13:50 Plumpton

Monday 29 January 2024

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:20

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 19.35s

Ballyvaughan Bay⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: D J Jeffreys

17/2

5/1 and hooded, first run since leaving John Murphy when second of 7 in novice hurdle at Fakenham (20f, heavy) on hurdles bow 41 days ago. Considered.

Form: F9/F-2

Footy's Bridge⁶⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: W G M Turner

50/1

Took a step forward from his hurdling bow when second in 6-runner novice (20.2f) at Perth (20.2f, good) in June 2022. Sold from Gordon Elliott's yard for only £2,000 subsequently, though.

Form: BFF/882-

Kilbarry Hill^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy| OR: 110

9/4

Runner-up twice in Irish points and has shown fair form when placed on all his three runs over hurdles, tongue strap on for 1st time when third of 8 in novice at Sedgefield (19.8f, soft) 34 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 522-323

Mountain Bay⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 99

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden who showed some ability when fifth in Wincanton novice on penultimate start over hurdles. Needs to bounce back after a lesser showing at Exeter since though.

Form: 97-750

The Old Bull^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: T R Gretton

250/1

300/1, twelfth of 13 in novice hurdle at Doncaster (16.6f, soft) on hurdles bow 19 days ago. Up in trip with lots to find.

Form: 07-0

Westerninthepark⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: Anthony Charlton

4/6

Landed Stratford bumper last spring and posted a promising third of 12 in novice at Exeter (18.5f, soft) on hurdles bow 97 days ago on his final run for Milton Harris. The clear form pick.

Form: 2210-3

Chief Lady⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: Cynthia Woods

200/1

Winning pointer but went backwards from hurdling bow when only seventh of 10 in a maiden at Lingfield (19.5f, good to soft, 200/1) 60 days ago.

Form: P167

Jiggaway⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle

200/1

Down the field in a pair of bumpers and a lot more required if she's to feature on her hurdling debut.

Form: 70

Madam Ryder⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul O'Brien| T: N J Henderson

18/1

Showed some promise in bumpers and shaped as if in need of the experience under a considerate ride on her hurdling debut when tenth of 13 in novice (5/1) at Lingfield (16f, good to soft) 49 days ago. Up in trip. Should progress.

Form: 5-20

Musique De Fee⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: G Nicholls

9/1

Ran to modest level both starts in bumpers and given a considerate introduction over hurdles when fourth of seven at Wincanton (2m5f) last month. Can take a step forward.

Form: 2-364

Overabottleofred²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: David Noonan| T: T R Gretton

80/1

Showed some promise when fifth at Warwick on her hurdling bow and in midfield when fell 3 out in novice hurdle (50/1) at Hereford (21.7f, soft) 25 days ago. Can do better.

Form: U-5F

Stop This Train⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: James Best| T: Mrs S J Humphrey

250/1

Placed once from 4 starts in Irish points but has offered little in a trio of maiden hurdles and a novice chase.

Form: U/6P-P74

Forecasts

Westerninthepark (4/6), Kilbarry Hill (9/4), Ballyvaughan Bay (17/2), Musique De Fee (9/1), Madam Ryder (18/1), Footy's Bridge (50/1), Mountain Bay (50/1), Overabottleofred (80/1), Chief Lady (200/1), Jiggaway (200/1), Stop This Train (250/1), The Old Bull (250/1)

WESTERNINTHEPARK sets a good standard on the form of his hurdling debut third at Exeter for Milton Harris so is taken to make a winning start for his new handler. Nicky Henderson's Madam Ryder should have learned a lot from her debut Lingfield tenth and can emerge as the main danger, with Kilbarry Hill and Ballyvaughan Bay appealing as the pick of the rest for place purposes.