County Handicap Hurdle

14:10 Cheltenham - County Handicap Hurdle

State Man has been on people’s radar for quite a long time and has generated a lot of support in his quest to win this race. He fell on his debut at Leopardstown, when travelling well and looking like the probable winner. He duly obliged at Limerick, a couple of months later, when scooting clear whilst conceding weight. He has a lot of upside but that being said, he’s vastly inexperienced and experience counts for a lot in this race. Additionally, he has the tendency to make mistakes at his fences and you can’t do that in the County Hurdle.

I Like To Move It has won at Cheltenham twice, one of which came in a Grade Two. He was below par against Jonbon the time after but bounced back when going down by a short head in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. He was raised by four pounds for that race but still looks rather well treated. He fits the bill and doesn’t have far to travel as Nigel Twiston-Davies, who thinks a great deal of him, is based in Cheltenham. He doesn’t deserve to be double figures.

Colonel Mustard is dropping a great deal in class, last running in a Grade One at Leopardstown, finishing third behind Sir Gerhard and Three Stripe Life, who respectively finished 1-2 in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday. Before that, he was beaten three lengths by Jonbon in the aforementioned Ascot race. He has a nice weight which is made more lucrative by Conor Orr’s three pound claim. He seems a safer option at a better price.

written by Kieran McHugh