13:15 Cheltenham

Friday 12 December 2025

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 3.00s

Iberico Lord²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 138| C

8/1

Former Greatwood and Betfair Hurdle winner but hard to know much of that ability remains as he's been below par back hurdling since a fall over fences at Ascot last December, including in this year's Greatwood. Would need to see market support to consider.

Form: 1F400-9

Brentford Hope⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Megan Fox⁽⁷⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 137| D

11/1

Smart hurdler and translated most of that ability to fences at the first time of asking when 12¼ lengths fourth of 6 in 2m course Grade 2 on reappearance in November. Not in the same form when last of 4 at Exeter since but on a feasible mark back over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 0248-44

No Ordinary Joe^t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: K Brogan| T: Faye Bramley| OR: 132

66/1

Useful on his day for Nicky Henderson but winless since 2022 and hasn't fired in 3 outings for current yard.

Form: 740-90P

Fortune De Mer^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| BF| C

16/5

Good Cheltenham record includes wins in a listed bumper last November and a Grade 2 novice hurdle this autumn. Sound start to his handicap career when second of 7 at Ascot (2m, good) 3 weeks ago. Big player.

Form: 140-312

Stoner's Choice^t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: F O'Brien| OR: 126| D

28/1

Has yet to fire this season but nicely handicapped if staging a rival having dipped to 4 lb lower that when second in a competitive race at Kempton in February.

Form: 720-056

Melon²⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 122| D

28/1

Lightly raced improver on Flat for this yard and took well to hurdling last winter, winning juveniles at Doncaster (good to soft) and Wetherby (heavy). Only a respectable fourth in Sandown juvenile handicap final start but retains potential for handicaps this season.

Form: 1614-

Leloopa^t⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121| C

10/1

Made it 4 wins in her last 7 starts when seeing off 11 rivals in a course conditional jockeys' handicap under Tom Broughton in October. Did that decisively and should remain competitive off 6 lb higher.

Form: 171-631

French Emperor²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: S Bowen| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 120| C

9/4

Arrives 2-2 in handicap hurdles, both competitive big-field events, latterly at the Open meeting here (heavy) 4 weeks ago. Raised 7 lb but further progress can't be discounted.

Form: 3/337-11

Continuance^h³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Freddie Keighley⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 120| D

14/1

Enthusiastic front-runner who landed back-to-back victories at Ludlow and Fontwell in the spring. Pulled up on reappearance but quickly back on song when second of 4 at Sandown (2m, good) last month.

Form: R110-P2

Moutarde^v1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 115

100/1

Trained by Anthony Charlton to win a pair of juvenile hurdles last season. His second at Newton Abbot in May shows he can be competitive in handicaps but he's struggled in his 2 outings this autumn. It remains to be seen whether a first-time visor sparks a revival.

Form: F06-29P

Kel Du Large³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 114| BF| C

4/1

Won all 3 starts in 2023/24 season, including a course listed bumper and a Hereford juvenile hurdle. Off 21 months, lost his unbeaten record but shaped encouragingly given the length of absence when third in Exeter novice hurdle 5 weeks ago. Very interesting handicap newcomer.

Form: 111/3

Forecasts

French Emperor (9/4), Fortune De Mer (16/5), Kel Du Large (4/1), Iberico Lord (8/1), Leloopa (10/1), Brentford Hope (11/1), Continuance (14/1), Melon (28/1), Stoner's Choice (28/1), No Ordinary Joe (66/1), Moutarde (100/1)

FORTUNE DE MER has shaped well in a handicap since winning a Grade 2 novice here in the autumn and can land another course success. Fellow progressive 5-y-os Kel du Large and French Emperor, who like the selection have winning form at this venue, may provide the main opposition.