12:40 Cheltenham

Saturday 14 December 2024

All12:1012:4013:1313:5014:2515:0015:35

Josh Wyke Birthday Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 6m 30.55s

Hillcrest²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 142| C

22/1

Big chasing type who is unbeaten when completing over hurdles, galloping on strongly on first crack at 3m in a Grade 2 at Haydock back in February 2022. Made a more than satisfactory return after no less than 33 months on the sidelines on chasing debut at Haydock recently and should progress.

Form: 11U1P/4

Peaky Boy²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| C

11/8

Won second of 2 starts in bumpers for Michael Scudamore in 2022. Missed the following year but looked a useful prospect when winning both starts in maiden/novice hurdles during second half of last term and completed a course hat-trick on return/chase bow recently. More to come upped in trip.

Form: 121/11-1

Destroytheevidence^p³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 137| BF| D

7/1

3-time winner over hurdles who justified good support sent chasing after 7 months off when landing 9-runner novices' handicap at Chepstow in October. Pulled clear with a well-handicapped rival at Newbury (23.4f, good to soft) last month and should continue his fine start over fences.

Form: 1240-12

Isaac Des Obeaux⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133

12/1

Back-to-back hurdles winner to end 2023 and far from disgraced when third in a Grade 2 at this track after. A combination of a 6-month absence and some novicey errors took their toll on chase debut at Chepstow (23.6f, good to soft) in October and seems sure to leave that form behind.

Form: 113P3-5

Transmission^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 132| CD

6/1

Irish import who did well in staying handicap hurdles after joining this yard last season, winning twice and placed twice from half-a-dozen appearances. Made it third time lucky over the larger obstacles at this course (25f, good) 4 weeks ago and unlikely he's finished improving.

Form: 1581-21

Haiti Couleurs³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 130| D

4/1

Ended last season with a brace of hurdles wins and shaped well sent chasing after 6 months off when runner-up at Chepstow in October. Clearly derived plenty from that and produced a much sharper round of jumping to go one better at Aintree (25f, good) 5 weeks ago. Remains potentially smart.

Form: 2411-21

Beachcomber^p1³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 128| BF| D

22/1

A dual 25f hurdles winner who stepped up on his chasing debut form when runner-up at Exeter (24.2f, good) just over 5 weeks ago. May well do better still as he gains further experience and first-time cheekpieces could well sharpen him up that bit further.

Form: 1P16-32

Moon D'orange^p⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Ben Harvey| T: J C McConnell| OR: 128

33/1

Winner of a novice hurdle during a short stint for Fergal O'Brien during the spring and shaped well on chase debut having rejoined former yard when third of 12 in a Punchestown maiden. Failed to progress here last time (looked short of pace) and others look more appealing. Cheekpieces reapplied.

Form: 3310-33

Livin On Luco^p⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 123

12/1

Consistent rather than progressive over hurdles and bettered that form albeit fortuitously when making a winning start over fences in 7-runner handicap at Newton Abbot (21f, soft) 45 days ago. Step forward required in this company but that's certainly possible.

Form: F1222-1

Forecasts

Peaky Boy (11/8), Haiti Couleurs (4/1), Transmission (6/1), Destroytheevidence (7/1), Livin On Luco (12/1), Isaac Des Obeaux (12/1), Hillcrest (22/1), Beachcomber (22/1), Moon D'orange (33/1)

A cracking contest in store with a host of unexposed staying chasers lining up. The vote goes to HAITI COULEURS, who jumped with aplomb when landing the odds at Aintree 5 weeks ago and Rebecca Curtis' 7-y-o remains potentially smart now faced with a sterner assignment. Peaky Boy completed a course hat-trick on return/chase debut last month, so he heads up the opposition, with Isaac des Obeaux and Transmission both sure to advance their form in this discipline, too.