(R1) 12:15 CHELTENHAM, 2m 4f 56y Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Listed) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 1 205F15 COOLANLY (IRE) 3 C b g Flemensfirth La Fisarmonica 2 1511 ANEMOI (FR) 31 b g Manduro Recambe 3 5/27 DARLAC (FR) 25 b g Lucarno Pail Mel 4 11 I CAN'T EXPLAIN (IRE) 24 b g Getaway Dr Sandra 5 23132 JARVEYS PLATE (IRE) 18 ch g Getaway She's Got To Go 6 66321 MR PUMBLECHOOK 15 b g Midnight Legend Definitely Pip 7 291453 ROCCO (IRE) 17 b g Shantou Navaro 7 11 5 Connor Brace 5 11 0 G Sheehan H Whittington 6 11 0 R Johnson C L Tizzard 6 11 0 Nico de Boinville 6 11 0 P J Brennan 5 11 0 Wayne Hutchinson A King 6 11 0 Sam TwistonDavies 135 139 126 133 130 8 P/21 414 SUPREMELY LUCKY (IRE) 17 b g Milan Lucky Supreme 7 11 0 Harry Skelton 129 ATR VERDICT: I CAN'T EXPLAIN bolted up in an Irish pointtopoint in October 2017 and he confirmed that promise with an impressive victory over hurdles at Sandown last month. That form has been boosted with the third winning since and this son of Getaway could take plenty of beating this afternoon. Coolanly failed to fire in the Challow three days ago but this Grade 2 winner has to be respected despite the quick turnaround. Others to consider are Darlac and Jarveys Plate. Top Tip: I CAN'T EXPLAIN (4) Watch out for: COOLANLY (1)
(R2) 12:50 CHELTENHAM, 3m 2f 70y Join The Betbright Racing Club Handicap Chase (Class 2) (5YO plus) 1 4/1P4P 4 BEWARE THE BEAR (IRE) 31 b g Shantou Native Bid 9 12 1b1 J McGrath 146 2 21U/421 ROBINSFIRTH (IRE) 382 CD b g Flemensfirth Phardester 10 12 1t R M Power C L Tizzard 146 3 05F0P6 PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE) 23 CD b g Winged Love Dansana 4 231243 ROLLING DYLAN (IRE) 18 ch g Indian River Easter Saturday 5 1U6414 SHANROE SANTOS (IRE) 24 BF b g Definite Article Jane Hall 6 2P5978/ THE DRUIDS NEPHEW (IRE) 612 C b g King's Theatre Gifted 7 0F7922 SIR MANGAN (IRE) 18 D BF b g Darsi Lady Pep 8 794/112 SOME CHAOS (IRE) 26 BF b g Brian Boru Iruna Iris 12 11 12p P J Brennan 8 11 11p M G Nolan P J Hobbs 10 11 6b D A Jacob Mrs L Wadham 12 11 6p N D Fehily N P Mulholland 11 10 13b Harry Skelton 8 10 10 Benjamin Poste M Scudamore 143 137 137 130 127 9 P4/32 93 ALVARADO (IRE) 38 C ch g Goldmark Mrs Jones 14 10 9 Adam Wedge 126 10 P96012 THOMAS CRAPPER 25 C D b g Tamure Mollycarrs Gambul 12 10 4p Jack Quinlan R Dickin 121 ATR VERDICT: BEWARE THE BEAR was fair from disgraced when filling fourth place in the Ladbrokes Trophy last time out and he makes plenty of appeal, off a 2lb lower mark, in a weaker race today. Rolling Dylan was less then a length behind the winner in a similar event over C&D 18 days ago and he should be in the mix once again today, while the 2016 winner of this race Perfect Candidate and Sir Mangan are others to note. Top Tip: BEWARE THE BEAR (1) Watch out for: ROLLING DYLAN (4)
(R3) 13:25 CHELTENHAM, 2m 4f 127y Betbright Dipper Novices' Chase (grade 2) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 1 11/4751 DEFI DU SEUIL (FR) 25 C b g Voix Du Nord Quarvine Du Seuil 2 412213 BLACK OP (IRE) 25 D BF br g Sandmason Afar Story 3 212P31 CRUCIAL ROLE 21 b g Westerner The Lyme Volunteer 4 167223 LOSTINTRANSLATION (IRE) 32 b g Flemensfirth Falika 5 1/1116 ON THE BLIND SIDE (IRE) 262 CD BF b g Stowaway Such A Set Up 6 11 3 B J Geraghty P J Hobbs 8 11 0t N D Fehily T R George 7 11 0 Harry Skelton 7 11 0 R M Power C L Tizzard 7 11 0 Nico de Boinville 150 152 145 149 151 ATR VERDICT: DEFI DU SEUIL was an impressive winner of a very competitive novice chase at Exeter last month, where he had the subsequent Grade 1 runnerup Topofthegame back in second. Black Op filled third place on that occasion and a 3lb swing in the weights may not be enough to reverse the form. On The Blind Side makes his chase debut today but he was well held by Black Op in a novice hurdle at Aintree in April, while Lostintranslation edges out Crucial Role to be the pick of the remainder. Top Tip: DEFI DU SEUIL (1) Watch out for: BLACK OP (2)
