15:50 Cheltenham

Thursday 20 April 2023

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

Safran Landing Systems Fillies' Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 4m 4.01s

Cianciana^t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: P W Wadge⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 124| D

10/1

Fair Flat winner who has taken well to hurdles, notching second success in this sphere when cosily seeing off 12 rivals in a Musselburgh handicap (17.4f, good to soft) last time. However, 7 lb rise could leave her vulnerable up in class here.

Form: 321321

Under Control³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 121

10/3

Successful sole start in France and looked good when landing a Newbury juvenile (16.3f, good to firm) for new yard last month. Tame effort in a soft-ground C&D Grade 2 at the Festival since but well worth another chance back on a quicker surface for this handicap bow. Yard also saddles Arclight.

Form: 110

Arclight¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 118| BF| D

8/1

Fairly useful on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott and good start over hurdles, winning a couple of juvenile events before finishing second in a listed contest at Doncaster. Disappointing on recent handicap bow and Nico de Boinville jumps ship but she remains of interest all the same.

Form: 1128

Komedy Kicks^h1⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: M F Harris| OR: 117

22/1

Fair maiden on the Flat and has shown plenty in 3 starts for Jessica Harrington in this sphere, most recently falling 2 out when in a share of second in a listed event at Doncaster. Hood enlisted on debut for new yard/handicap bow and she's not without each-way hope.

Form: 52F

Media Naranja²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 114

7/2

Clear-cut winner of sole start on the Flat in France and made it third time lucky over hurdles when landing a Limerick juvenile (2m, heavy) 3 weeks ago. Further progress likely now handicapping and should have a big part to play if coping with the faster surface here.

Form: 421

Golden Glance¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 112

11/1

Fair form in minor events on the Flat for the Crisfords and has improved with each of her 3 starts since switched to hurdles, recently opening her account in a 19f Haydock novice (good to firm). May well have more to offer but this assignment demands a significant step forward.

Form: 421

Circus Act¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 111

20/1

Hasn't done a great deal wrong in this sphere, following Hereford breakthrough success in February with a near-miss in a 4-runner Doncaster novice. Testing conditions perhaps against her last time but she's one of the most exposed fillies in this line up.

Form: 333124

Obsessedwithyou⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 107

4/1

Successful debut at Wetherby in October and, having acquitted herself well in defeat on her next 2 starts, she duly landed the odds in a small-field Hereford juvenile (16.2f, good) last time. Mark for this handicap bow looks fair and she's not ruled out.

Form: 1421

Pink Fire Lilly²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss L Costello⁽⁷⁾| T: John F O'Neill| OR: 106

33/1

Modest maiden on the Flat. No show first 3 starts over hurdles and while she appeared to take a step forward when third to Media Naranja at Limerick, it remains to be seen if she will be able to build on that here.

Form: 8083

Pretending²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 101| BF

17/2

Winner of 11f Southwell novice on the level for Sir Mark Prescott last year and initial efforts over hurdles were decent, including when runner-up on handicap debut in this sphere at Doncaster. Ran poorly in the Musselburgh race won by Cianciana last time but that was too bad to be true.

Form: 3228

La Breille^p1⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 98

80/1

Didn't need to improve to get off the mark at Fakenham in October but subsequent efforts in handicap company leave much to be desired.

Form: 2F1P5

Forecasts

Under Control (10/3), Media Naranja (7/2), Obsessedwithyou (4/1), Arclight (8/1), Pretending (17/2), Cianciana (10/1), Golden Glance (11/1), Circus Act (20/1), Komedy Kicks (22/1), Pink Fire Lilly (33/1), La Breille (80/1)

The one with the most obvious potential is Irish-raider MEDIA NARANJA, who delivered a fluent round of jumping when opening her account from the front at Limerick. This is tougher but her opening mark looks fair and she may well be equal to the task. The Nicky Henderson-trained duo Arclight and Under Control rate the main dangers, with the former feared most, for all that she is the apparent second-string judged on jockey bookings. Komedy Kicks and Obsessedwithyou are live each-way candidates.