Cleeve Hurdle 2012

3.40 Cheltenham

Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner £28,475

Advice: 1 pt Dynaste w/o Big Bucks, (9/4 general) 4 pts Big Bucks to win today & World Hurdle (11/10 general)

Big Bucks: Unbeaten in 14 starts over hurdles, and one of his most impressive performances in a visual capacity when trashing field in the Long Walk Hurdle last time out at Ascot; Shouldn’t be beaten here.

Mourad: As consistent as ever last season, winning twice at Grade 2 level and 3rd in staying events at Cheltenham and Punchestown last season (then fourth behind stablemate Thousand Stars in France); Beaten twice by Voler La Vedette this season but should still be around the second best based on his World Hurdle run.

Restless Harry: Last win over hurdles was a wide margin rout of Wetherby Grade 2 field, after which he’s proven a little disappointing over fences (poor jumping despite meeting decent rivals); Fair way ahead of Dynaste at Ascot last time and while he’s playing for place money, he should be on the premises (although he was miles behind Mourad in the World Hurdle).

Dynaste: Made good progress throughought last season, winning competitive race at Taunton before disappointing slightly at Sandown; Dramatically improved when routing rivals in strongly contested Haydock handicap hurdle off 141; Upped straight into Grade 1 company for a tilt at the Long Walk Hurdle, where he set an extremely strong pace from the front and then tiring late on in soft ground; While no match for the Champio, still a hurdler of definite potential based on that.

Across The Bay: Excellent efforts the last thrice, especially when behind Dynaste (won’t be reversing that form) and then when second giving a lot of weight to Safran De Cotte in heavy conditions last time; Needs much more here.

Five Dream: Revitalized for conservative riding style this season, taking clear second behind Big Bucks’ twice this season; Not impossible he could do so again but may not get the strong pace he wants to shoot at.

VERDICT: From a betting perspective, this is all about who finishes second to Big Bucks, who’s well worth a double for today and the festival. Mourad has the best chance of that on the ratings but he’s a very short price to do so and Dynaste might be worth giving another chance on better ground with a more conservative ride, as he shaped like much the second best horse in the race at Ascot before folding rapidly on the home straight.