16.30
SoftVickers.Bet Cheltenham Special Offers Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon & Lady Buttons Qual’)
- Prize money: £7499.02
- 2m 0f 178y
- Class 4
- 6 runners
Runners: 6 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
Form: 51831 CD
Last run: 19 days
W: 12st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 119
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
18th May 2023 Good To Soft 2m 0f 47y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
led, headed and fell last |
4/1 |
|
1st 4 (6) |
12th May 2023 Soft 1m 1f 170y Class 5 |
9st 8lb |
pushed along briefly to lead soon after start, headed but raced in second after 1f, pushed along and led again 3f out, ridden and drifted right 2f out, keeping on against far rail 1f out, ridden out final 110yds |
4/1 |
|
10 |
29th Apr 2023 Good 1m 7f 216y Class 2 |
11st 3lb |
Free-goer who is 2-7 over hurdles, the latter win gained in first-time hood on handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in February; both subsequent runs (one on soft ground) were perfectly respectable but it seems that others in this line-up have more potential. |
33/1 |
Form: 0529P0
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 13lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
22nd May 2023 Good 2m 4f 139y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
led narrowly, slowed dramatically and headed 1st |
8/1 |
|
3 |
26th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 7f 174y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
held up in rear, some headway after 7th, pushed along 5 out |
20/1 |
|
6th 3 |
21st Mar 2023 Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Ex-Irish 8yo who won at the 2021 Punchestown festival and is one to watch in the betting on his third start for this yard, but he has lots to prove having been pulled up/tailed off the last twice. |
33/1 |
Form: 2-1145 D
Last run: 102 days
W: 11st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 117
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
31st Mar 2024 Good To Soft 2m 4f 114y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Has won three of his last four hurdles, latterly edging home in the new cheekpieces at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) after Joe Anderson had lost his whip (still a fine ride; always ideally positioned up with the pace); mark continues to rise (up another 5lb) but he's not easily knocked. |
4/1 |
|
1st 13 |
17th Feb 2024 Good To Soft 2m 3f 58y Class 2 |
10st 5lb |
Wins in 2023 came in Class 4 events at Uttoxeter and Sedgefield (both 2m4f, good to soft) and the rise in class seemed to find him out when he was only eighth in the Lanzarote at Kempton last time; needs first-time cheekpieces to spark a career-best effort. |
16/1 |
|
8th 17 |
13th Jan 2024 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 2 |
10st 9lb |
Solid record in Class 4 this term, winning at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) most recently; 5lb claimer Joe Anderson (won on him last June) returns, in bid to offset 5lb rise; 4-12 over hurdles; upped sharply in grade but arrives in top form; shortlisted. |
16/1 |
Form: 250-42
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 10lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0 1 |
23rd Dec 2023 Soft 2m 2f 191y Class 4 |
12st 2lb |
Ended a losing run of three years when making all for a wide-margin win at Bangor this month (2m, soft); back up 6lb but he was runnning in stronger races than this not so long ago and is a triple course winner; no easy lead this time but bold bid likely. |
3/1 |
|
1st 2 |
2nd Dec 2023 Soft 2m 0f 145y Class 4 |
12st 1lb |
Front-running veteran who has not won since December 2020 but he's finished runner-up in three of his last four starts including at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) on his return two weeks ago; remains well treated on old form and he should go well again back in trip. |
8/1 |
|
2nd 2 |
16th Nov 2023 Soft 2m 3f 188y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
prominent, led 2nd, joined 2 out, soon headed, ridden approaching last, kept on run-in |
5/1 |
Form: -PP211 D
Last run: 36 days
W: 11st 4lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 109
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
11th May 2024 Good 2m 4f 28y Class 4 |
10st 6lb |
prominent early, in touch with leaders before 3rd |
25/1 |
|
11 |
11th May 2024 Good 2m 4f 28y Class 4 |
10st 6lb |
prominent early, in touch with leaders before 3rd, lost position and pushed along briefly 4th, reminders after 6th |
25/1 |
|
6th 6 |
30th Mar 2024 Soft 2m 1f 0y Class 4 |
11st 1lb |
Dual C&D winner last season (soft/good to soft), and was placed off 10lb higher on the outer track here (2m1f, soft) in November; impossible to rule out but has become unreliable and was safely held here twice last month. |
25/1 |
Form: 023
Last run: 17 days
W: 10st 13lb
6 yo Mare
OR: 104
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
1st Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 5f 133y Class 3 |
11st 3lb |
Her first three chase starts yielded wins at Sedgefield (2m5f, good to soft) and Ayr (2m4f, soft); only third of four at Ayr (2m4f, soft) since but that may not be the limit of her ability; won here over hurdles and she's not ruled out. |
6/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
21st Jan 2025 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 3 |
10st 5lb |
Progressive over fences; won on Sedgefield debut (2m5f, good to soft) before career-best when scoring over C&D earlier this month (soft); runs off 7lb higher today; contender. |
11/8 |
|
3rd 3 |
21st Jan 2025 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 3 |
10st 5lb |
Progressive over fences; won on Sedgefield debut (2m5f, good to soft) before career-best when scoring over C&D earlier this month (soft); runs off 7lb higher today; contender. |
11/8 |
Betting Forcast
11/4 Berties Wish, 33/1 Guiri, 5/2 Mothill, 5/1 Chti Balko, 4/1 Applaus, 4/1 Hashtag Boum
Verdict
Handicap debutante Hashtag Boum is interesting and market support for her would be worth taking on board. Topweight Bertie’s Wish surely has more to offer if last time’s tendency to hang right can be corrected but this is likely to be different ground and the vote goes to the veteran CHTI BALKO, who will relish the forecast soft going and is still feasibly handicapped despite a 3lb rise for his second on his latest start. Hashtag Boum may chase him home. [Keith McHugh]
Selections
The Sun:
Applaus