17:00 Cheltenham

Wednesday 19 April 2023

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

Cheltenham Pony Racing Authority Graduates Handicap Hurdle (Conditionals & Amateurs)

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 4m 0.49s

Martator⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 128| D

14/1

Placed in Grade 1s in Auteuil in 2021 for Joel Boisnard but subsequently spent more than a year off the track and capitulated tamely on his British debut here. Hasn't fared much better twice since but mark has come down a lot and he's in very good hands.

Form: 343-80P

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Gumball^t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 127

18/1

Smart hurdler/chaser at his best who shaped encouragingly after 5 months off when second on the Flat at Ascot in September. Profile has a patchy look to it and he was readily brushed aside at Stratford last month, going off too hard.

Form: 82P-456

Fransham¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 126

18/1

Wetherby regular but not at the top of his game at that venue this season, albeit he did shape quite well after an absence when third from reduced mark 3 weeks ago. Well weighted if he can build on that.

Form: 2-25463

Walhaan²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 125

16/1

Pretty useful on the Flat and cashed in on a soft lead when making third hurdles start a winning one at Leopardstown last month. In nothing like the same form under a penalty at Naas and needs to improve to defy this mark.

Form: 4419

Mayhem Mya⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: C Honour| OR: 119

10/3

Talented in bumpers and looked a good hurdles prospect initially in 2021/22. Hasn't kicked on as quite expected but she did double her tally over obstacles at Sandown last month. Revised mark looks perfectly fair.

Form: 30-U421

Ballygeary²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119| D

8/1

Very positive start to his hurdles career, again going with plenty of zest when completing the hat-trick in novice company at Kelso 25 days ago. Opening mark looks very fair and there's every chance there's more to come.

Form: U-22111

Black Poppy⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Luca Morgan| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 119| BF

10/3

Won first 2 starts in handicaps during the start of 2022. Placed 3 of 4 starts since, including a repeat bid at Newbury last month but he isn't obviously well treated.

Form: 112-273

Elham Valley^b,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| D

16/1

Successful at Warwick in May and back on song following a couple of low-key efforts when narrowly prevailing at Newton Abbot (17f) in August. Last of 6 on the level a fortnight ago but that will have served a purpose fitness-wise.

Form: 134120

Boston Emery^h1,t1⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Roisin Leech⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 116

40/1

Pretty prolific in France but first run since leaving A. Chaille-Chaille when disappointing eighth of 14 in minor event hurdle at Machecoul (19.4f, soft) 74 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 1/1F-658

By Your Side²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 120

4/1

Low-key start over hurdles but really getting the hang of it now, landing big-field maiden at Naas 3 weeks ago. Has the scope for better still representing a top yard so he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 033421

Lively Citizen⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 109| CD

9/1

Likeable and consistent through most of his career, winning twice at this venue, but hasn't fired in 4 outings this season.

Form: 26-0780

Red Force One⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Toby Wynne⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 108| D

28/1

Completed a hat-trick on the Flat last summer but has failed to continue the good work back hurdling and you have to go back to July 2020 for his latest success in this sphere.

Form: 06P-557

Samtara^h²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Atkins⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 107

25/1

Came good at the 22nd time of asking when seeing off six rivals over 19.5f at Hereford 26 days ago. Overall record doesn't mark him down as an obvious type to follow up.

Form: 5FP541

Non-Runners

Ashington⁸⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: M Walford J: Tom Midgley

Forecasts

Black Poppy (10/3), Mayhem Mya (10/3), By Your Side (4/1), Ballygeary (8/1), Ashington (8/1), Lively Citizen (9/1), Martator (14/1), Walhaan (16/1), Elham Valley (16/1), Gumball (18/1), Fransham (18/1), Samtara (25/1), Red Force One (28/1), Boston Emery (40/1)

BY YOUR SIDE is really getting to grips with hurdling now and given the yard he represents, his limit may not have been reached. He could be the answer to what is an open race, with Ballygeary also open to progress, while Mayhem Mya also commands respect.