15:30 Cheltenham

Saturday 26 October 2024

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:40

Masterson Holdings Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 3m 54.21s

Bottler'secret^p¹⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 142| D

1/1

Progressive on the Flat for Ciaran Murphy and created good impression on yard/hurdles debut when winning a Grade 3 juvenile at Naas in February. Followed up at Fairyhouse, before a good second in Champion Juvenile Hurdle at Punchestown in May. Leading contender.

Form: 112-

An Bradan Feasa¹⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Jack Jones| OR: 122| C

11/1

Won juvenile event at Ballinrobe on hurdling debut (final start for Joseph O'Brien) last season and also successful here on second outing for Jack Jones. Didn't manage to kick on subsequently though, including when eighth in the Fred Winter in March. Others preferred.

Form: 12148-8

Balboa¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 120| D

25/1

Fair maiden on Flat who opened account in juvenile hurdle at Chepstow a year ago. Best effort in handicap hurdles when runner-up at Ayr in April and creditable second back at Chepstow 2 weeks ago, though no match for Dodger Long. Has work to do.

Form: 23P42-2

Dodger Long¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: H Dickin| OR: 127| D

5/1

Fair form in bumpers and made second hurdles start a winning one in March. Has taken his form up a notch since returning for new trainer in August, making it back-to-back wins when scoring in good style in handicap at Chepstow 2 weeks ago. Not dismissed lightly.

Form: 31-2211

Givemefive²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 129| D

7/2

Fair Flat winner in Ireland who made it 2 from 2 over hurdles for current yard at Warwick in January, before progressing again when second in the Adonis at Kempton. Below form at Fairyhouse in April, but with a recent Flat run behind him he can get back on track.

Form: 1124-

Latin Verse^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 120| D

33/1

Won twice over hurdles last season, including an impressive handicap success at Ludlow in February. Pulled up in the Fred Winter next time, but bounced back when second at Musselburgh in April. Has something to find here though, even with his recent run behind him.

Form: 521P2-6

Royal Way²¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 124| D

12/1

Winner on Flat in France and took very well to hurdling for new connections last season, scoring twice at Ludlow before completing the hat-trick in an Ascot handicap in March. Showed a good attitude last time and could do better still if ready to go on return.

Form: 32111-

Hasten Slowly¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Ben Harvey| T: J C McConnell| OR: 119| D

20/1

Fair Flat winner who displayed similar form when winning a Tramore maiden hurdle in August. Lesser effort back on the level next time, but after 7 weeks off she made a successful handicap hurdle debut at Punchestown 10 days ago. Merits consideration in receipt of weight.

Form: 6211

Forecasts

Bottler'secret (1/1), Givemefive (7/2), Dodger Long (5/1), An Bradan Feasa (11/1), Royal Way (12/1), Hasten Slowly (20/1), Balboa (25/1), Latin Verse (33/1)

BOTTLER'SECRET has quickly developed into a useful hurdler, losing little in defeat when runner-up in the Champion Juvenile at Punchestown, so he is taken to pick up where he left off and make a winning return. Givemefive also made a bright start to his hurdling career and could be the main danger with a Flat run behind him, ahead of Hasten Slowly.