16:35 Kempton

Wednesday 8 March 2023

All15:0515:3516:0516:3517:0517:35

Unibet Non-Runner No-Bet All Cheltenham Races Handicap

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 1m 13.78s

(2)

The X O²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: L Morris| T: J Ryan| OR: 87| D

10/3

Lightly-raced winner. Career best when winning 5-runner handicap at Southwell (6.1f, 8/13) 24 days ago, easily. Open to progress.

Form: 22-131

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(3)

Danger Alert^b²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: G Boughey| OR: 85

5/2

Winner at Wolverhampton in January. 85/40, creditable ¾-length second of 5 to Celtic Champion in handicap at Lingfield (6f, AW) 25 days ago. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 2224-12

(4)

Maharajas Express⁷⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: R Spencer| OR: 79| BF| CD

9/4

Twice-raced winner. C&D winner. One win from 2 runs last year. Second of 4 in minor event at Chelmsford City (6f, evens) 79 days ago, not ideally placed (good sectional). Makes handicap debut. Not taken lightly.

Form: 12-

(8)

Revision¹²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: K A Ryan| OR: 77| D

33/1

Lightly-raced winner. 16/1, last of 9 in nursery at Newcastle (7.1f). Off 127 days. Makes polytrack debut. Uphill task.

Form: 2109-

(5)

Amy Santiago¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77| D

12/1

Thrice-raced winner. Won 13-novice minor event (14/1) at Southwell (6.1f) 15 days ago. Makes handicap debut. Should have more to offer.

Form: 2-61

(7)

Mogok Valley^p³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 76| CD

7/1

8/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, career best when winning 10-runner handicap at this C&D 32 days ago. Respected.

Form: 263-231

(9)

Ignac Lamar³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Oliver Searle⁽⁷⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 73| BF| D

18/1

Latest win at Southwell in January. 6/4, respectable 2½ lengths fifth of 10 to Mogok Valley in handicap at this C&D 32 days ago, unable to sustain effort.

Form: 56-4125

(6)

Hiatus¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: K T O'Neill| T: C Allen| OR: 66| CD

18/1

C&D winner. Winner here in January. Seventh of 9 in handicap at this course (7f, 10/1) 14 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 20-4147

Non-Runners

(1)

Celtic Champion²⁵

Weight: 9-11| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: Oisin Murphy

(10)

Democracy Dilemma³⁰

Weight: 9-8| Age: 3

T: P D Evans J: Rossa Ryan

Forecasts

Maharajas Express (9/4), Danger Alert (5/2), The X O (10/3), Celtic Champion (5/1), Mogok Valley (7/1), Democracy Dilemma (7/1), Amy Santiago (12/1), Hiatus (18/1), Ignac Lamar (18/1), Revision (33/1)

CELTIC CHAMPION had disappointed when well fancied on his AW debut but put that effort well behind him with a much-improved performance at Lingfield last month, overcoming the run of the race to score with a bit in hand, and he can defy a 3 lb rise. Danger Alert was a good second behind the selection that day and is feared again now 2 lb better off, while Amy Santiago and The X O have more potential than most in this field.