Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle 2011

3.35 Cheltenham

Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £17,085

Advice: 3 pts win Oscar Whisky (8/13 general)

Oscar Whisky: Developed into a top notch hurdler last season, winning his first two starts in decent conditions contests before Champion Hurdle third and Aintree Hurdle win, going clear before holding off top class sort in second; Impossible to tell whether he’d have won Ascot Hurdle when falling at the last but he was giving winner 8lbs on seasonal debut so mighty effort and this should fall his way.

The Jigsaw Man: Sprung 16/1 shock at Sandown in April but that in end of season novice hurdle where he got weight from second, while one of three rivals threw in the towel late on; Not won since and this should be too good for him.

Any Given Day: Seven lengths behind Oscar Whisky when they last met but a classy sort anyway (second in this last year) and another deserved win when holding off opposition from all ends in Haydock handicap hurdle; Should go well.

Cockney Trucker: Admirable sort and good on his day, notably when fourth in the Country Hurdle; Not in the same form since though and much more needed here. 

Get Me Out Of Here: Second in Supreme Novices Hurdle of 2010 but not gone onto heights that suggested, although he was a close second in Country Hurdle (having been plotted for the race); Looked as if he stayed this trip on first completed attempt last time and much better off with Any Given Day, although he seemed very well held.

The Knoks: Twice a winner over fences despite serious jumping errors on both occasions, before being moved to Paul Nicholls’ yard; Took advantage of lenient mark over hurdles when winning well at Exeter last time out; Possibly progressive and should improve physically for the run but remains to be seen whether he’s worth mark of 150.

VERDICT: Whether he would have won or not is impossible to know, but OSCAR WHISKY was bang there at the last when trying to give 8lbs to Overturn at Ascot and this represents a much less taxing task on paper at least. Any Given Day represents the same connections as Overturn but shouldn’t be good enough, while The Knoxs faces a big step up in class.