15:35 Exeter

Friday 10 March 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Virgin Bet Cheltenham Festival Money Back Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 12.93s

Paros^h⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 121

40/1

Fairly useful form when winning twice in 2020/21 but he has been pulled up on both starts back from a long absence. Something to prove.

Form: 4815/PP

Shallow River⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 120| BF

5/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who made a successful transition to hurdles at Huntingdon last January. Chased home a progressive Irish raider on return at Wincanton and best excused (lost action) latest effort at Southwell.

Form: 3/411-2P

Red Dirt Road⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 117

5/4

Successful on sole start in Irish points and won 14-runner maiden hurdle at Southwell (15.8f, good to soft) on Rules debut in November. Good second under a penalty at Leicester since and open to improvement on handicap debut after a break.

Form: 1-12

Issam^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jordan Nailor| T: T Symonds| OR: 115| D

13/2

Winner of a bumper and also successful twice over hurdles in France. Best effort for current connections when second at Ffos Las 29 days ago and he's a player if able to build on it.

Form: 1P-17P2

Opening Bid^h²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Bryan Carver| T: C J Down| OR: 109| D

6/1

Resumed winning ways at Uttoxeter (15.8f) in December and added to a solid record at Warwick when third there last time. Should give another good account.

Form: 722P13

Jilaijone^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 117

4/1

Fair ex-French hurdler who made a winning start for his new yard in 18f juvenile at Fontwell. Three good efforts since and looks well worthy of respect.

Form: 531324

Non-Runners

American Gerry²⁵

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: H Morrison J: Mr Nathan Brennan

Thunderclap⁴⁶

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: H Morrison J: Charlie Deutsch

Forecasts

Red Dirt Road (5/4), Jilaijone (4/1), Shallow River (5/1), Opening Bid (6/1), Thunderclap (6/1), Issam (13/2), American Gerry (10/1), Paros (40/1)

Winning-pointer RED DIRT ROAD has made a positive start under Rules and he's worth a chance to defy an opening mark of 117. Thunderclap is another interesting handicap debutant and Opening Bid seems likely to put up another sound effort.