17:00 Cheltenham

Wednesday 17 April 2024

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Cheltenham Pony Racing Authority Graduates Handicap Hurdle (Conditionals & Amateurs)

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 4m 0.59s

Geromino^t⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 134| D

40/1

Scored twice at Doncaster under this rider around the turn of the year, holding on gamely from an unexposed type over 19.5f latterly. Bit disappointing at Kelso 46 days ago but a return to form can't be ruled out.

Form: 22U119

Our Champ^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 130| C

13/8

Likeable sort. 4/1, career best when winning 13-runner handicap hurdle at Plumpton (15.9f, good to soft) 17 days ago, well on top finish. Already a C&D winner and makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 155371

Parramount^t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 129| D

66/1

Had an excellent first season over hurdles, winning 3 times. But ended that season out of form and, despite a couple of decent Flat efforts, he offered nothing at Plumpton recently. Something to prove.

Form: 2110-PP

Wild Max^t⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss Olive Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| D

33/1

Fairly useful hurdler who developed into a better chaser in 2022. Returned from a long absence with a low-key seventh at Taunton 57 days ago but could come on for it.

Form: 2/1211-7

Castel Gandolfo^b,t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125

28/1

Had a good first half of the season, winning at Kelso (2m, good to firm) in May and reaching the frame on 4 occasions between July and October. Has run on the Flat (needed the run) since a lesser run at Newbury in November and could get back on track.

Form: 523249

Mick Maestro¹⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 125| D

150/1

Dual winner over hurdles in 2022 but looked rusty (back from 18 months off) at Chepstow in October and didn't get far over fences at Catterick last time. Makes limited appeal.

Form: 1103/9F

A Law Of Her Own⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 124| D

33/1

Well served by fitting of a visor when making a winning return at Galway (16.5f) in August. Struggled to make an impact since but is of some interest having left Peter Fahey and joined a shrewd British yard. Worth a market check.

Form: 174940

Magical Maggie³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 123| BF| D

25/1

Mare with a good strike-rate, gaining a sixth win when easily seeing off 4 rivals at Ludlow (2m, heavy) in December. Has remained in form since but tends to produce her very best efforts when fresh.

Form: 2-13143

Takeit Easy²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 122

20/1

Back to winning ways over 2m at Chepstow last April and good effort next time. Likely to strip fitter for return from long absence at Newbury last time, so should be on his game.

Form: 45U1-35

Norman Fletcher⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122| D

14/1

Scored twice through the winter and, while his run of good form came to an end in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury a couple of months ago, he's far from one to be writing off after a break.

Form: F21120

Tintintin^t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 122

11/1

Still relatively lightly raced and made it two from his last three when scoring in determined style at Taunton last time. Well suited by strongly run races, so no reason why he shouldn't give another good account.

Form: 22-0151

Rare Middleton^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 120| D

15/2

Below form 26¼ lengths fifth of 13 to Our Champ in handicap hurdle at Plumpton (15.9f, good to soft, 9/2) 17 days ago. Impressive at Doncaster on his previous outing and too soon to rule out a bigger effort.

Form: 134-815

Moveit Like Minnie^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120

25/1

Posted significant improvement when winning 2m handicaps at Ludlow and Huntingdon. Good fourth to Lucia in a warm race at Ascot before Christmas but he needs to bounce back from a couple of poor runs.

Form: 511499

In This World¹⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 119| BF

13/2

Looked promising when winning on Flat and over hurdles in 2021 and, while he's been very lightly raced since, there were signs of encouragement on his last couple of starts. Could put up a bold showing after a break.

Form: 1/3P-654

Tapley¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 119

16/1

Returned to form with a bang when bagging 2m Kempton handicap in November and has remained in good form since, resuming winning ways at Fakenham (2m again) in March. Solid third to Our Champ at Plumpton recently and likely to give another good account.

Form: 134213

Witness Protection^p⁸⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 118

125/1

Dual hurdles winner who made it third time lucky over fences at Chepstow in November 2021. Lightly raced since and no real short-term promise to glean from latest effort at Newbury. Back over hurdles now.

Form: P4-6P6P

Getaway Drumlee²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 117

10/1

Irish point scorer who made a winning hurdles debut in Hereford novice (19.6f) in 2022. Back on track after an absence when second in a handicap at Doncaster and readily went one better in 5-runner contest at Fontwell recently. Unlikely to have reached his limit.

Form: 1/16P-21

Bold Reaction⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: N J Henderson| OR: 116| BF

9/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who hasn't quite come up to expectations as a hurdler as yet but shaped well on his last couple of outings, again travelling well when second at Taunton 71 days ago. The demands of this race should suit him and he should be primed for a big run.

Form: 3526-22

Forecasts

Our Champ (13/8), In This World (13/2), Rare Middleton (15/2), Bold Reaction (9/1), Getaway Drumlee (10/1), Tintintin (11/1), Norman Fletcher (14/1), Tapley (16/1), Takeit Easy (20/1), Magical Maggie (25/1), Moveit Like Minnie (25/1), Castel Gandolfo (28/1), A Law Of Her Own (33/1), Wild Max (33/1), Geromino (40/1), Parramount (66/1), Witness Protection (125/1), Mick Maestro (150/1)

Although yet to build on his highly impressive hurdling debut, IN THIS WORLD has shown more promise than the bare result suggests on occasions and, back from a break, he's worth taking a chance on for a yard that boasts a terrific record in competitive handicap hurdles. Last-time-out winners Our Champ and Getaway Drumlee must be respected.