Greatwood Handicap Hurdle 2010

2.20 Cheltenham
Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £57,010 - 17 run

Pick: General Miller (each/way)

Menorah: Showed immense potential when posting a time faster than the then Champion Hurdle favourite Go Native managed over the same course and distance on the same card at Kempton, potential he then realised when winning the Supreme Novice’s by a head when holding off Get Me Out Of Here; Disappointed at times too, when being beaten by Lush Life just before festival (admittedly went off too fast in soft ground) and when being ground down by General Miller at Aintree (was 3 lengths clear before the last);Has a stiff task here but will make presence felt.

Get Me Out Of Here: Impressed when landing valuable Totesport Trophy at Newbury despite bungling the last and was unlucky to lose the Supreme Novices Hurdle, getting checked at a crucial stage; With that in mind it was disappointing how he was never really in contention that day, despite the fact that he should leave that well behind; Major chance here.

Any Given Day: Took well to hurdling last term and made full use of race fitness when runaway winner of Silver Trophy at Chepstow last time; Seemed to relish long trip and soft ground, so up against it in much better race up 10lbs in weights.

General Miller: Was really promising when he had the chance to show his true ability last year and that only happened once in top company, when he caught Menorah late on at Aintree; Flopped at Punchestown but that came very quick for him and has a massive chance on 5lbs better terms for a quarter length advantage from their Aintree meeting, form which will make him tough to beat (and puts him ahead of Get Me Out Of Here); One to beat on that basis.

Sanctuaire: Promising young French horse who made his British debut in a Taunton novice hurdle winning with a degree of comfort; Nothing compared to what he did next, romping home in the Fred Winter (could be called winner some way out); Slightly disappointing when stepped up into Grade 1 company, pulling too hard for own good (travelled like winner but emptied in home straight); Potential remains but is now 20lbs higher in weights than when winning Fred Winter and needs career best, so possibly vulnerable.

Isasaquah: Has 2 good recent runs to her names, coming second at the Grand National meeting and then coming third in Swinton Hurdle; Only beat two home in last year's renewal so looks to have her work cut out from an 11lb higher mark this time round.

Astracad: Has impressed deeply in winning three of last 4 handicap hurdles but handicapper may have overreacted to his decisive win of an open but relatively modest handicap; 12lbs hike is likely to be too taxing today.

Orsippus: Ran very respectably in Fred Winter and caused big upset when landing Grade 1 Anniversary Hurdle at Aintree but that form has muddling look to it; Well beaten at Punchestown and trashed by Clerk’s Choice on seasonal reappearance.

Manyriverstocross: Very useful handicapper on the flat who made a good start to hurdling last year when winning well in Grade 2 hurdle at Sandown (2m4f); Well beaten in Challow Hurdle but ran very good race in Totesport Trophy; Badly hampered by fall of Quel Esprit at Cheltenham festival and big chance here, although further might suit him better.

Leslingtaylor: Versatile and useful performer but beaten a long way behind Nearby at Wincanton last time and probably wants a flatter track to travel into his races; In any case this looks really tough for him.

St Devote: Penny has dropped markedly of late, coming home by 3 lengths in Grade C handicap hurdle at Listowel last time; Needs to take a big step forward if he’s to make his mark off revised weight.

Takari: Made a fine start to life for new yard when runner-up (Astracad third) in a valuable handicap at Market Rasen; Will come on for that but well beaten off much lower mark for Willie Mullins in Country Hurdle so would needs to come on massively to be at business end here, although not discounted.

Olofi: Took to hurdling last year (won twice, once at this venue); Came up short of the best as a juvenile but pleasing return to action when only a nose behind Escort’Men last time out; Should improve but was getting more than a stone in weight from that rival and he would have won better had he not tanked the last.

Puzzlemaster: Outclassed in the Triumph when 150-1 and beaten 27 lengths before winning a half-decent novice hurdle on the old course the next month; Ran poorly on his last flat starts (looked strongly as if he didn’t stay); Unexposed and runners from this yard worth a look but this likely to be too hard.

Bothy: Won three form four last year (all on soft) and that possibly turned against them when beaten into seventh behind Sancutaire in Fred Winter: Needs to up his game, and wants more cut in the ground.

Culablock: Only raced 2 times in the last 2 years, but serious chance based on pick of form in 2008-2009 season when he won big field handicaps here and at Aintree; Should be sharpener for his first run this year and possible one at a price.

Sure Josie Sure: Unbeaten on 3 out of 4 completed starts over hurdles, and was clear in a pair with Nearby (who has since bolted up in the Elite Hurdle); Open to improvement, gets weight from all but three and should not be passed over.

VERDICT: A race which nearly always has a massive effect on the Champion Hurdle, with the likes of Rooster Booster, Detroit City, and most recently, Khyber Kim having won well recently. The 2 I like most (in order of preference) are GENERAL MILLER and Menorah, who were the 1-2 in the John Smith’s Novice Hurdle at Aintree. General Miller benefitted from a lack of pace that day but is now 5lbs better off so should be competitive again, while the good prices about Menorah are now gone. Get Me Out Of Here should leave his reappearance behind and will be thereabouts, while Sure Josie Sure, Sancutaire, Culcablock and Manyriverstocross can’t be discounted.