15:30 Cheltenham

Saturday 16 November 2024

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 5m 11.28s

Kings Hill²²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: J G Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 136

22/1

Useful handicap hurdler who returned to something like his best when third in handicap at Killarney (17f, soft) in August. Disappointed when last of 3 in small-field Sligo hurdle 3 weeks ago but still unexposed at this sort of trip now returned to handicaps.

Form: 24-0323

Champagne Twist²¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 131| BF

11/2

Off the mark at third attempt in Doncaster maiden (19.4f) in January and improved further when collaring stablemate late in competitive EBF Final handicap at Sandown (19.8f) in March. Final outing at Aintree best excused and he returns with yard in great nick. Respected.

Form: 1/42119-

Wyenot²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 129| C

5/1

5-y-o mare who has quickly built up a healthy strike rate over hurdles, making it 4 wins from 6 starts when successful on return in 13-runner handicap here (19.9f) 3 weeks ago. 6 lb higher mark demands more but another who is unexposed at this trip.

Form: 11P13-1

Major Fortune¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| D

10/1

Big improver when stepped up to 2½m+ last season, winning 5 on the spin and picked up where he left off when scoring with plenty in hand on his return at Newton Abbot (16.8f) last month, coping well with the return to 2m. Needs respecting from revised mark back up appreciably in distance.

Form: 11112-1

Fire Flyer²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 126WS

14/1

Won a pair of novice hurdles at up to 19f in February. Disappointed in a couple of Sandown handicap hurdles in the spring but no surprise where he to bounce back to form with a bang after 6 months off/following wind surgery.

Form: 2211P-0

Koori Star²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 123| BF

33/1

Winning pointer who made perfect start under Rules when successful in 12-runner Sligo maiden hurdle (17.8f) in June. Struggled up in class next time and unable to justify support when ninth of 14 on handicap hurdle debut at Galway (2m, heavy) 20 days ago. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 1-189

Long Draw²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 118| BF

8/1

£60,000 Irish point recruit very much on the up since switched to handicaps, winning at Ffos Las (20f) in May and surpassed that form when runner-up all 3 starts since, held only late on at Aintree (20f) 20 days ago. Worth considering up 3 lb with yard firmly amongst the winners.

Form: 44-1222

Wonderful Eagle^p⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 117

6/1

Fairly useful Flat winner in Germany. Built up a good strike rate in both codes for new yard, twice a winner on the level this summer before adding to his tally in this sphere (value for extra) at Newton Abbot (21.5f) in September. Good third on Flat latest and respected here.

Form: 11348-1

Hamsiyann^t¹⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Daniel King| T: A J Martin| OR: 111| BF

2/1

Progressive as a juvenile hurdler last season, unlucky not to finish closer when very good third at Ascot (15.7f) in March. Useful effort when chasing home stablemate Alphonse Le Grande in Chester Plate (2¼m) sole start since in May and fascinating runner for stable who took this 2 years ago.

Form: 8023-

Mikimoto²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 109

50/1

Successful only start in bumpers for Henry Daly. Promise over hurdles for new yard, runner-up first 2 starts last year and possibly needing the run after 10 months off when fourth in a Stratford maiden 922f, heavy) 4 weeks ago. Does need to brush up his jumping now handicapping, though.

Form: 1/22-4

Forecasts

Hamsiyann (2/1), Wyenot (5/1), Champagne Twist (11/2), Wonderful Eagle (6/1), Long Draw (8/1), Major Fortune (10/1), Fire Flyer (14/1), Kings Hill (22/1), Koori Star (33/1), Mikimoto (50/1)

Tony Martin took this prize 2 years ago and looks to hold prime claims again with his 4-y-o HAMSIYANN. Progressive in a handful of starts over hurdles last term, he ran his best race yet on the Flat when chasing home his stablemate in the Chester Plate back in May. Unexposed at this trip and appealing as being on a handy mark, he's very much of interest. Last-time-out winners Wonderful Eagle and Major Fortune command respect also, as do Champagne Twist and Long Draw.