3:00 – THE UNIBET GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE (Class 1) (Grade 3) 2m87y
MOHAAYED 7-y-o b g
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: Bridget Andrews
OR: 149 (11-12)
2018 County Hurdle winner Mohaayed has been dropped 3lbs since his disappointing tenth placed finish in the Welsh Champion Hurdle four-weeks ago and has plenty of good form under welterweight burdens.
The vastly experienced seven-year-old is only 3lbs higher than when scoring in Grade 3 company at Ascot last December, and he ran a fine race to place third in this contest off a 2lbs lower mark 12 months ago.
Dan Skelton’s battle-hardened campaigner could easily run well given his falling mark and liking for the Cotswolds. However, he will need to find the spark that he was lacking last month.
QUEL DESTIN 4-y-o ch g
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Harry Cobden
OR: 149 (11-12)
The tough as teak Quel Destin successfully conceded a double penalty too some smart four-year-old's at the Showcase Meeting last month and looks sure to run well for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who has sent out 2 winners and 4 placed horses in the last 8 renewals of this race.
That hard fought success demonstrated both Quel Deatin's level of ability and gutsy resolution – as well as improving his record over this corse and distance to 2-2. The son of Muhtathir was highly progressive last winter and even managed to snare a Grade 1 prize at Chepstow last December. Therefore, he can't be ruled out despite his lofty rating.
QUEL DESTIN wins the Masterson Holdings Hurdle at Cheltenham under Harry Cobden…
The first of many televised Saturday winners for master trainer Paul Nicholls this season, you sense…pic.twitter.com/5sn7MsKlPb
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) October 26, 2019
GUMBALL 5-y-o gr g
Trainer: Philip Hobbs
Jockey: Ben Jones (5)
OR: 147 (11-10)
Gumball led from pillar to post when landing a competitive Listed contest at Ascot two-weeks ago and could launch a bold front-running bid from an 8lbs higher mark.
The Alan King trained Elgin landed that same Ascot contest before snaring this prize in 2017, and the promising son of No Risk At All will carry a 2lbs higher mark when attempting to complete the same double on Sunday.
Philip Hobbs’ free-going five-year-old boasts a 33.3% (4-12) strike-rate over hurdles and could be set for a productive second season over timber given slick jumping and enthusiastic way of racing.
MONSIEUR LECOQ 5-y-o b g
Trainer: Jane Williams
Jockey: Lizzie Kelly (3)
OR: 145 (11-8)
Monsieur Lecoq returned to action with a narrow success in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and could have further scope for progression off a 7lbs higher mark.
Jane Williams' mud-loving five-year-old placed second in the hugely competitive Imperial Cup off a mark of 135 in March, and was perhaps feeling the effects of that outing when placing tenth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham just 6 days later.
His success at Ffos Las confirmed that he has improved for his summer break and the french-bred could go well given his wealth of experience in competitive handicap company – especially with the ground coming in his favour.
COUNTISTER 7-y-o b m
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Aidan Coleman
OR: 141 (11-4)
Countister placed third in the County Hurdle in March and could easily run well off an 8lbs higher mark given the impressive form of her yard in recent weeks.
The JP McManus owned seven-year-old, who was having her first run for 12 months in the aforementioned Cheltenham Festival contest, also placed fifth in the 2017 Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle behind smart rivals such as Laurina (first), Cap Soleil (second) and Maria's Benefit (fourth) – which provides further reason for optimism.
Nicky Henderson’s mare is open to further improvement after just six starts over hurdles and will not be inconvenienced by the recent wet weather.
HARAMBE 6-y-o br g
Trainer: Alan King
Jockey: Tom Bellamy
OR: 137 (11-0)
Harambe was a head in advance of the re-opposing Humbe Hero at Sandown in April and should strip fitter for his seasonal reappearance in the Grade 2 Persian War Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow last month.
Alan King's battle-hardened six-year-old came good during the spring when landing novice contests at Kempton and Market Rasen respectively. He will compete from a 4lbs higher-mark than when runner-up at Sandown and could outrun his price if getting into a good rhythm early on.
BENNY’S BRIDGE 6-y-o b g
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien
Jockey: Paddy Brennan
OR: 137 (11-0)
Benny's Bridge provided the final leg of Fergal O’Brien hat-trick when scoring over this course and distance at the Showcase Meeting last month, and the promising son of Beneficial rates a big player in this competitive heat in spite of his 10lbs higher rating.
The progressive six-year-old defeated subsequent Grade 3 scorer Flash The Steel at Prestbury Park in January and boasts a 100% record (2-2) in the Cotswolds. He will likely be ridden to challenge late in the piece and would undoubtedly be a popular winner of this valuable prize.
ZANZA 5-y-o b g
Trainer: Philip Hobbs
Jockey: Richard Johnson
OR: 136 (10-13)
Zanza, who ran out a decisive winner at Newbury 10 days ago, will have the assistance of champion jockey Richard Johnson and should run well if this race doesn't come too soon.
