15:15 Cheltenham

Wednesday 19 April 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Citipost Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 53.68s

Rock My Way³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: S Hosie| OR: 137| CD

11/1

Winning Irish pointer who looked a useful prospect when runner-up on hurdling debut here (20.3f) on New Year's Day. Still looked green when going one place better in Grade 2 over same C&D but was pulled up in Albert Bartlett at the Festival on most recent outing. Needs to bounce back.

Form: P3-121P

Blue Hop⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: B Brookhouse| D

33/1

Fair bumper winner for Tom George who made a successful start over hurdles after 13 months off in 12-runner maiden at Ayr (19.5f) in February. Open to improvement but this is much tougher.

Form: 15-1

Chasing Fire³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 134

7/2

£170,000 buy after point win who looked a potential star when landing his sole bumper last term and made it 3-3 over hurdles in 6-runner novice at Sandown (2m) in February. Down the field in the Supreme but that form was franked at Aintree last week. Upped in trip.

Form: 11-1110

Pikar^t⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton| OR: 132WS

10/3

Useful hurdler who resumed winning ways in a first-time tongue strap in 15-runner novice at Warwick (19f, good to soft) 54 days ago. That performance is backed up by the clock, so warrants respect. Has had a breathing op since.

Form: F5-1631

Red Dirt Road⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130

5/2

Successful on sole start in Irish points and easily made it 2 from 3 over hurdles in 6-runner handicap at Exeter (16.7f, good to soft) 40 days ago. Will be suited by 2½m and should continue to progress.

Form: 1-121

The Friday Man¹⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 134| BF

9/2

Improving hurdler who easily made it 3-4 in this sphere in 5-runner minor event hurdle at Navan (21.7f, good) in September. Ran to a similar level when second in 6-runner listed event at Limerick the following month and must enter calculations back from a break.

Form: 113112

Twig⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Beau Morgan| T: B Pauling| OR: 129

11/1

Multiple point/chase winner who opened his account over hurdles at Kempton in November but finished well held in River Don at Doncaster next time. Back on scoreboard in 6-runner novice at Newbury latest but likely to struggle back up in grade now.

Form: 212161

Chancycourt⁵⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| BF

33/1

Third in an Irish point before shaping well when second in a Worcester bumper (heavy) on Rules debut. This is a tough starting point over hurdles though, especially having not been seen for 18 months.

Form: 3/22-

Final Encore⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: H Morrison

80/1

Half-brother to smart hurdler Third Wind for these connections and left his debut form well behind when landing a Taunton bumper a year ago. Showed an aptitude for hurdling after 11 months off when second at that venue 48 days ago, but this requires a whole lot more.

Form: 71-2

Non-Runners

Hermino AA²⁸

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Theatre Man³²

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: R Bandey J: Harry Bannister

The Carpenter²⁶

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Red Dirt Road (5/2), Pikar (10/3), Chasing Fire (7/2), The Carpenter (7/2), The Friday Man (9/2), Theatre Man (15/2), Twig (11/1), Rock My Way (11/1), Hermino AA (12/1), Chancycourt (33/1), Blue Hop (33/1), Final Encore (80/1)

THEATRE MAN had the run of the race when resuming winning ways at Kempton last month, but he's done nothing but improve since being sent over hurdles and seems sure to give another good account from the front, so he's an appealing candidate. The Carpenter impressed at Newbury and looks a big threat with further progress on the cards, while Pikar's Warwick win is backed up by the clock, so he must enter calculations as well.