14:10 Cheltenham

Friday 17 March 2023

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 6.12s

1^st

Faivoir

810-7

33/1

T: D SkeltonJ: Bridget Andrews

Held up towards rear, headway after 2 out, switched left and challenged last, soon led, hard pressed, held on

2^nd

Pied Piper

511-13

12/1

T: G ElliottJ: D N Russell

Mid-division, effort from 2 out, led and pecked last, soon headed, every chance flat, stayed on, just held

3^rd

2 ½

Filey Bay

711-0

6/1

T: E MullinsJ: Mark Walsh

Held up in mid-division, mistake 3rd and 4th, headway 2 out, wet 3rd last, kept on, held by front pair

4^th

Sharjah

1012-0

10/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Mr P W Mullins

Held up towards rear, headway when not much room before last, went 4th flat, stayed on, unable to challenge tchd 9/1

5^th

1 ¼

Ballyadam

811-7

12/1

T: H De BromheadJ: Rachael Blackmore

Chased leaders, led before last, soon headed, held flat, kept on

6^th

Highway One O Two

811-2

80/1

T: C GordonJ: Freddie Gordon (7)

Led until after 1st, prominent, led 2 out, 3 lengths clear final bend, headed before last, no extra final 50 yards

7^th

1 ½

Petit Tonnerre

510-13

33/1

T: J & A O'NeillJ: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Held up in rear, headway approaching last where bumped, kept on well final 100 yards op 25/1

8^th

Luttrell Lad

710-6

150/1

T: T LaceyJ: H Cobden

Held up in rear, switched left after 3 out, headway on inside before last, not trouble leaders op 125/1 tchd 100/1

9^th

Anna Bunina

711-2

28/1

T: J C McConnellJ: Ben Harvey (5)

Chased leaders, shaken up after 2 out, no extra inside final 100 yards op 50/1 tchd 66/1

10^th

1 ½

Pinkerton

711-0

28/1

T: N MeadeJ: Sean Flanagan

Held up in mid-division, headway before last, never involved op 22/1

11^th

First Street

611-11

18/1

T: N J HendersonJ: N de Boinville

In touch, not fluent 4th, ridden after 2 out, losing place when not much room and mistake last op 12/1

12^th

Hunters Yarn

611-6

11/2

T: W P MullinsJ: Paul Townend

Held up in rear, headway final bend, no impression before last op 13/2

13^th

Wonderwall

710-7

25/1

T: R SpencerJ: S Bowen

Prominent until 1st, chased leaders, ridden and losing place when jumped right and bumped rival last op 22/1 tchd 28/1

14^th

1 ½

Winter Fog

911-11

25/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Kieran Callaghan (7)

Chased leaders on outside, lost place 2nd, well beaten 2 out, no impression after op 22/1

15^th

Gin Coco

710-8

13/2

T: H FryJ: J J Burke

Held up in mid-division, headway 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened before last op 8/1

16^th

4 ¾

Highland Charge

810-12

125/1

T: N MeadeJ: Sam Ewing

Held up in mid-division, well beaten after 2 out op 100/1

17^th

3 ½

Pembroke

610-9

9/2f

T: D SkeltonJ: Harry Skelton

Held up rear of mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway when mistake 2 out, soon beaten

18^th

3 ½

Aucunrisque

711-6

16/1

T: C GordonJ: Tom Cannon

Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, lost place before last tchd 14/1 and tchd 18/1

19^th

Saint Sam

611-11

33/1

T: W P MullinsJ: J B Foley (3)

Held up in rear on outside, some headway on outside 2 out, soon weakened

20^th

Glory And Fortune

811-3

50/1

T: T LaceyJ: Stan Sheppard

In touch in mid-division, closed 4th, weakened before 2 out, hampered last

21^st

Prairie Dancer

511-3

100/1

T: J P O'BrienJ: Brendan Powell

Led after 1st, headed 2 out, soon weakened

22^nd

Ganapathi

710-9

150/1

T: P NevilleJ: Alan Doyle (5)

Held up in mid-division, well beaten before 2 out op 125/1

Also Ran

Milkwood

911-0

50/1

T: N P MulhollandJ: Sam Twiston-Davies

Towards rear, well behind before 2 out, pulled up before last op 40/1

Path D'oroux

611-0

12/1

T: G P CromwellJ: Keith Donoghue

Held up rear of mid-division, outpaced 2 out, well beaten when pulled up before last

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Non-Runners

Glan¹⁷⁵

Weight: 10-7| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: L P Dempsey

Magnor Glory¹⁷⁵

Weight: 10-9| Age: 7

T: T O'Brien J: M J M O'Sullivan

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£66.40Pl:£10.40, £2.60, £2.20, £2.50EX:£963.10Trifecta:£10,592.70Tricast:£2,746.97SF:£392.62Swingers:£148.40, £57.90, £23.40

Forecasts

Pembroke (9/2), Hunters Yarn (11/2), Filey Bay (6/1), Gin Coco (13/2), Sharjah (10/1), Pied Piper (12/1), Ballyadam (12/1), Path D'oroux (12/1), Aucunrisque (16/1), Magnor Glory (16/1), First Street (18/1), Wonderwall (25/1), Winter Fog (25/1), Anna Bunina (28/1), Pinkerton (28/1), Faivoir (33/1), Petit Tonnerre (33/1), Saint Sam (33/1), Glory And Fortune (50/1), Milkwood (50/1), Glan (50/1), Highway One O Two (80/1), Prairie Dancer (100/1), Highland Charge (125/1), Luttrell Lad (150/1), Ganapathi (150/1)

Willie Mullins has compiled a fine record in this race in recent years, and as one of a 4-pronged attack, the highly-admirable SHARJAH could provide the Closutton handler with further success. Twice a runner-up in the Champion Hurdle, he's run well all 3 starts in Graded company so far this term and this sort of mark may well be within reach. Low-mileage stablemate Hunters Yarn is a major threat however along with Betfair Hurdle second Filey Bay. Pembroke and Pied Piper complete the shortlist.

SHARJAH (FR)
HUNTERS YARN (IRE)
FILEY BAY (IRE)

Previous Winners

2022

State Man

Weight: 11-1 |Age: 5

J: Paul Townend | T: W P Mullins

11/4

Prize Money

1st: £56,270.002nd: £21,200.003rd: £10,610.004th: £5,300.005th: £2,660.006th: £1,330.007th: £660.008th: £340.00