15:30 Cheltenham

Sunday 19 November 2023

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 5.33s

Nemean Lion³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 140| D

6/1

Useful stayer on Flat in France for Andre Fabre in 2020 and took particularly well to hurdling last term, culminating in a Kelso Grade 2 win in March. Took it up another notch when readily seeing off Anyharminasking in Welsh Champion on reappearance and likely has even more to offer.

Form: 1231-1

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Too Friendly^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 140| D

33/1

Firmly on the right track for his current yard, winning 3 2m handicap hurdles during the summer and improving again when second in 2m Kempton listed race 4 weeks ago.

Form: 1V2112

Anyharminasking³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 137| D

25/1

Has a largely progressive profile and returned with a very good 1½ lengths second of 10 to Nemean Lion in Welsh Champion at Ffos Las 5 weeks ago. Likely to go well again.

Form: 11/634-2

Sonigino^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137| D

11/1

Progressive type last season, winning 3 times before signing off the campaign with an excellent third at Aintree Went like the best horse at the weights when third in Chepstow Silver Trophy on reappearance and he remains one to be positive about.

Form: 11813-3

Punctuation^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 137| C| D

18/1

Most progressive since joining this yard and equipped with a tongue tie, rounding off last season with a win in a 2m handicap at the Aintree Grand National meeting. Warmed up for this with a Flat success at York last month. Another to consider

Form: 1/114P1-

Luccia¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 136| BF| D

6/1

2-2 in bumpers and rapidly developed into a useful hurdler. Good 3 lengths second to You Wear It Well in 2m Wetherby mares' listed race on reappearance. Has first start in a handicap here.

Form: 1/1143-2

Knickerbockerglory¹⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D

9/1

Returned to hurdles to finish second in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March and bettered even that form when making a winning reappearance at Ascot under Tristan Durrell a fortnight ago. Respected under a 5 lb penalty for yard with a good record in this.

Form: 1/1229-1

Lookaway²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 132| CD

12/1

Dual bumper winner in 2022 (including Aintree Grade 2). It took a couple of starts for him to click over hurdles but he's been most progressive this season, completing a hat-trick in C&D Grade 2 novice 23 days ago. Handicap debut.

Form: 346-111

Swaffham Bulbeck³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 130| D

100/1

Ended last season with a small-field win at Fakenham. Returned to hurdles to land a Southwell handicap in September and even better form when second of 12 at Chepstow last month. This demands even more, though.

Form: 521-512

L'eau Du Sud^t²⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130WS

11/1

Useful hurdler in France and made a positive start in handicaps for this yard last season, third at Kempton over Christmas then filling the same position in Morebattle at Kelso in March. One of 2 strong contenders for a stable which does so well in the top 2m handicap hurdles. Has had wind surgery.

Form: 121/433-

Afadil²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127| BF| D

28/1

Better than result in Fred Winter at the Festival and showed himself to be well handicapped later in the spring, comfortably seeing off 14 rivals at the Ayr Scottish National meeting in April. Did weaken quite tamely when only seventh on his C&D return last month but perhaps he needed the run.

Form: 16821-7

Iberico Lord²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 126| D

7/1

French bumper winner. Well beaten first 2 outings over hurdles but different proposition after wind surgery when getting up in the dying strides in 2m Stratford novice in April. Stepped up again when second of 15 on Sandown handicap debut 4 weeks later and returns as an unexposed from top stable.

Form: 16F12-

Go Dante^p,t1²¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 126| DWS

16/1

Lightly raced 7-y-o who was well served by a soundly-run race when taking small-field Wetherby handicap in March. Better than the bare result at Aintree on final outing and is still relatively unexposed. Had breathing op during break. Tongue strap on for first time.

Form: 24/5418-

Hey Johnny²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: J B Foley⁽³⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 123| D

50/1

Won a pair of 2m handicaps last season. Should strip fitter for last month's Galway reappearance but a number of these rivals look less exposed than him.

Form: 15300-6

Onlyamatteroftime¹⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 115| BF| D

7/2

Bumper winner for Niall Madden and good third in maiden hurdle next time. Would have gone close in Cork handicap latest but for hanging left and running out approaching the last. Evidently has the odd quirk but he's a very interesting contender at foot of weights having joined Willie Mullins.

Form: 58-13R

Non-Runners

Gin Coco³⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: H Fry J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Onlyamatteroftime (7/2), Luccia (6/1), Nemean Lion (6/1), Iberico Lord (7/1), Gin Coco (8/1), Knickerbockerglory (9/1), Sonigino (11/1), L'eau Du Sud (11/1), Lookaway (12/1), Go Dante (16/1), Punctuation (18/1), Anyharminasking (25/1), Afadil (28/1), Too Friendly (33/1), Hey Johnny (50/1), Swaffham Bulbeck (100/1)

A really good renewal. NEMEAN LION marked himself down as a leading contender for this when seeing off Anyharminasking (pair clear) in the Welsh Champion and can make light of a 5 lb rise with further progress on the cards. Dan Skelton is always to be feared in these races and his L'Eau du Sud and Knickerbockerglory head the many dangers along with Sonigino, who shaped well in the Silver Trophy on his return. Onlyamatteroftime is another fascinating runner having joined Willie Mullins.