15:00 Ayr

Friday 8 March 2024

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:08 | Winning time: 5m 23.15s

City Derby^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 100| D

16/1

Posted a number of good efforts earlier in the year but has been well below form on his last 3 outings, finding little at Carlisle latest. Back up in trip with plenty to prove.

Form: 432689

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Follow Charlie²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Smith⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 98| CD

3/1

Chased home a next-time-out winner over 2m here on handicap debut before going one better in a 14-runner event over C&D. Shaped as if still in good form in a stronger race at Newcastle since.

Form: 094214

Kilkee Royal¹⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: Jamie Sloan| OR: 97

40/1

Minor promise in his qualifying runs in Ireland and was well held kept to 2m on his handicap debut at Sedgefield in October. Needs a sizable step forward but this step up in trip will suit.

Form: F3-0099

One Step Up⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 94WS

10/1

Has yet to build on his promise in novice/maiden hurdles in handicaps but it's still early days and he may have benefited from both a break and a breathing operation.

Form: 08-6P6

Master Bricklayer⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: N W Alexander| OR: 93

25/1

First sign of promise when fifth of 9 in a 2m maiden at Kelso in December. However, looked none too keen when well held back there last time. Up in trip for handicap bow.

Form: 8-059

Broomhill Road^v1³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 93

22/1

Minor promise in a pair of bumpers and showed a bit more than previously over hurdles when seventh of 10 in a novice (80/1) at Taunton (19f, good to soft) 31 days ago. Wears first-time visor for handicap bow.

Form: 2-6637

Beat The Retreat^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N W Alexander| OR: 92| C

5/1

Showed improved form to get off the mark in 8-runner handicap hurdle at Ayr (18f, soft, 9/1) in December. Disappointing bidding to follow-up next time but bounced back to form after a 7-week break when third of 11 at Musselburgh (19.8f) 19 days ago.

Form: 42-4173

Weaver's Answer^p¹¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 85

10/3

Improved with cheekpieces added when gaining second hurdle success at Plumpton (25f, soft) last week, drawing 17 lengths clear. Looks ahead of the handicapper turned out under a penalty but the drop back in trip may not be ideal.

Form: 43-1831

Eden Mill¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans| OR: 85

14/1

Resumed with a good second at Kelso (21f, soft) in November and built on that when scoring with a good deal to spare over the same C&D next time. Found less than looked likely at Newcastle and ran even worse refitted with a tongue strap at Musselburgh 19 days ago. Bit to prove at present.

Form: 3P-2150

Kingston Rock^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 84

7/1

Well held in bumpers but hasn't shaped at all badly both starts in handicaps, including behind a thrown-in rival at Carlisle (17f, heavy) last time. Not dismissed back up in trip.

Form: 8P4852

Lewa House^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Charlotte Jones⁽³⁾| T: C Bissett| OR: 80| D

17/2

Inconsistent sort but would have claims on the pick of his form back down in trip/grade.

Form: 72-3529

Vive De Charnie^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 76

80/1

Fair form in bumpers for Jamie Snowden but little form in various events over hurdles for current yard following 21 months off.

Form: 42/9407

Non-Runners

Not In Kansas²⁹⁶

Weight: 10-5| Age: 7

T: N W Alexander J: Bruce Lynn

Forecasts

Follow Charlie (3/1), Weaver's Answer (10/3), Beat The Retreat (5/1), Kingston Rock (7/1), Lewa House (17/2), One Step Up (10/1), Eden Mill (14/1), City Derby (16/1), Not In Kansas (20/1), Broomhill Road (22/1), Master Bricklayer (25/1), Kilkee Royal (40/1), Vive De Charnie (80/1)

FOLLOW CHARLIE goes well at this track and shaped as if still in good form in a stronger race than he need contest at Newcastle last month, so it's reasonable to assume he can resume winning ways back in a 0-100. Weaver's Answer is much respected under a penalty for all that the drop back in trip isn't sure to suit, while Kingston Rock didn't shape at all badly behind a handicap blot last time and is another to consider.