13:30 Cheltenham

Wednesday 15 March 2023

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

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 10.74s

American Mike^t1³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| BF

28/1

Showed smart form in bumpers, including second to Facile Vega in Champion Bumper, and justified short odds on Down Royal hurdling debut. Hasn't gone on as expected in 2 subsequent starts, but was patently unsuited by the drop in trip at Navan (2m) last time and remains with potential. Tongue tie on.

Form: 12-3124

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Champ Kiely⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| D

13/2

Successful on his only outing bumpers and has made up into a smart hurdler, quickly resuming his progress when making all in 8-runner Lawlor's of Naas Novices' Hurdle (20f) in January. That form perhaps isn't quite as strong as some of the other protagonists but he still enters calculations.

Form: U/1-1141

Gaelic Warrior³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157

9/2

Nearly landed an almighty gamble in last season's Fred Winter, going like the best prospect in the field. Has progressed further this term, defying top weight in a valuable Leopardstown handicap most recently. Major claims on that form up in trip, though a tendency to jump right is still a concern.

Form: 332-111

Good Land³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: B Connell| OR: 147

9/2

Landed a Wexford bumper that's worked out well and ran out an impressive winner on his first completed start over hurdles at Leopardstown (20f) in December, making all. Raised his game to justify favouritism up in class back there in February and there's surely more to come.

Form: 2/1U11

Hermes Allen^t⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| CD

9/4

Successful on second of 2 starts in Irish points and coped very well with a truly-run race as he made it 3-3 in this sphere with a scintillating performance in the Challow at Newbury (20.5f, soft) in December. Top prospect who will continue to take plenty of beating.

Form: 31-111

Ho My Lord³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins

50/1

Won 1¾m maiden on sole start on Flat in France and looked a good prospect as he easily landed the odds on his first completed start over hurdles at Navan (2m) 31 days ago. Upped markedly in trip and open to plenty of improvement.

Form: F1

Impaire Et Passe⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148

5/2

Easily won only start in bumpers before changing hands for €155,000. Looked potentially out of the top drawer when justifying strong support on hurdling debut at Naas and followed up in impressive fashion in 5-runner Moscow Flyer Novices' Hurdle at Punchestown (2m). Hugely exciting prospect.

Form: 1-11

Marble Sands³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 136| D

150/1

Showed plenty in defeat over hurdles last term and made the most of good opportunities at Hereford/Leicester first 2 starts this season. Bounced back from a below-par effort in the Challow to lower the colours of a higher-rated rival at Huntingdon but is clearly vulnerable back at this level.

Form: 22-1151

Master Chewy³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122| BF

200/1

Fairly useful in bumpers and has shown similar form over hurdles despite not yet winning, shaping well when sixth of 16 in Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (16.3f, firm) 32 days ago, caught further back than ideal. Very much up against it on these terms, though.

Form: 4-3F226

Persian Time²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Adrian Heskin| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128

150/1

Runner-up sole start in Irish points and went one better on his first attempt over hurdles (albeit fortuitously) in 8-runner introductory event Ascot (15.7f) in November. Built on that stepped up in trip when runner-up back there (19.3f) 3 months later but has much more on his plate now.

Form: 2-12

Forecasts

Hermes Allen (9/4), Impaire Et Passe (5/2), Gaelic Warrior (9/2), Good Land (9/2), Champ Kiely (13/2), American Mike (28/1), Ho My Lord (50/1), Marble Sands (150/1), Persian Time (150/1), Master Chewy (200/1)

IMPAIRE ET PASSE is admittedly more style over substance at this stage, but he couldn't have been much more impressive in winning both his hurdle starts to date and, with the longer trip highly unlikely to hold any fears, he's very much fancied to make his class tell. Hermes Allen produced a scintillating performance in the Challow and has to be considered a big threat, along with last years's Fred winter runner-up Gaelic Warrior, who has progressed plenty more this season.