13:15 Cheltenham

Friday 25 October 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Foundation Developments Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 46.99s

Annsam⁵⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 136| D

66/1

Likeable chaser who scored twice over 3m last season. Much lower in the weights in this sphere but is possibly using this as a pipe-opener ahead of a return to chasing.

Form: 861710/

Anna Bunina^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 134

17/2

Useful hurdler who ran better than for a while when fifth of 15 at Bellewstown in August. Creditable effort in the Cesarewitch Handicap back on the Flat since.

Form: 470-385

Anyharminasking^p1²³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 134

16/1

Right back on the up when second at Newbury (20.5f) in December but didn't impress with his finishing effort at Doncaster and Kelso last 2 outings. Wears first-time cheekpieces on seasonal return.

Form: 4/29245-

Push The Button³³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132| D

5/1

Progressive in bumpers and made it 2 wins from 3 starts over hurdles when taking 7-runner novice (21f, heavy) at Warwick last November. Off since but yard's runners rarely lack for fitness and he's a most interesting handicap debutant.

Form: 351/141-

Deep Cave¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 132| D

50/1

Successful chaser in France who doubled his career tally when bagging 10-runner minor event hurdle at Clairefontaine (17.7f, soft) in July. Handicapper has taken no chances with his mark now starting out for another new yard.

Form: 4/1FF-51

Wyenot¹⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 123

7/1

Won a trio of novice hurdles last season and ran creditably pitched into better company when third in 9-runner listed event at this course (20.2f) 6 months ago. Makes handicap debut from a fair-looking mark.

Form: 3/11P13-

American Sniper^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 122| C

18/1

Resumed winning ways in first-time tongue strap here last November but ended last season on a low-key note and fared no better on his reappearance in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow 13 days ago.

Form: 01477-0

Bass Rock^t¹⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Lorcan Williams| T: G Nicholls| OR: 120| D

33/1

Chase/hurdles winner but struggled for form over fences last season and now reverts to hurdling for a new yard (had left Sandy Thomson) after 6 months off.

Form: 4U/P68P-

In The Air¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 118| D

7/2

Gambled on and made a mockery of his much-reduced mark on first start since leaving Adam West in 9-runner handicap at Southwell (20.4f) earlier in the month. Had more in hand the margin implies when following up under a 7-lb penalty at Exeter and looks sure to go well in his-hat-trick bid.

Form: 0P0-411

Royale Margaux^t¹⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 117

16/1

Prolific in France but winless for this yard and effort typically proved short-lived at Uttoxeter on final outing in May. Back over hurdles now with plenty to prove.

Form: 82543-4

Support Act²⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: K Brogan| T: T Lawes| OR: 113

9/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who proved a vastly different proposition to on his hurdling debut when dispatching a last-time-out winner with the minimum of fuss in a Doncaster novice (16.6f) in February. Into handicaps now and looks sure to go on to better things.

Form: 221/51-

Letterston Lily¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 114| D

9/2

Bumper winner at the third attempt and made it 2-3 in novice hurdles at Worcester (20f) in August. Cemented her positive start when creditable third on handicap debut back at that venue but it was a bit disconcerting she shaped to run out and unseated at the first at Chepstow 13 days ago.

Form: 11213U

Callin Baton Rouge⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: James Bowen| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 112

10/1

Is on a roll for her new yard, making it 3 wins from as many starts in 9-runner handicap at Stratford (16.3f, good) 48 days ago, readily. Hiked up 12 lb but may not yet have finished improving.

Form: 42-2111

Forecasts

In The Air (7/2), Letterston Lily (9/2), Push The Button (5/1), Wyenot (7/1), Anna Bunina (17/2), Support Act (9/1), Callin Baton Rouge (10/1), Anyharminasking (16/1), Royale Margaux (16/1), American Sniper (18/1), Bass Rock (33/1), Deep Cave (50/1), Annsam (66/1)

IN THE AIR has revived in no uncertain terms for his new yard and, having defied a penalty with more in hand than the bare margin would suggest at Exeter 15 days ago, he is fancied to complete the hat-trick. Support Act and Push The Button are a pair of interesting handicap debutantes who require the utmost respect.