14:40 Cheltenham

Monday 1 January 2024

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 6m 15.04s

Springwell Bay^t1⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 143| C

9/2

Smart bumper performer in 2021 and useful novice hurdler last term, winning 3 times. Made it 4-6 in this sphere when landing a 21f handicap on return (heavy) in November and, with this stiffer test unlikely to be an issue and a 6 lb rise fair enough, he's a must for the shortlist. Tongue tie added.

Form: 13116-1

Butch⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 135| CD

7/2

Progressive hurdler last season who made the most a good opportunity upped to 3m on return at Southwell in October. Improved when following up in a useful-looking novice here (3m, soft) later that month and this 7-y-o may well take another step forward now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 7212-11

Jatiluwih²⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 134| C| D

28/1

Lightly-raced since registering latest success in a 21f handicap here back in November 2021. Generally performed with credit in 5 starts last season, not least when runner-up off 1 lb lower at Taunton (3m, good to soft) in April, but he looks vulnerable back from an 8-month break.

Form: 3/44432-

Ed Keeper^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 133| D

5/2

Pretty useful form in maidens last season and bright start to present campaign when runner-up on return/handicap debut at Ascot. Looked miles ahead of his mark when striding away with a 3m Newbury handicap (good to soft) next time and further progress is likely given his low mileage.

Form: 321-21

Come On Teddy⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 132| CD

18/1

This mark is an attractive one based on his form from a couple of seasons back, notably his fine third in the C&D Pertemps Final off 2 lb higher at the 2021 Festival. Shaped pretty well following a long absence (considerately handled) when sixth of 15 here in November and should be sharper now.

Form: 6152P/6

The Newest One²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| D

7/1

Resumed with a fine second in a 3m handicap on the Old Course here and deservedly opened his account in this sphere when subsequently bolting up in a Chepstow novice (23.6f, heavy). More needed off this revised mark back in handicap company but couldn't rule out. Also engaged 2.49 Southwell.

Form: P223-21

Shantou Express¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 125

80/1

Bagged a small-field Stratford handicap (26.4f, good) in June but failed to fire back there in August, and again underperformed following a wind op over this C&D last month. Others preferred.

Form: 0-91368

Ikarak^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 121

6/1

French import who opened his account on these shores in a Worcester novice in October. Followed up from the front at Newcastle (2¾m, soft) recently and while he has more on his plate back in a handicap, his current mark is a fair one and he's certainly not without each-way hope.

Form: 12-2211

My Bobby Dazzler²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 119

9/1

Dug deep when making a successful start off a 1 lb higher mark over fences at Worcester in June. Plenty of decent hurdles form to his name in this sphere (made the frame 3 times in Class 2 handicap hurdles earlier this year) but he's up against some unexposed, promising types here.

Form: 24-3184

Fontana Ellissi¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 116

40/1

Runner-up twice here last autumn and entitled to come on for his recent reappearance seventh in a 10-runner C&D handicap, given that he was returning from a 13-month absence. Still, improvement will be needed if he's to take this.

Form: 44/522-7

Forecasts

Ed Keeper (5/2), Butch (7/2), Springwell Bay (9/2), Ikarak (6/1), The Newest One (7/1), My Bobby Dazzler (9/1), Come On Teddy (18/1), Jatiluwih (28/1), Fontana Ellissi (40/1), Shantou Express (80/1)

The shortlist comprises three up-and-coming types, namely ED KEEPER, Butch and Springwell Bay, in order of preference. It was hard not to be impressed by the way Ed Keeper went about his business upped to 3m at Newbury and this unexposed 6-y-o looks more than capable of defying a 9 lb rise in the weights. Butch and Springwell Bay, both successful here last time out, shouldn't be far away, though, and Come On Teddy showed enough on his comeback spin to suggest that he retains plenty of ability.