(R4) 14:00 CHELTENHAM, 2m 4f 127y Download The BetBright App Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 1 8434/51 ASO (FR) 32 D b g Goldneyev Odyssee Du Cellier 2 24/1119 ACTING LASS (IRE) 311 D BF b g King's Theatre Darrens Lass 9 11 12 Charlie Deutsch Miss V Williams 8 11 3t N D Fehily Harry Fry 158 149 3 1161/U1 GIVE ME A COPPER (IRE) 414 ch g Presenting Copper Supreme 9 10 13t H Cobden P F Nicholls 145 4 09P821 BALLYHILL (FR) 24 CD b g Al Namix Laly Light 5 380171 BORN SURVIVOR (IRE) 60 D b g King's Theatre Bob's Flame 6 225/112 DIVINE SPEAR (IRE) 321 BF b g Oscar Testaway 7 11212B HAPPY DIVA (IRE) 45 D b m King's Theatre Megans Joy 8 680037 FOXTAIL HILL (IRE) 17 CD b g Dr Massini Flynn's Girl 9 131132 DUSTIN DES MOTTES (FR) 11 b g Kapgarde Puszta des mottes 8 10 12 Sam TwistonDavies 8 10 11 Harry Skelton 8 10 9 Nico de Boinville 8 10 8t Richard Patrick (3) Miss Kerry Lee 10 10 3 Jamie Bargary 6 10 1 Charlie Hammond (5) Dr R D P Newland 144 143 141 140 135 133 ATR VERDICT: An encouraging second to Mister Whitaker on her seasonal reappearance, HAPPY DIVA was still firmly in contention when being brought down four out here in the BetVictor Gold Cup last time out and is expected to remain competitive off the same mark. The main danger may be Ballyhill, who won this contest 12 months ago and looked on good terms with himself when striking over this trip off 10lb lower at Aintree last time. Others to consider are recent Newbury scorer Aso and Dustin Des Mottes, a recruit from France who has run over shorter on two previous starts for his shrewd handler. Top Tip: HAPPY DIVA (7) Watch out for: BALLYHILL (4)
(R5) 14:35 CHELTENHAM, 2m 7f 213y Simplify Horse Racing Selections With Betfinder At Betbright Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) (4YO plus) 1 641821 NAUTICAL NITWIT (IRE) 59 D b g Let The Lion Roar Mrs Pugwash 2 11/2FU CHAMERON (FR) 13 BF b g Laveron Chamanka 3 415382 WOTZIZNAME (IRE) 28 D b g Fruits Of Love Native Beau 4 U61112 JERSEY BEAN (IRE) 40 D BF b g Court Cave Jennifers Diary 5 28/5 AUX PTITS SOINS (FR) 32 C gr g Saint Des Saints Reflexion Faite 6 221121 VIVE LE ROI (IRE) 32 D b g Robin Des Pres Cappard View 7 5F4120 BOBO MAC (IRE) 32 gr g Whitmore's Conn Blazing Love 8 32224/8 KAREZAK (IRE) 32 b g Azamour Karawana 10 11 12p Danny Cook P A Kirby 6 11 6 H Cobden P F Nicholls 9 11 5t N D Fehily Harry Fry 6 11 5 R Johnson O Sherwood 9 11 4 Harry Skelton 8 11 0 Harry Bannister A W Carroll 8 10 13 J M Davies T Symonds 8 10 12p Wayne Hutchinson A King 149 143 141 137 136 135 9 86/P 057 THE EAGLEHASLANDED (IRE) 18 CD b g Milan Vallee Doree 9 10 6bt Brendan Powell P F Nicholls 129 10 333132 SHALAKAR (FR) 12 b g Cape Cross Shalanaya 11 343213 DE NAME EVADES ME (IRE) 32 D b g Vinnie Roe Sound of The Crowd 12 222620 JUGE ET PARTI (FR) 32 BF gr g Martaline Nakota Rag 13 772310 FORECAST 10 ch g Observatory New Orchid 14 3FU532 LORD DU MESNIL (FR) 16 BF b g Saint Des Saints Ladies Choice Long Handicap: Lord Du Mesnil 9 13 6 10 4 Charlie Deutsch Miss V Williams 7 10 2 P J Brennan 6 10 2 Sam TwistonDavies 7 10 2ht G Sheehan M Keighley 6 10 0tp James Bowen Richard Hobson 127 125 125 125 123
ATR VERDICT: NAUTICAL NITWIT outstayed Old Guard to win in Grade 2 company at Wetherby last time and with the Phil Kirby stable firing on all cylinders at the moment, it would come as no surprise to see him defy topweight back in a handicap. Aux Ptits Soins is having his second start for Dan Skelton and could be fairly treated at present. He's entitled to come on for his reappearance fifth at Newbury behind Vive Le Roi, who made all to land the spoils on that occasion (with De Name Evades Me back in third) and could again be a danger to all at the head of affairs. Top Tip: NAUTICAL NITWIT (1) Watch out for: AUX PTITS SOINS (5) 2019 At The Races. All Rights Reserved.
