't justify odds-on favouritism in Warwick bumper in May but still showed plenty of ability, unable to match the winner's turn of foot. Upped in trip and in need of the experience sent hurdling there in November. Tongue tie on.

Form: 26

Max's Champ⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater

66/1

Winning pointer who was fair in bumpers and shaped like a stayer when last of 3 on Hexham hurdling debut (20,1f) 58 days ago. Will do better in time.

Form: FF18-43

Militaire⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex

25/1

Well-related son of Soldier Of Fortune who showed fair form when fourth in bumpers at Newbury and Worcester last season. Promises to do better over hurdles, shaping well when runner-up at Ffos Las in October.

Form: 4-42

Riskintheground³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

33/1

Positive start when runner-up in a bumper at Chepstow first time out last year and finished with running left when fifth in a listed event at Ascot next start. Not at that level first 2 outings over hurdles but this longer trip will suit.

Form: 256-53

Robinsville³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

200/1

Out of an unraced sister to connections' top-class hurdler/chaser Thistlecrack but hasn't shaped with much promise on his first 3 starts.

Form: 7-05

Rock My Way⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: T Scudamore| T: S Hosie

66/1

£90,000 4-y-o: fifth foal: dam unraced out of useful hurdler (2m-19f winner) Miss Fara. Off mark in Irish points at third attempt (Oct 2).

Form: P3-1

Rock On Cowboy²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Luca Morgan| T: B Pauling

28/1

Irish point winner but fared much better than he did on hurdles debut when third of 14 at Uttoxeter a month ago. Much more needed in this company, though.

Form: 41-P3

School Days Over²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| BF

7/1

Looked a useful prospect in bumpers, scoring at Market Rasen in May before excellent Cheltenham second last month. Sent off odds-on for hurdles debut and while he could manage only third, it was a sound start kept to 2m. Lots more to come over this trip.

Form: 32-123

Weveallbeencaught⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

5/4

£210,000 purchase on the back of success in points and confirmed himself an exciting prospect when landing a Newbury bumper on Rules debut in March. Shaped with plenty of encouragement thrown in the deep end on his hurdling debut here (21f) in November and is sure to progress and win races.

Form: 11-3

Non-Runners

Iliko D'olivate²⁷⁶

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Weveallbeencaught (5/4), Gentle Slopes (3/1), Firestep (11/2), Iliko D'olivate (7/1), School Days Over (7/1), Future Investment (11/1), Militaire (25/1), Rock On Cowboy (28/1), Riskintheground (33/1), Rock My Way (66/1), Max's Champ (66/1), G A Henty (80/1), Glorious Oscar (80/1), Robinsville (200/1)

Having been pitched in deep on hurdles debut at this venue, WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT emerged with a lot of credit when third in the Hyde Novices' Hurdle in November and sure to progress, he looks the way to go down in class. School Days Over and Gentle Slopes failed to meet market expectations starting out over timber but both seem sure to progress, particularly over this sort of trip.