15:10 Fontwell

Wednesday 8 March 2023

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 5m 2.86s

Forever Blessed¹⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 122| BF

6/1

Impressive winner of juvenile hurdles at Ffos Las and Sandown on first 2 starts. Disappointing when only ninth at Exeter on handicap debut sole outing this term but remains unexposed and looks worth another chance making return from 4-month break in this weaker contest.

Form: 11P-9

Guernesey⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 120| D

9/1

Generally consistent sort when trained by Philip Hobbs, scoring at Warwick (19f, good) in October. Made an inauspicious start over fences at Huntingdon last time and others looked better treated on debut for new yard.

Form: 31U403

Pyramid Place^h²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: M F Harris| OR: 117

5/1

Took advantage of reduced mark to score at Wetherby (19.7f) last month. Ran at least as well in defeat when third in a similar event there 3 weeks ago and he's shortlisted again from same mark.

Form: P5-3213

Krypton Gold³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 116

18/1

Ended last season with ready win at Ascot in March and has held his form admirably this term, shaping well until late blunder when fifth at Fakenham on New Year's Day. Has to bounce back from underwhelming Flat outing last time but isn't ruled out of making frame.

Form: 322235

Kotmask²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 115| BF| C

5/2

Landed back-to-back juvenile events here and at Huntingdon last season and has been running well in defeat this term, gambled on prior to finishing a good second of 6 in handicap hurdle (2/1) at Plumpton (20.5f, good) 23 days ago. Ought to be in the mix again.

Form: 157-432

Pearly Island²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 112

9/2

Got right back on track when readily opening his account in 16-runner handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (19.6f) in January. Ran at least as well in stronger novice event last time but he'll need to progress to defy current mark.

Form: 8P7413

Lifetime Legend^h⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 100| D

4/1

Built on early promise to get off the mark in female jockeys event at Catterick (19.3f, good, 9/4) 8 days ago, barely having to come off bridle. Should go well again under penalty.

Form: 76P341

Non-Runners

Runswick Bay⁷²

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Thomas Bellamy

Maclaine⁵⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: O Sherwood J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Kotmask (5/2), Lifetime Legend (4/1), Pearly Island (9/2), Pyramid Place (5/1), Forever Blessed (6/1), Guernesey (9/1), Maclaine (10/1), Runswick Bay (16/1), Krypton Gold (18/1)

LIFETIME LEGEND has improved from run to run this season, barely having to come off the bridle to break his maiden at Catterick last week, so is taken to defy a 7 lb penalty in a competitive-looking event. Forever Blessed looked a useful juvenile last term and is better than he was able to show on his return, whilst Pyramid Place and Kotmask also arrive in good heart and merit serious respect.