October 22 / 14.40 Cheltenham

14.40

Good To Firm

Masterson Holdings Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £20812
  • 2m 0f 87y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
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Masterson Holdings Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

10/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1132- C BF

Last run: 198 days

W: 11st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Useful Flat form, initially for the Gosdens and also in these colours when not beaten far in the 2m4f handicap at this year's Royal Ascot; twice ran well here as one of last season's leading juvenile hurdlers, winning in a canter on Trials' Day before finishing third in the Triumph; looked sure to win the Grade 1 at Aintree when travelling easily to the front, only to be joined on the post by Knight Salute and then demoted for causing interference at the final flight; if played later than in Liverpool, he'll be tough to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Pied Piper

10st 7lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Gained all three chase wins in small-field novice events last April-June; not beaten far when ninth of 28 in valuable Leopardstown handicap won by Favori De Champdou over Christmas (3m, yielding; wore usual cheekpieces) and seemed to be running well when falling at third-last fence in the Thyestes at Gowran (3m1f, heavy; blinkered) in January; has stamina to prove on cross-country debut but not ruled out; cheekpieces back on today.

25/1

9

22nd Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 0y

15:30 Gowran Park

Pied Piper

11st 4lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart hurdler in his early days; all three chase wins recorded in small-field events between April and June last year; failed to prosper in Grade 3 events before livelier displays at Cheltenham and when fifth behind Answer To Kayf in the Troytown; no impact in the Grade 1 Drinmore at Fairhouse; no threat from the last when ninth in the Paddy Power.

33/1

1

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

16:05 Cheltenham

Pied Piper

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Hit the ground running over fences with three wins in small fields (2m4f-2m7f) but now on a recovery mission after three blips, admittedly at Grade 3 level; would be a strong contender on these terms if back on song.

5/1

OUR TIP

5/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 11191- CD

Last run: 198 days

W: 11st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Has won around here and early mistakes had him on the back foot when failing to fire in the Triumph; it was otherwise a juvenile season to remember, capped when awarded the Grade 1 at Aintree after responding admirably for pressure to force a dead-heat with Pied Piper (who was deemed to have interfered with him at the final flight); leading form claims kept to his own age group and he won't fail through a lack of fighting spirit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

5th Nov 2022

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 1

16:00 Wincanton

Knight Salute

11st 5lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Milton Harris

held up in last, mistake 3rd, not fluent 4th, detached 3 out, pushed along home turn, outpaced before 2 out, soon well held, went third run-in

8/1

2nd

1

22nd Oct 2022

Good To Firm

2m 0f 87y

Class 2

14:40 Cheltenham

Knight Salute

11st 8lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Milton Harris

in touch with leaders, switched right and headway 2 out, edged left but every chance approaching last, ridden run-in, kept on

5/2

Form: 32P2-1 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Placed form over hurdles and fences when in France; the front two were miles clear when she won a 2m1f maiden hurdle at Killarney (good) and it was good to see the runner-up go one better at Thurles on Thursday (workmanlike); as a 4yo filly getting all the allowances and with a shrewd yard to boot, she's dangerous to dismiss.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

19th Dec 2022

Frozen

2m 3f 80y

13:40 Punchestown

Bella Scintilla

10st 11lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Plenty of placed form, including at this trip, over hurdles and fences in France; off the mark on Irish debut in Killarney maiden in October; appeared to run very well when third to last season's smart juveniles Pied Piper and Knight Salute at Cheltenham but probably flattered by her proximity in what was a very steadily-run contest; respected nonetheless.

4/1

3rd

5

22nd Oct 2022

Good To Firm

2m 0f 87y

Class 2

14:40 Cheltenham

Bella Scintilla

10st 7lb

J: Tom O’Brien

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

prominent, led narrowly after 2 out, edged right and headed last, soon ridden, kept on

13/2

Form: -1P943 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
His claim to fame is winning a Punchestown maiden hurdle in May at the whopping odds of 300-1; ran perfectly well in a Chepstow handicap two weeks ago but that's his level; should be outclassed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

22nd Oct 2022

Good To Firm

2m 0f 87y

Class 2

14:40 Cheltenham

Sawbuck

11st 0lb

J: Charlie O’Dwyer

T: Conor O’Dwyer

prominent, pressed leader 2nd, pushed along when bit short of room and mistake last, soon ridden, kept on until no extra final 110yds

40/1

Form: 1178- D

Last run: 182 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Losing both his front shoes wouldn't have helped when well beaten on his handicap debut last time and prior to that he was only about 9l behind Pied Piper in the Triumph; an 8lb pull will that one certainly helps his cause and he might be a bit better than he showed back in March; in the right hands to progress further.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

28th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:10 Worcester

Doctor Parnassus

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Had a spell in Ireland but back with his former yard he didn't pick up at all when beaten 19l at Stratford; doesn't look as good as he was; now tongue tied.

7/1

6th

5

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 3

16:00 Stratford

Doctor Parnassus

10st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has returned to his former yard after a spell in Ireland; won his first two races over hurdles for this stable in January/February 2022; has dropped to a decent mark; any market move should be noted.

3/1

4th

8

21st Jan 2024

Yielding

1m 7f 132y

15:20 Thurles

Doctor Parnassus

10st 9lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Richard John O’Brien

Dual winner over hurdles for the Skeltons; two good efforts on the Flat and not disgraced in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Leopardstown; could have more to offer.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.60
Straight Forecast £4.81
Trifecta £8.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Pied Piper

Telegraph:

Knight Salute

POSTDATA:

Doctor Parnassus

The Guardian:

Knight Salute

Daily Mirror:

Knight Salute

The Star:

Knight Salute

RP Ratings:

Pied Piper

TOPSPEED:

Pied Piper

The Times:

Pied Piper

Daily Mail:

Pied Piper

D Express:

Pied Piper

The Sun:

Pied Piper

Daily Record:

Pied Piper