(R6) 15:10 CHELTENHAM, 2m 4f 56y Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 1 U71201 MIDNIGHT SHADOW 24 D b g Midnight Legend Holy Smoke 2 422326 OLD GUARD 17 C b g Notnowcato Dolma 3 232315 WHOLESTONE (IRE) 32 CD br g Craigsteel Last Theatre 4 60P412 THOMAS CAMPBELL 23 C D b g Yeats Hora 5 244132 CLYNE 32 D b g Hernando Lauderdale 6 431570 CYRUS DARIUS 10 D b g Overbury Barton Belle 6 11 6 Danny Cook Mrs S J Smith 8 11 6p H Cobden P F Nicholls 8 11 6 D A Jacob 7 11 4p James Bowen 9 11 0 Adam Wedge Evan Williams 10 11 0t1 R M Power C L Tizzard 146 154 158 147 152 ATR VERDICT: Although he finished a very creditable third in the Stayers' Hurdle at the Festival here last season, WHOLESTONE is arguably better over 2m4f. His last three wins have come over this trip, twice over C&D including an impressive triumph in this Grade 2 last year, and the forecast good to soft ground shouldn't be an inconvenience judged on his Aintree success at the expense of Vision Des Flos, Unowhatimeanharry and Agrapart in November. Thomas Campbell boasts a good record at this track and is interesting reverting to hurdles, while Clyne and Old Guard should run their usual honest races. Top Tip: WHOLESTONE (3) Watch out for: THOMAS CAMPBELL (4)
(R7) 15:50 CHELTENHAM, 1m 5f 209y EBF Stallions & Cheltenham Pony Club (Listed Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Class 1) (4YO only) 1 21 BOOK OF INVASIONS (IRE) 31 ch g Declaration Of War Cedar Sea 2 CALGARY TIGER b g Tiger Groom Sachiko 3 1 CASCOVA (IRE) 49 D b c Casamento Sina Cova 4 1 FEARLESS (IRE) 26 b g Arakan La Spezia 5 2 FUSEAU (FR) 31 b g Barastraight Monepopee 6 GLORY AND FORTUNE (IRE) b g Fame And Glory Night Heron 4 10 12 P J Brennan J Ryan 4 10 12 J McGrath William Bestturner 4 10 12 Nico de Boinville M Meade 4 10 12 C O'Farrell Rebecca Menzies 4 10 12 Wayne Hutchinson A King 4 10 12 R Johnson Tom Lacey 7 0 HANDSOME SAMSON 26 b g Nathaniel Factice 4 10 12h1t James Bowen Richard Spencer 8 JACAMAR (GER) b g Maxios Juvena 9 00 DEVIOUS DICKS DAME 13 b f Dick Turpin Bridal White 10 1 RIPPLET 70 b f Rip Van Winkle Seradim 4 10 12 Sam TwistonDavies M F Harris 4 10 5h Tom Cheesman Miss Z C Davison 4 10 5 H Cobden H Morrison ATR VERDICT: Glory And Fortune must be respected on his debut for a shrewd stable and given Richard Johnson has been booked to do the steering. Book Of Invasions and Fuseau are closely matched on their Doncaster meeting last month and Ripplet looked smart when winning at Exeter. Wincanton scorer Fearless debuts for Rebecca Menzies and is another to note, but CASCOVA won over this trip at Huntingdon in November and that form has worked out well. He gets the nod. Top Tip: CASCOVA (3) Watch out for: GLORY AND FORTUNE (6)