14:25 Cheltenham

Friday 24 October 2025

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 3m 57.96s

Fiveonefive^p⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Harvey| T: C Collins| OR: 134| D

28/1

Pretty useful hurdler who won 9-runner handicap at Cartmel (17.2f) in June but didn't convince with his jumping and soon pulled up after a bad mistake at the third on his chase debut at Roscommon. Heavy subsequent defeat over timber now raises questions.

Form: 78-91P6

Norman Fletcher¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: James Turner⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 123| D

9/2

Enjoyed a productive start to last season but found life tougher in deeper handicaps, shaping as though he'd benefit from further than 2m. Didn't show enough on reappearance at Chepstow 12 days ago to seriously consider him.

Form: 3P906-5

King William Rufus¹⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon| OR: 123| C| D

6/1

Prominent racer who was well ridden when gaining second big-field handicap win of last season at this venue in April (16.8f). 4 b rise looks perfectly fair on return for in-form yard.

Form: 216601-

Liverpool Knight⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Fern O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| BF| D

9/1

Three-time winner for Olly Murphy in 2023 and held form pretty well in 2024/25. Just a fair sixth at Uttoxeter in September but he is now back on his last winning mark.

Form: 35-4426

Torquay Road¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Eoin Staples⁽³⁾| T: C Collins| OR: 118

10/1

Irish raider who arrives in top form, supplementing his Sligo success at Galway 17 days ago, displaying a willing attitude under this rider. More on his plate here but he's clearly in excellent order.

Form: 00-3411

Gold For Alec²⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Callum Pritchard| T: T Symonds| OR: 116| D

9/2

Form of his Chepstow third in December worked out well and he resumed winning ways when stepped up just short of 21f at Huntingdon a month later. Shaped as though still in good form at Kempton in February but off since and back in trip for this reappearance.

Form: 4/21316-

Charging Thunder^p⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Nathan Howie| T: James Owen| OR: 115| D

7/1

Hit the ground running for this yard a year ago, completing cross-code hat-trick at Sedgefield in November. Improved again on the level since until a disappointing effort at York but this mark should be well within range. Major claims.

Form: 114-

Leloopa^t⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Tom Broughton| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115| DWS

14/1

Won twice against her own sex last autumn and landed a pretty valuable pot on second handicap start at Kelso in March. Showed more than on return to action when third at Newton Abbot last month and this bigger field will help her settle. Has had a breathing operation.

Form: 1171-63

Zaochen Enki^h¹⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Freddie Keighley⁽⁸⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 115| BF

9/2

Runner-up in France before going one place better on stable debut at Wincanton in March. 4/6 when managing only third of 10 in novice hurdle at Chepstow a month later and opening mark stiff-enough on bare form but he's unexposed and in the right hands.

Form: 213-

Diamond Tipp^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: P Hanlon| T: J C McConnell| OR: 113

33/1

Surpassed bumper form at the first time of asking over hurdles when successful at Downpatrick in July. Similar form in handicap company at that venue (up to 21.8f) since and she represents a respected yard.

Form: 20-7133

Prince Quattro⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Freddie Mitchell| T: James Owen| OR: 112| BF| D

20/1

Dual winner for P.J. Rothwell but has typically improved under the care of James Owen, impressing with his strength at the finish when recording a second success of the season at Market Rasen (16.6f, soft). Fit from the Flat and easing underfoot conditions in his favour.

Form: 9-33114

Grey Skies^b,t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: William Maggs⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110| D

28/1

Pretty useful earlier in his career and back on track with a brace of wins at up to 17.2f this summer. Another sound effort when third at Worcester but this is a harder assignment.

Form: 4-53113

Non-Runners

Rubber Ball²⁰³

Weight: 11-8| Age: 5

T: N B King J: Jack Andrews

Cavern Club²⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: James Owen J: Alex Chadwick

Scintillante¹²

Weight: 10-6| Age: 5

T: A Ralph J: Joe Anderson

Forecasts

Gold For Alec (9/2), Zaochen Enki (9/2), Norman Fletcher (9/2), Rubber Ball (11/2), King William Rufus (6/1), Charging Thunder (7/1), Cavern Club (8/1), Liverpool Knight (9/1), Torquay Road (10/1), Leloopa (14/1), Prince Quattro (20/1), Scintillante (25/1), Fiveonefive (28/1), Grey Skies (28/1), Diamond Tipp (33/1)

Competitive fare but CHARGING THUNDER has an attractive hurdles mark to exploit relative to his Flat ability and given the yard he represents, he's highly likely to return to this sphere on his game. He looks the most persuasive option, though second-season hurdler Rubber Ball is promising, while Torquay Road arrives from Ireland in top form.