13:15 Cheltenham

Friday 23 October 2026

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

William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 56.60s

1^st

Frontier Prince

510-10

10/1

T: F O'BrienJ: Jack Hogan

In touch from 1st, pushed along after 2 out, challenged and carried flat, bumped towards finish, stayed on gamely, led post

2^nd

East India Express

711-9

12/1

T: N J HendersonJ: Freddie Gordon

Prominent, hampered 1st, led flat, soon edged right, stayed on, just denied post op 11/1 tchd 10/1

3^rd

3 ½

Crooked Path

410-2

10/3

T: James OwenJ: J J Burke

Keen early, chased leaders, mistake then hampered 1st, went second 3 out, led and mistake last, headed flat, no extra towards finish op 11/4

4^th

Sunny South West

610-9

11/4f

T: Edward F PowerJ: Michael Kenneally (3)

Led when jumped badly left and baulked 1st, headed last, no extra final 110 yards op 5/2

5^th

1 ½

Can Happen

610-7

18/1

T: P FloodJ: Miss Georgie Benson (7)

Raced on outside, towards rear after slightly hampered 1st, headway after 2 out, outpaced before last, edged left and plugged on flat op 20/1

6^th

1 ½

Morning Mayhem

511-2

17/2

T: Nick ScholfieldJ: Kielan Woods

Prominent, outpaced before last, weakened flat tchd 9/1

7^th

Cloonainra

710-4

33/1

T: J C McConnellJ: Paddy Hanlon (5)

Hampered 1st, never better than mid-division

8^th

La Pinsonniere

611-1

18/1

T: N J HendersonJ: James Bowen

Chased leaders, slowed into 1st and then hampered and lost place, tended to jump slowly after, behind from 5th tchd 20/1

9^th

John Barbour

711-4

25/1

T: F O'BrienJ: Liam Harrison

Chased leaders, hampered and lost place 1st, struggling after 2 out op 18/1

10^th

2 ¼

Al Gasparo

712-0

28/1

T: K WoollacottJ: Mr Lucas Murphy (7)

Hampered 1st, always behind op 22/1

Also Ran

Norman Fletcher

710-2

7/2

T: N & W Twiston-DaviesJ: Jamie Brace (5)

Led, headed when brought down 1st op 5/1

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Non-Runners

Handlethekettle⁴⁹

Weight: 10-10| Age: 7

T: Jamie Snowden J: G Sheehan

Snatch A Glance¹⁰³

Weight: 10-2| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: Fern O'Brien

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£13.10Pl:£3.10, £3.70, £1.80EX:£198.40Trifecta:£844.40Tricast:£491.69SF:£120.60Swingers:£27.70, £8.50, £10.30

Forecasts

Sunny South West (11/4), Crooked Path (10/3), Norman Fletcher (7/2), Handlethekettle (8/1), Morning Mayhem (17/2), Frontier Prince (10/1), East India Express (12/1), Can Happen (18/1), La Pinsonniere (18/1), John Barbour (25/1), Snatch A Glance (25/1), Al Gasparo (28/1), Cloonainra (33/1)

NORMAN FLETCHER has been knocking on the door from a much reduced mark in recent weeks, and he may well record a long overdue second handicap success. Crooked Path and East India Express are feared most among the home brigade, with Sunny South West the pick of the Irish trio.

NORMAN FLETCHER
CROOKED PATH (IRE)
EAST INDIA EXPRESS (IRE)

Previous Winners

2025

French Ship

Weight: 11-5 |Age: 5

J: Ben Jones | T: P Hobbs & J White

6/1

Prize Money

1st: £13,202.002nd: £6,075.003rd: £3,038.004th: £1,520.005th: £758.00