16:50 Cheltenham

Tuesday 14 March 2023

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Registered As The Fred Winter) (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:53 | Winning time: 4m 9.48s

Mctigue¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Mullins| OR: 142

125/1

Useful on the Flat for Jim Bolger. Made a very good start over hurdles in the autumn, including a Grade 2 success at Auteuil, but has been some way below that level since, including in the Morebattle at Kelso only 10 days ago.

Form: 11690

Tekao^h³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| D

3/1

Highly promising sort who cosily landed the odds in 18-runner juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. Hooded first time, advanced his form again when 12½ lengths third of 8 to Gala Marceau in Grade 1 back at Leopardstown last month. Definitely more to come.

Form: 313

Perseus Way^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 132| D

8/1

Useful Flat winner who has quickly reached that level in this sphere, notching 2 wins and placing twice at Graded level. Bit better than result (badly hampered 3 out) when 1¼ lengths second to Nusret in Adonis at Kempton latest. A mark in the low-130s looks manageable.

Form: 21312

Sir Allen³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Mullins| T: A Slattery| OR: 131| D

10/1

Going the right way over hurdles, winning a Punchestown maiden (heavy) on New Year's Eve before seeing off a few of these rivals in a Naas novice (good to soft) last month. Has the potential for better again.

Form: 211

Byker^p1³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Philip Byrnes⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 128| BF| D

6/1

Fairly useful Flat winner and going right way over hurdles for this much respected stable, winning a Naas maiden before a good third to Sir Allen (Morning Soldier second) back there 13 days later. Cheekpieces on first time. Should have more to offer in handicaps.

Form: 513

Risk Belle³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: L P Dempsey| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127| BF

10/1

Started her career with 2 wins in France. Came up a little short at Graded level on first 2 outings for this stable but was heavily backed switched to handicap company at the Dublin Racing Festival only to fall just after halfway. Evidently thought capable of better.

Form: 1-154F

Punta Del Este²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 126| D

20/1

Left hurdling debut form behind when winning 9-runner juvenile at Cagnes-Sur-Mer (16.5f, soft) in December (final start for David Cottin). Promising third in Victor Ludorum at Haydock on British debut, marking him down as a likely type for this race.

Form: 913

Bad¹¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: B Pauling| OR: 126

5/1

Promise in France, runner-up twice last spring before coming good in taking style at Bordeaux (18.5f) in November, leading on bridle approaching last and quickening clear. Interesting contender for new yard enjoying excellent season.

Form: 2-21

Samuel Spade¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Luca Morgan| T: B Pauling| OR: 126| D

20/1

No more than a fair handicapper on the Flat but has quickly reached a higher level over hurdles, winning at Kempton and Huntingdon and a good second in a Class 2 event at Huntingdon in between.

Form: 121

Jazzy Matty^p1,t1³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 125| BF| D

18/1

Fairyhouse maiden winner in December who was a creditable 4¾ lengths of 6 to Sir Allen (Morning Soldier second, Byker third) in juvenile at Naas last time. Has a tongue tie refitted and cheekpieces on for the first time. Yard knows what it takes to win this.

Form: 52154

Metamorpheus³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Nolan| OR: 125| D

22/1

Won 21-runner juvenile hurdle at Punchestown (2mf, heavy) in January (final start for Timothy Doyle). Respectable 5 lengths fifth of 6 in Naas novice won by Sir Allen on last month's first outing for Paul Nolan. Handicap debut.

Form: 315

Action Motion⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Harry Swan⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 125| D

125/1

Fair Flat performer. Left hurdle debut well behind when springing a 20/1 surprise in Cork maiden in January. Improved again when 6 lengths fourth of 9 in Punchestown juvenile handicap 6 weeks ago but it's not a performance which suggests he's well treated enough to win a race like this.

Form: 714

Mighty Mo Missouri^p,t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Conor Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 124

50/1

Fair maiden on Flat. Yet to win over hurdles either but he has performed to a fairly useful level when runner-up in big-field maiden events at Naas (to Byker) and Gowran on his last 2 outings. Handicap debut.

Form: 05522

Fils De Roi³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 123| D

40/1

Fairly useful form over hurdles, winning Auteuil claimer on final start in France and easily following up in Huntingdon juvenile on October's stable debut. In process of running creditably when falling in Grade 2 next start and latest Musselburgh listed third was another solid display. Handicap bow.

Form: 3F11F3

Afadil²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123| D

28/1

French Flat winner who easily landed short odds on his Taunton hurdle debut and was value for extra when following up in Musselburgh listed event last month. Presumably found run coming too soon when well held in Victor Ludorum at Haydock 13 days later. Stable has won this 3 times.

Form: 116

Gordons Aura²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 122| D

80/1

Found a little improvement when coming good in a Fairyhouse juvenile maiden hurdle last month. Well beaten on AW Flat since and doesn't look obviously well treated from his opening mark in this sphere.

Form: 08431

Shared^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 122| D

50/1

Fairly useful maiden on Flat who belied market weakness to make a winning start over hurdles for new connections at Wetherby in January. Shade disappointing at Musselburgh 10 days later but bounced back immediately with Doncaster novice win 3 weeks ago. Handicap debut.

Form: 151

Ludus⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 120| BF| D

25/1

Made it third time lucky over hurdles at Limerick over Christmas. Better form when second in juvenile handicap at Punchestown (2m, heavy) 5 weeks later. May do better again.

Form: 0512

Sundial^p1,t⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Simon Torrens| T: P Roche| OR: 120

18/1

Fairly useful winner on Flat. Has yet to build on an eye-catching hurdle debut sixth but it's still early days and he represents the same owner/trainer as last year's winner Brazil. Has first-time cheekpieces added to a refitted tongue strap. Interesting runner.

Form: 6658

Mr Freedom^p1¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss S West| OR: 120| BF| D

40/1

Is enjoying an excellent season, gaining a fourth hurdle win (also successful on AW Flat) in 2m handicap hurdle at Warwick last month. Another good effort when close third at Doncaster since but likely vulnerable to less exposed types here unless first-time cheekpieces spark some improvement.

Form: 1R5213

Romancero Le Dun⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 119| D

22/1

Didn't get beyond the first at Warwick in November so he was effectively making his debut when scoring in a small field at Exeter 19 days later. Followed up at Ludlow in January and has the physical scope to suggest he'll go on improving for a while yet.

Form: U11

Non-Runners

Morning Soldier³¹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 4

T: T Mullins J: Darragh O'Keeffe

Forecasts

Tekao (3/1), Bad (5/1), Byker (6/1), Perseus Way (8/1), Risk Belle (10/1), Sir Allen (10/1), Jazzy Matty (18/1), Sundial (18/1), Punta Del Este (20/1), Samuel Spade (20/1), Morning Soldier (20/1), Metamorpheus (22/1), Romancero Le Dun (22/1), Ludus (25/1), Afadil (28/1), Mr Freedom (40/1), Fils De Roi (40/1), Mighty Mo Missouri (50/1), Shared (50/1), Gordons Aura (80/1), Action Motion (125/1), Mctigue (125/1)

Willie Mullins was narrowly denied a first win in this contest 12 months ago and can gain compensation now courtesy of TEKAO whose strong-travelling style should be seen to very good effect in this race. Perseus Way looks nicely handicapped on his Grade 2 second at Kempton last month and heads the many dangers along with Charles Byrnes's Byker, French-recruit Bad and Sundial, who represents last year's winning connections.