15:30 Cheltenham

Sunday 17 November 2024

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 3m 59.08s

Under Control^t¹⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137| C| D

11/1

Very good 2½ lengths second of 6 to Ashroe Diamond in Doncaster mares' Grade 2 in January. Too fresh back from 6 months off in first-time tongue tie when sixth of 19 in the Galway Hurdle in August, fading having been third at last. Same owner/trainer/jockey as last year's winner.

Form: 011/72-6

Go Dante^t,p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 134| C| DWS

12/1

Winner of the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March. Ended the season with a creditable fifth of 19 at the Aintree Grand National meeting and made a sound enough reappearance when 5¾ lengths fifth of 10 to Lump Sum in Welsh Champion Hurdle last month. Had wind surgery since.

Form: 61315-5

Burdett Road^t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: James Owen| OR: 133| BF| CD

7/2

Impressive winner of a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle over C&D at this meeting last year. Has progressed again on the Flat in recent months, including a 1½m Newmarket listed success. A mark of 133 could easily underestimate his ability.

Form: 112-

Dysart Enos²⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 131| C| D

85/40

Won all 3 bumper outings (including a Grade 2) and also unbeaten in 3 novice hurdles last season, including C&D. One of the leading fancies for the mares' novice hurdle at the Festival only to be ruled out with a late setback. An opening handicap mark in the low 130s is potentially lenient.

Form: 111/111-

Black Poppy¹²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Liam Harrison| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 130| C| D

22/1

In fine form in the spring, bagging a C&D handicap and following up in the Swinton at Haydock. Off 7 months, shaped as if as good as ever when fifth of 17 in Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen in July. Off again since. Well capable off his mark.

Form: 31/124-5

Be Aware²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D

17/2

Looked good when making a successful start in a 16-runner novice at Newbury in January. Better form when runner-up on all 3 outings since, including a very competitive handicap final start. Interesting for yard which does so well in these top-end handicap hurdles.

Form: 1222-

Cracking Rhapsody⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 129| D

33/1

Big improver in handicaps earlier in the year, winning twice at Kelso (including the Morebattle) and excellent third of 15 in the Scottish Champion Hurdle on final start. Respectable 2¾ lengths fourth of 7 to Florida Dreams on Hexham reappearance and should come for the outing.

Form: 22113-4

Fiercely Proud¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 129| BF| C| D

16/1

Dual bumper scorer who was a useful novice hurdler last season. Made a creditable reappearance at Ascot (2m, good) 15 days ago, although he did look held in third when falling 2 out.

Form: 11327-F

Teddy Blue^t¹⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 127| D

9/1

Talented but his temperament started to look an issue for the Moore stable last season. Has dipped to a decent mark, though, and it's possible a change of scenery will perk him up.

Form: 99647-7

Florida Dreams^p1⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 127| D

16/1

Grade 2 bumper winner who made up into a fairly useful novice hurdler last season and took it up another notch to land a 2m Hexham handicap on his reappearance 44 days ago. Only nudged up 2 lb but this is a significantly stronger race. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 31538-1

Napper Tandy³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: James Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 126

66/1

Won a 2m Punchestown novice in June. Bettered that form when second of 15 in 2½m Gowran handicap hurdle last month. Not at best back on the Flat at Roscommon since, though.

Form: 0-31732

Jacovec Cavern^h³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Mullins| OR: 126

22/1

Fairly useful juvenile hurdler for Paul Hennessy in early 2023. Made a positive return from a 15-month absence for Emmet Mullins when second of 17 over 2m on the Flat at Galway in August. Simply too keen when ninth of 24 in Cesarewitch at Newmarket since, shaping well again. Interesting.

Form: 60686/

Tintintin^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 126| C| D

33/1

Made good strides forward last season, typically proving strong at the finish to land a big-field handicap over C&D in April. Good third in the Swinton at Haydock the following month and he should come on for a recent outing at Wetherby. Dysart Enos looks the yard's main hope, though.

Form: 1511-35

Royal Way²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 124| D

22/1

Winner on Flat in France and took very well to hurdling for new connections last season, completing a hat-trick in 2m Ascot handicap in March. Creditable fourth in a C&D conditions hurdle on reappearance.

Form: 32111-4

Toll Stone³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: E Mullins| OR: 121| D

33/1

Maiden hurdle winner last winter who switched to the Flat to make a winning reappearance at Galway in August. Has shaped well in defeat on the level subsequently, notably when second of 20 at Naas (2m) last month. It's likely he has bigger performances in him over hurdles for his very shrewd yard.

Form: 09138-

Non-Runners

Anyharminasking²³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

Dysart Enos (85/40), Burdett Road (7/2), Be Aware (17/2), Teddy Blue (9/1), Under Control (11/1), Go Dante (12/1), Florida Dreams (16/1), Fiercely Proud (16/1), Anyharminasking (20/1), Jacovec Cavern (22/1), Royal Way (22/1), Black Poppy (22/1), Tintintin (33/1), Toll Stone (33/1), Cracking Rhapsody (33/1), Napper Tandy (66/1)

This looks a particularly strong renewal of what is always one of the hottest handicap hurdles of the season. Setbacks meant DYSART ENOS and Burdett Road missed Grade 1 targets at the spring festivals but that misfortune allowed them to protect lenient-looking marks in the low 130s and they look the pair to focus on, with preference for the former. Be Aware and Emmet Mullins par Jacovec Cavern and Toll Stone are other interesting contenders.