Philip Hobbs’ five-year-old 4-7 over hurdles and could enjoy a productive winter in competitive 2 mile handicaps. However, his last three victories have been achieved on a sound racing surface and he will have to defy a career high mark in order to prevail.
DAME DE COMPAGNIE 6-y-o b m
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Barry Geraghty
OR: 132 (10-9)
Dame De Compagnie was held in high regard when arriving from France in 2017, and the scopey daughter of Lucarno returned from 15 month on the sidelines with a sound second placed effort at Ascot in February.
The JP McManus owned mare was successful on her only subsequent outing at Cheltenham in April and she could easily prove better than a mark of 132.
Dame De Compagnie is the chosen mount of Barry Geraghty, who could have ridden the aforementioned Countister. Therefore this mare is very much one for the shortlist.
️ Here's Nicky Henderson on Dame De Compagnie (@SevenBarrows)
For more hurdlers and mares, click the link
https://t.co/0FZnauwk64 pic.twitter.com/I17ne0s6yU— Unibet Racing (@UnibetRacing) October 31, 2019
HUMBLE HERO 5-y-o b g
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: Harry Skelton
OR: 131 (10-8)
Shrewd target trainer Dan Skelton will field the promising Humble Hero, who caught the eye when placing third behind the hugely exciting Getaway Trump in competitive handicap company at Sandown on the final day of last season.
The promising son of High Chaparral was the chosen mount of Harry Skelton in Esher, which is interesting given that the aforementioned Flash The Steel (fifth) also represented team Skelton. To run so well in such deep waters on just his fourth start over hurdles is highly encouraging indeed, and it provides sufficient reason for optimism that he can improve with that experience under his belt.
The strong travelling five-year-old fell at the penultimate obstacle on his seasonal debut last month but is open to any amount of improvement after just five starts over hurdles. The manner in which he stayed-on doggedly up the testing Sandown hill demonstrated both his sound attitude and determined nature. Therefore, he has the required characteristics to develop into a solid handicap hurdler this winter.
QUOI DE NEUF 5-y-o b g
Trainer: Evan Williams
Jockey: Adam Wedge
OR: 129 (10-6)
Quoi De Neuf chased home a race-fit rival on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow last month and looks potentially well handicapped off a 2lbs higher mark.
The Evan Williams trained five-year-old was deemed good enough to contest the Grade 2 Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown last December – and he ran a perfectly respectable race to place second behind the smart Good Boy Bobby at Ffos Las in April.
The winning pointer was well supported prior to his runner–up effort last month and could run a huge race now that the rain has arrived.
TORCELLO 5-y-o ch g
Trainer: Shaun Lycett
Jockey: Marc Goldstein
OR: 127 (10-4)
Torcello arrives here in fine heart following a hat-trick of victories on the flat – all of which were achieved on soft and heavy ground.
However, Shaun Lycett’s chestnut offered little in the way of encouragement when last sighted over timber and may struggle to make an impact in this competitive heat.
MONSIEUR D’ARQUE 5-y-o b g
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: William Marshall (7)
OR: 125 (10-2)
Monsieur D'Arque, who will be Dan Skelton's third dart at this valuable prize, was turned over at odds-on last time out but is interesting based on his fourth placed finish behind Elixir De Nutz, Jarveys Plate and I K Brunel on his hurdling debut at Prestbury Park 11 months ago.
The lightly-raced bay is open to plenty of improvement after just four starts over hurdles and he could easily outrun his price if he is mentally ready for such a contest.
DE MAZZARO 5-y-o b g
Trainer: T G McCourt
Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe (3)
OR: 123 (10-0)
De Mazzaro chased home the progressive Shumaker before justifying favouritism at Galway three-weeks ago. This will represent a significant rise in class. However, he wouldn't make the trip unless connections felt it was justified, and it may be significant that he runs here having held an entry in the following Grade 2 novice hurdle.
GRAPEVINE 6-y-o b g
Trainer: Sophie Leech
Jockey: Connor Brace (3)
OR: 120 (9-11)
Grapevine placed seventh behind the aforementioned duo Gumball and Red Force One at Ascot two-weeks ago and could exceed market expectations if handling conditions.
The former flat performer was successful in Listed company at Market Rasen in July and Sophie Leech is very shrewd at placing those in her care. Connor Brace, who steered the aforementioned Benny’s Bridge to success over this course and distance at Cheltenham’s Showcase Meeting last month, will take a handy 3lbs off the six-year-old’s back.
SUMMARY:
Those associated with Monsieur Lecoq will be rubbing their hands with glee following the deluge of rain that has arrived in the Cotswolds in recent days. Jane Williams’ upcoming five-year-old travelled powerfully throughout the Welsh Champion Hurdle and could easily have more to come off a 7lbs higher mark. Quoi De Neuf will also appreciate the recent rainfall and should run well for Evan Williams, who came agonisingly close to landing this valuable prize with subsequent Champion Hurdle third Silver Streak 12 months ago. While the gutsy Quel Destin, who is one of only two course and distance winners in the line-up, hardly knows how to run a bad race and can fill the frame for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden.
- Monsieur Lecoq
- Quoi De Neuf
- Quel Destin
