14:40 Cheltenham

Wednesday 11 March 2026

All13:2014:0014:4015:2016:0016:4017:20

BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 3.07s

The Yellow Clay^p1⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 155

6/1

Very smart hurdler who scored four times (including in a Grade 1) last season, when also second in the Turners here. Struggled in the Christmas Hurdle last time but ran well at Navan before that and of firm interest now going handicapping fitted with cheekpieces under good conditional.

Form: 112F-25

Ballyadam^t²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 152

40/1

A regular here, second in the 2021 Supreme and placed in the last two runnings of this but has been kept mainly to the Flat in a light campaign this term, third in Dundalk handicap last month. Can't be dismissed given his excellent Festival record.

Form: 327/13-6

Storm Heart²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151

5/1

Smart hurdler who arrives on a hat-trick after wins in conditions event at Limerick in December and Grade 3 at Gowran last month, doing well on latter occasion having conceded first run. Remains relatively lightly raced and he merits serious consideration back up in trip here.

Form: 254/2-11

Lucky Place⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: N J Henderson| OR: 151| C

12/1

Dual Grade 2 hurdle winner last season, including in the Relkeel here. Didn't look a natural in 2 chase outings this term but got back on track reverted to this sphere when third bidding for a repeat in the Relkeel on New Year's Day. Fourth in this in 2024 and not dismissed.

Form: 174-323

Buddy One^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 149| C

40/1

Course winner who was a good fifth in last year's Stayers' Hurdle. Not at his best this term (mainly chasing) but no doubt he'll be primed for another big Festival run.

Form: 57-66P4

Farren Glory^p1²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 148

28/1

Useful winning hurdler/chaser who has been campaigned lightly this term, posting a good third to Storm Heart in Grade 3 Red Mills at Gowran (2m) 25 days ago. Wouldn't dismiss back up in trip for his handicap debut for yard with good record in this event. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 1233-33

Colonel Mustard³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: John Shinnick⁽³⁾| T: L Fowler| OR: 148

50/1

Won Grade 2 Lismullen at Navan in November and not discredited when fourth of 6 in another Grade 2 event there last month. Posted a very good fifth in this 12 months ago (also third in the 2022 County) so worth considering on his first go in handicap company since.

Form: 45-1184

Puturhandstogether¹⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 146| C

11/1

Impressive Fred Winter winner here last season and landed a gamble on Flat in the Irish Cesarewitch in September. Not seen to best effect back in this sphere when sixth in 2m Fairyhouse handicap in November. Stamina to prove but merits plenty of respect after a break.

Form: 13-6026

Kopeck De Mee⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145

10/1

A very useful juvenile winner in France. Well held (5/2) in Martin Pipe last year but posted smart effort when second in Aintree handicap subsequently. Considerately handled but held when fell last only run this term on his chasing bow at Navan in December. Remains with lots of potential.

Form: 32/102-F

Jingko Blue⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| D

9/2

Very useful novice over hurdles who quickly made up into a smart chaser last term, successful twice. Back in this sphere this season and posted a good second in Relkeel here on New Year's Day. Has room for improvement in his jumping but handily weighted returned to handicaps.

Form: P/11U-72

Iberico Lord⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| C| D

9/1

Greatwood/Betfair Hurdle winner in 2023/24 who capitalised on a falling mark when cosily landing Lanzarote at Kempton (2m5f) in January despite challenging wide. Back up 8 lb but he's unexposed over this sort of trip and can't be taken lightly for stable with excellent record in this event.

Form: 400-991

Guard Duty⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 142| D

25/1

Bagged three hurdle wins last season and has continued in very good form this term, landing 4-runner handicap at Doncaster (2m3f) in January. This is tougher but this reliable sort is no forlorn hope if keeping the mistakes down.

Form: 119-231

Chart Topper^p1²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

33/1

Dual 2m hurdles winner last term and he looked right back to his best when falling 2 out (likely to have finished second) in 3m handicap at Haydock 25 days ago. Remains low mileage and in the mix with cheekpieces added.

