GB - Cheltenham - Race 1

Thoroughbred

12 Runners

16.4f

Group 2 Hurdle

Turf

Heavy (Soft in places)

110.0K

VIEW

Verdict

SECRET FORCE really impressed when going in at the first time of asking over hurdles at Punchestown and is taken to edge out Precious Man (second choice) and Parchment who both rate very good prospects too but have to concede weight to Gavin Cromwell's Frankel gelding. James Owen has bagged this prize for the past two years and his duo Hallelujah U and Kate O'Riley also enter calculations in a cracking juvenile event.

numberFire Picks

Horse Stats

#/Silk	Horse#/Horse	Power Rating	High Speed	Win %	Top 3%	Win Prob	Odds
10	Fair 11f Flat scorer who looked an exciting prospect when a most impressive winner on his hurdling bow at Punchestown (16.2f, good to soft) 32 days ago by 6½ lengths from Hopes Are High. Open to plenty of progress. Most interesting. 1st Pick 10 Secret Force (Ire) Jockey: Keith Donoghue Trainer: Gavin Patrick Cromwell, Ireland J: Keith Donoghue T: Gavin Patrick Cromwell, Ireland	97	-	-	-	34%
Analysis Fair 11f Flat scorer who looked an exciting prospect when a most impressive winner on his hurdling bow at Punchestown (16.2f, good to soft) 32 days ago by 6½ lengths from Hopes Are High. Open to plenty of progress. Most interesting.
1	Looked highly promising in France for Daniela Mele when going 2-2 over hurdles at Auteuil (17.4f, soft) in May. Has to concede weight all round here but still a likely player starting out for top stable. 2nd Pick 1 Precious Man (Fr) Jockey: Harry Skelton Trainer: Dan Skelton J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton	97	-	-	-	39%
Analysis Looked highly promising in France for Daniela Mele when going 2-2 over hurdles at Auteuil (17.4f, soft) in May. Has to concede weight all round here but still a likely player starting out for top stable.
2	Ex-French gelding who comfortably landed 2m newcomers race at Clairefontaine in June for Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm. Looks a good prospect so merits serious consideration for his new handler. 3rd Pick 2 Parchment (Fr) Jockey: Jack Tudor Trainer: David Pipe J: Jack Tudor T: David Pipe	100	-	-	-	19%	Scratched
Analysis Ex-French gelding who comfortably landed 2m newcomers race at Clairefontaine in June for Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm. Looks a good prospect so merits serious consideration for his new handler.

Upcoming Races

Horse Racing Basic Terms

Rabbit

Also known as a pacemaker; this is a horse with no expected chance of winning but is used to prompt a quick pace on the front end of the race to the benefit of a stablemate who is a closer.

Maiden Race

A race exclusively for horses who have not previously won.

Apprentice

A new jockey who has not ridden a certain number of winners in a specified time period.