14:40 Cheltenham

Wednesday 1 January 2025

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 6m 23.47s

Twig³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 143| D

14/1

Did really well chasing last season, second in Ultima at the Festival here. Has reverted to hurdles this term, finishing a fine second in 3m Wetherby Grade 2 on reappearance before pulling up in the valuable Betfair Stayers' Handicap at Haydock. Cheekpieces worn then are left off. Interesting.

Form: 2025-2P

Itchy Feet³⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: O Murphy| OR: 139

28/1

Scored at Market Rasen (23f) in November 2023 but only seventh at 2 months later and not seen since. What A Johnny has to be considered the yard first string.

Form: 200/P17-

An Tailliur^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130| D

22/1

Prolific winner in handicap hurdles in 2021/22 and ran well in some hot handicaps the following season. However, nowhere near that level in 4 runs this season, including back hurdling over C&D last month.

Form: 68/2567

Deep Cave⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: Christian Williams| OR: 130| D

15/2

Fairly useful hurdle and chase winner in France. Better effort in course handicap hurdles for new yard when making late headway into fifth over this trip in November. Claims if he can build on that.

Form: FF-5105

One Big Bang³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: James Owen| OR: 127| BF| D

10/3

Maiden in Ireland but won first 2 starts for James Owen in the spring and has improved again this autumn, finishing second of 14 in a valuable Betfair Stayers Handicap at Haydock (3m, heavy) in November. Likely to give another good account.

Form: 4P11-22

Catch Him Derry³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124| D

13/2

Won 3 of his first 4 handicaps, including hard held on 21.5f Newton Abbot reappearance in October. Disappointing when pulled up in the valuable Betfair Stayers at Haydock last time but his overall record suggests he can bounce back.

Form: 3121-1P

What A Johnny^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 119

9/2

Novice/handicap winner last season and has advanced his form again in defeat since, finishing third of 7 at Market Rasen (23f) last time. Tongue tied first time. Unexposed as a stayer for a stable which has won 2 of the last 4 runnings of this.

Form: 331-263

Strackan¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 117

7/2

Has returned an improved performer, winning handicaps in the mud at Uttoxeter and Bangor (23f) in recent months. Should go well on hat-trick bid.

Form: 3P9-211

Idefix De Ciergues^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 116| D

17/2

Fair maiden hurdler who struck at the second time of asking over fences in 3m Chepstow handicap in November and followed up over hurdles at Doncaster (3m again) 23 days later. More on his plate in this higher grade but he could have more to offer as a stayer.

Form: 22-4411

Forecasts

One Big Bang (10/3), Strackan (7/2), What A Johnny (9/2), Catch Him Derry (13/2), Deep Cave (15/2), Idefix De Ciergues (17/2), Twig (14/1), An Tailliur (22/1), Itchy Feet (28/1)

The good record of the Olly Murphy stable in this race swings the vote the way of WHAT A JOHNNY. James Owen's One Big Bang was a fine second in the valuable Betfair Stayers' Handicap at Haydock last time and is second choice ahead of the hat-trick seeking Strackan.