January 24 / 15.35 Cheltenham

15.35

Soft

Pertemps Network Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £39865
  • 2m 7f 213y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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Pertemps Network Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 37-101 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Won big-field handicap here (3m, good) in October and bounced back from lesser run at Haydock to win handicap over this C&D (good) on New Year's Day; won a bumper on soft ground; further improvement needed now up in grade but trainer enjoyed lots of success in this race with Paisley Park and this progressive 7yo is an each-way possible at a track he obviously relishes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Ma Shantou

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Emma Lavelle

Two handicap wins here this season (3m, good) and he took the rise in grade in his stride to win the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle over C&D (soft) in January; the 7l runner-up Impose Toi was giving him 6lb and perhaps wasn't at his best, but this highly progressive 7yo was impressive nevertheless; his profile is not dissimilar to that of Paisley Park, who won the Cleeve for this yard in 2019 before landing this race; very much one to be interested in.

6/1

1st

6

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:35 Cheltenham

Ma Shantou

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Won big-field handicap here (3m, good) in October and bounced back from lesser run at Haydock to win handicap over this C&D (good) on New Year's Day; won a bumper on soft ground; further improvement needed now up in grade but trainer enjoyed lots of success in this race with Paisley Park and this progressive 7yo is an each-way possible at a track he obviously relishes.

5/1

4/5

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 4-2111 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
A revelation this season since upped to staying trips, winning a handicap at Aintree (3m, good to soft) and enjoying further success in Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury (3m, soft) and Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot (3m, good to soft); beat Strong Leader by just over 1l last time and he's produced positive performances on both previous runs here; he's the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

15:05 Aintree

Impose Toi

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Relished step up in trip when winning C&D handicap (good to soft) in November and won the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury (3m, soft) and Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot (3m, good to soft) on his next two starts, with Strong Leader in second on both occasions; below par at Cheltenham on last two runs (good record there previously) and it was disconcerting that he was pulled up in the Stayers', but he's in the picture if back to his best.

13/2

8

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Impose Toi

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Handicap runner-up at last year's Festival; made it 3-3 over staying trips in the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in December; not seen to same effect when 7l second to Ma Shantou in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle over C&D in January but was conceding 6lb to the winner and the soft going perhaps wasn't ideal; could have a part to play if bouncing back to his best.

10/1

2nd

2

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:35 Cheltenham

Impose Toi

11st 8lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

A revelation this season since upped to staying trips, winning a handicap at Aintree (3m, good to soft) and enjoying further success in Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury (3m, soft) and Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot (3m, good to soft); beat Strong Leader by just over 1l last time and he's produced positive performances on both previous runs here; he's the one to beat.

4/5

Form: 1-2345 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Won the Pertemps Handicap Final over C&D (good to soft) at the Festival last March; he has something to find with Impose Toi and Strong Leader on the evidence of this season's three outings but he's been running pretty well and the return to Cheltenham may be a positive; not ruled out each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

15:05 Aintree

Doddiethegreat

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nicky Henderson

Won the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham (3m, good to soft) last March and some respectable runs in Grade 2s this term; wore blinkers when pulled up in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and is back in his usual cheekpieces this afternoon, but he still has something to find.

28/1

3

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Doddiethegreat

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Won the Pertemps Final Handicap over C&D (good to soft) last March and he's performed respectably in Graded races this term, most recently third of six over C&D behind Ma Shantou and Impose Toi (soft; jockey dropped whip after final flight); it's possible he'll produce his best performance of the season now he's back into a bigger field over a C&D that clearly suits, but he'll probably still come up short; blinkers replace cheekpieces.

50/1

3rd

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:35 Cheltenham

Doddiethegreat

11st 6lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Nicky Henderson

Won the Pertemps Handicap Final over C&D (good to soft) at the Festival last March; he has something to find with Impose Toi and Strong Leader on the evidence of this season's three outings but he's been running pretty well and the return to Cheltenham may be a positive; not ruled out each-way.

