Cheltenham & Three Counties Race Club Hurdle

12.55 Cheltenham
Cheltenham & Three Counties Race Club Hurdle (Class 2) (4YO plus)
Winner £12,52

Pick: Celestial Halo (win)

Barizan: Enjoyed tremendous juvenile hurdling season ( 6 wins), nearly pulling off one of great front running performances in Triumph Hurdle and romping home at Punchestown festival; Hasn’t come back as good though, getting thrashed by Clerk’s Choice first time out, poor in Elite Hurdle and only one paced at Haydock last time.

Karabak: Progressed well last season, scoring emphatically prior to fine second to Mikael D'Haguenet at Cheltenham in Ballymore Novice’s Hurdle before being well beaten by Zayanar in this race last year; Got three miles really well when running great race to finish second to Big Buck’s in Long Walk hurdle and also to finish fourth in World Hurdle, so disappointing that he bombed at Punchestown afterwards; Well beaten behind Silviniaco Conti in Ascot Hurdle but back to best in Reelkeel Hurdle and has every chance even on worse terms with runner up and third.

Any Given Day: Took well to hurdling last term and made full use of race fitness when runaway winner of Silver Trophy at Chepstow; Good fourth in Greatwood and excelled himself last time when second in the Reelkeel; Weighted to turn tables and has to have every chance.

Celestial Halo: High class hurdler (second and fourth in Champion Hurdles) who was the top rated chasing recruit this season until a fall and lacklustre third ruined things on that front; Ran a perfectly satisfactory race in the Reelkeel Hurdle and weighted to reverse form with Karabak and Any Given Day, so has to be considered.

Duke Of Lucca: Got better with experience last season ,ending up with close enough seconds behind Peddlers Cross and Reve De Sivola at Aintree and Punchestown festivals; Ran poorly on reappearance but has come fourth on both starts since and has capacity to make an impact here if running to best.

Oscar Whisky: Made smooth progress as a novice last season, winning his first 2 starts with contemptuous ease and then running fourth in the Supreme Novice Hurdle despite inexperience; Form of that race has stood up in general and gets handy weight concessions from stayers here, although this trip is an unkown (shapes like he’ll stay).

Secret Dancer: Romped home in maiden hurdle and held his own pretty well when then stepped up hugely into Graded company last year, but has ran only once since and been unplaced, so left aside here.

VERDICT: A fascinating race. The reappearance of Oscar Whisky adds extra lustre to the race, although it’s hard to know how he’ll run over 2m4f after a long break. Karabak looked back to something like his best when winning the Reelkeel last time, although on better terms he’ll have his work cut out against Any Given Day and CELESTIAL HALO, who shaped nicely on his first start over hurdles this season.