Form: 226-3PF

Kateira²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 141| D

15/2

Landed a match in listed mares event at Wetherby (2m) in November before a good fourth in Ascot Grade 2. Not at all knocked about back in handicaps at Musselburgh and Ascot on her last two runs. Big player off an easing mark for yard with excellent record in this.

Form: 2-14389

Sony Bill^t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

50/1

Ex-French winning hurdler but below par when fancied for Fred Winter here 12 months ago. Running well when fell last in Punchestown Grade 1 in May and not discredited after 9 months off when eighth of 19 in 2m listed handicap at Leopardstown last month. No forlorn hope taking a big step up in trip.

Form: 2350F-8

Give It To Me Oj⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 140| C

50/1

Went on a winning spree over hurdles and on the Flat in 2025, including a 2m conditions event here in October. Well held in the face of stiffer tasks in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury and Kempton Christmas Hurdle since but not totally dismissed now.

Form: 411-156

Rambo T²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 140| D

80/1

Has enjoyed plenty of success in handicap hurdles around 2½m, bagging Silver Trophy at Chepstow in October. His form has dipped since though, only tenth at Ascot (2m3f) last month. Others appeal more.

Form: 1-31980

Dargiannini^t¹⁰²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 140| D

150/1

Resumed winning ways after 9 months off at Uttoxeter in October but pulled up at Newbury following month. Given a break since but this demands a big step forward.

Form: 5425-1P

Franciscan Rock⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 139

50/1

Winless since 2024 and he's been below par this season since reverted to hurdles, beating only one in Grade 2 at Gowran (23.5f) last time. Fifth in this in 2024 however so can't be totally dismissed.

Form: 8-33495

Beckett Rock²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Mike O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 139| BF

33/1

Useful hurdler who made a low-key start over fences earlier this term but produced easily his most encouraging effort to date switched to a handicap when runner-up at Gowran (2m3f) 25 days ago. Sixth in this last year so not out of things back hurdling.

Form: 60-0542

Bunting³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139

14/1

Improved on Flat when third in Cesarewitch last October and returned to this sphere with a very good fourth in listed handicap at Leopardstown at Christmas. Failed to build on it when ninth in similar company there last month though and is winless since 2023.

Form: 2P60-49

Minella Rescue¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: G Hanmer| OR: 139

125/1

Second in the Grade 1 Sefton at Aintree and scored at Uttoxeter (2m7f) in May. Possibly unsuited by conditions after 4 months off at Doncaster recently but this is surely too much of an ask.

Form: 20-1284

Forty Coats^p1⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138| BF

20/1

Very useful hurdler who came in a good fourth in the Baring Bingham here 12 months ago. Only seen twice this season and well below par when an odds-on third in Thurles novice in January. Needs to bounce back on handicap debut in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 2224-73

Hms Seahorse^b¹⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Eoin Staples⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 138

66/1

Useful hurdler who won conditions event at Clonmel in June in first-time blinkers. Similar form when second on chase debut at Wexford after but unseated 4 out returned to this sphere at Galway in September. Fourth in the 2022 Fred Winter and has won when fresh but this is tough.

Form: 00-12FU

Forecasts

Jingko Blue (9/2), Storm Heart (5/1), The Yellow Clay (6/1), Kateira (15/2), Iberico Lord (9/1), Kopeck De Mee (10/1), Puturhandstogether (11/1), Lucky Place (12/1), Bunting (14/1), Forty Coats (20/1), Guard Duty (25/1), Farren Glory (28/1), Beckett Rock (33/1), Chart Topper (33/1), Ballyadam (40/1), Buddy One (40/1), Franciscan Rock (50/1), Colonel Mustard (50/1), Sony Bill (50/1), Give It To Me Oj (50/1), Hms Seahorse (66/1), Rambo T (80/1), Minella Rescue (125/1), Dargiannini (150/1)

STORM HEART did well to score at Gowran and could be the way to go back up in trip in a typically well-contested renewal of this handicap. Dan Skelton has enjoyed great success in this race and his Kateira rates a big threat on the back of a couple of eye-catching efforts. Nicky Henderson's Iberico Lord and Jingko Blue are also well in the mix along with Puturhandstogether, The Yellow Clay, Kopeck de Mee and Farren Glory.