15:05 Cheltenham

Saturday 16 December 2017

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Unibet International Hurdle (Grade 2)

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 1  |   2m 179y  |   Soft (Good to Soft in places)  |   7 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:05  |   Winning time: 4m 8.9s
1st
Horse silk
7
5/1
T: N J HendersonJ: B J Geraghty
Tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, led narrowly last, driven and stayed on gamely flat, in command towards finish tchd 11/2
2nd
Horse silk
1 ¼
2
5/2
T: N A Twiston-DaviesJ: Sam Twiston-Davies
Jumped slightly right, led, ridden and headed narrowly last, edged left flat, stayed on gamely, held towards finish op 9/4
3rd
Horse silk
1
1
511-6
7/4f
T: W P MullinsJ: D J Mullins
Took keen hold, tracked leaders, not clear run on inside after 2 out, every chance last, ridden flat, 3rd and no extra towards finish tchd 15/8
4th
Horse silk
¾
5
15/2
T: D SkeltonJ: Harry Skelton
Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, not clear run against stands rail before last, soon switched left and close 4th at the last, ridden and not quicken flat, stayed on same pace op 8/1 tchd 7/1
5th
Horse silk
¾
4
9/1
T: P F NichollsJ: H Cobden
Tracked leader until 2 out, one pace when squeezed out before last, hung left after last, stayed on final 100 yards, no impression
6th
Horse silk
½
3
25/1
T: Evan WilliamsJ: D N Russell
Held up in rear, headway from 2 out, close 5th last, ridden flat, not able to challenge, weakened towards finish op 33/1
7th
Horse silk
18
6
66/1
T: D PipeJ: T Scudamore
Held up towards rear on inside, not fluent 2nd, outpaced from 2 out, well beaten last

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£3.90Pl:£2.10, £1.80EX:£11.20Trifecta:£34.80SF:£16.53Swingers:£3.10, £1.20, £1.60

Forecasts

Melon (7/4), The New One (5/2), My Tent Or Yours (5/1), Ch'tibello (15/2), Old Guard (9/1), John Constable (25/1), Dell' Arca (66/1)

Verdict

It is easy to make a case for both The New One and My Tent Or Yours, regulars in this race and in top-tier contests down through the years but neither is getting any younger now. That isn't to say they cannot run well, but this could represent a changing of the guard none the less. Melon looks certain to run a big race and his respected connections think plenty of him, while he also boasts useful course form from the Festival in March but a chance is taken with the returning CH'TIBELLO. He was down to run in Champion Hurdle here in March after a fine effort at Wincanton a month prior before being ruled out on the morning of the race. The Skelton team are in supreme form and, given he goes well in testing ground, he should be primed for a big run on his return to action.
  1. Ch'tibello
  2. Melon
  3. My Tent Or Yours

Previous Winners

2016
The New One
Weight: 11-8  |Age: 8
13/8

Prize Money

1st: £74,035.002nd: £27,781.003rd: £13,910.004th: £6,929.005th: £3,484.006th: £1,742.00

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