15:40 Taunton

Tuesday 20 February 2024

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:45

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 17.5s

Wild Max^t⁵⁹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| CD

25/1

Fairly useful hurdler who developed into a better chaser in 2022. Hasn't been seen for 19 months but he's potentially well treated on his return to hurdles, so it'll be interesting to see how he fares in the betting, particularly in relation to stablemates Lallygag and Inca de Lafayette.

Form: 32/1211-

Lallygag⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| C| D

11/1

Brother to very smart chaser Lalor and proved a useful novice hurdler last season, winning on 3 occasions. No real surprise that he swiftly returns to this sphere following a couple of low-key displays over fences and while Harry Cobden prefers Inca De Lafayette, he's not discounted.

Form: 133-86P

Wolf Prince²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 129| D

50/1

Acquitted himself well in a couple of outings for Fergal O'Brien in 2022 but finished out with the washing when returning from a 17-month absence at Doncaster. Others look safer.

Form: P/0232-0

Now Or Never⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 123

100/1

Fair form over hurdles in France and made the frame both starts over fences on the other side of the Channel, too. However, shaped as if amiss with usual tongue strap omitted (again absent here) on British debut at Newbury and he's opposable on the back of that.

Form: 51234-P

Vicki Vale^t⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 122| CD

7/2

Signed off last term by winning a C&D mares' novice and, having undergone a wind op during the summer, she has resumed this season with a series of solid efforts in handicaps, including when 2 lengths third to Inca de Lafayette here (19f, good to soft) last time. 2 lb better off with the winner now.

Form: 421-233

Into The Park²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120| D

6/5

Plenty about him physically and is improving with experience, making all for a ready success in a big-field maiden at Newbury (16.3f, soft) last time. Further progess likely now pitched into a handicap and he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: F-7U31

Inca De Lafayette^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 120| CD

11/4

Winner of 2 of his 3 starts since returning to action in October, most recently landing a 12-runner handicap here (19f, good to soft). Cobden's pick of the Nicholls-trained trio and, with a 4 lb rise fair and this drop back in trip no problem, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 6P4-1P1

Celtic Art^p⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 118| D

22/1

Useful winner on Flat and bagged third success in this sphere when scoring at Lingfield in November. Below form both runs since, however, and needs to get back on track.

Form: 1P-P164

Current Mood²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 118| D

40/1

Three-time winner over hurdles during 2021/22 campaign and entitled to come on for her spin at Chepstow 3 weeks ago when returning from a 13-month absence. Still, others make more appeal.

Form: 10/354-P

Forecasts

Into The Park (6/5), Inca De Lafayette (11/4), Vicki Vale (7/2), Lallygag (11/1), Celtic Art (22/1), Wild Max (25/1), Current Mood (40/1), Wolf Prince (50/1), Now Or Never (100/1)

There should be plenty more to come from INTO THE PARK, who did the job well when opening his account in a Newbury maiden and he has been handed what appears to be a fair mark for this handicap debut. It would be no surprise to see Vicki Vale turn the tables on Inca de Lafayette back down in trip here and she is feared most, while Lallygag is actually the most appealing of the Paul Nicholls-trained trio and is next on the list.