7/1

Form: 8-0374 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Course regular who won this last year (soft); however, today's contest looks like it will take more winning, even before factoring in the 6lb penalty he carries this time around; looks vulnerable on this season's evidence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

21th

2

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Gowel Road

11st 10lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Can front-run; Cheltenham regular, where he won a 3m Grade 2 last January; sixth in this in 2024 and ran creditably here on three of his first five starts this season, before a big run under Toby McCain-Mitchell at Chepstow 19 days ago; back up 2lb to his career-high mark but probably not far away.

28/1

2nd

1

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

14:55 Chepstow

Gowel Road

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Cheltenham regular, where he won a 3m Grade 2 last January from Monmiral; ran creditably there on three of his latest four starts but he's only 2lb off his career-high mark; cheekpieces (worn on last three starts) are off; 5lb claimer is recruited.

6/1

4th

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:35 Cheltenham

Gowel Road

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Course regular who won this last year (soft); however, today's contest looks like it will take more winning, even before factoring in the 6lb penalty he carries this time around; looks vulnerable on this season's evidence.

12/1

Form: 20-225

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Some progressive form in handicap hurdles last season at up to 3m and, after two defeats over fences, he reverted to hurdles and finished fifth of six in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle (2m4f) here on New Year's Day; that was a respectable performance but he faces another tough task today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 2

15:27 Plumpton

Kamsinas

11st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has faced a couple of difficult tasks since returned to hurdles but was beaten when taking a late fall returned to handicap level most recently; can be opposed off current mark in this deeper field.

16/1

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 2

16:15 Doncaster

Kamsinas

11st 11lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Second in two small-field chases this season before reverting to hurdles at big odds for two Cheltenham Grade 2s, soundly beaten on latest occasion; runner-up off the same mark in this race last term; 5lb claimer takes over and they are considered each-way.

4/1

5th

5

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:35 Cheltenham

Kamsinas

11st 2lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Some progressive form in handicap hurdles last season at up to 3m and, after two defeats over fences, he reverted to hurdles and finished fifth of six in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle (2m4f) here on New Year's Day; that was a respectable performance but he faces another tough task today.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 42-122 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 156

Form & Verdict
Runner-up to Impose Toi on last two starts (3m, soft/good to soft), latest when beaten just over 1l off level weights (same today) in the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot; his record at Cheltenham is patchy but he ran well when third in this in 2024; on form he's the stand-out danger to Impose Toi.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

15:05 Aintree

Strong Leader

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Tailed off at Cheltenham in January but that's not his track and he's had a wind op since; prior to that he ran well when runner-up to Impose Toi at Newbury and Ascot, and his Aintree form figures read 1212 with his last two visits being in this race (good to soft/good); there can be considerable optimism that he'll be a key player back here; tongue-tie added.

4/1

6th

3

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:35 Cheltenham

Strong Leader

11st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Runner-up to Impose Toi on last two starts (3m, soft/good to soft), latest when beaten just over 1l off level weights (same today) in the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot; his record at Cheltenham is patchy but he ran well when third in this in 2024; on form he's the stand-out danger to Impose Toi.

9/2

1st

1

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 1

14:22 Wetherby

Strong Leader

11st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Reappeared with a win in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury (3m, soft) last November and finished second in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree (3m, good) in April, having won that same Grade 1 12 months earlier; leading claims despite conceding weight all round.

7/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.00
Straight Forecast £5.70
Trifecta £28.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Impose Toi

The Times:

Ma Shantou

POSTDATA:

Strong Leader

Daily Mail:

Ma Shantou

RP RATINGS:

Impose Toi

TOPSPEED:

Impose Toi

LAMBOURN:

Impose Toi

Telegraph:

Impose Toi

The Guardian:

Impose Toi

D Express:

Impose Toi

Daily Mirror:

Impose Toi

The Sun:

Impose Toi

The Star:

Impose Toi

Daily Record:

Impose Toi