Runner-by-runner guide to the 2019 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham

Big Buck’s, Thistlecrack and Inglis Drever are some of the high-profile names on the Cleeve Hurdle roll of honour and Saturday’s contest is an intriguing race with two past winners of the race bidding to lift the trophy once again.

Black Op has been well supported this week and has joined recent Grade One winner Paisley Park at the head of the betting.

Last year’s Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle winner Penhill is the market leader for the feature race on day three of the Festival but the betting for that Grade One contest is likely to be a lot different after Saturday’s galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle.

Here’s a guide to all twelve runners:

Horse: Paisley Park

Trainer: Emma Lavelle

General odds: 9-2

Completed a hat-trick of wins this season when successful at Grade One level for the first time in the JLT Hurdle at Ascot in December.

Unowhatimeanharry and Sam Spinner both failed to complete in that race so we don’t know if he would have beaten that pair and the favourite Call Me Lord ran below par.

Paisley Park does need to prove he handles Cheltenham as he was well beaten in the 2018 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on his only start at the track but has done nothing but improve since then.

However, this is another tough test for him and he probably needs to improve again, although he is only seven so there should be more to come from him and Racing TV ambassador Aidan Coleman is hopeful of another big run from Emma Lavelle’s gelding.

Horse: Black Op

Trainer: Tom George

General odds:9-2

A talented novice hurdler last year who finished second to Samcro in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival before winning a Grade One at Aintree where he showed a tremendous attitude to get the better of Lostintranslation.

Has been let down by his jumping in his two starts over fences this season and now reverts to hurdles for the first time since that victory.

It is hard to know how much he has progressed since last season because of those two disappointing runs over the larger obstacles and, although he does have a bit to prove now, he is lightly-raced and remains with potential.

Trainer: Sue Smith

General odds: 11-2

Has always been held in high regard by Sue Smith and produced a career best to beat Wholestone in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day off a rating of 146.

The handicapper was clearly impressed as the six-year-old is now rated 158 which means he is the second-highest rated horse in the field behind Sam Spinner.

Saturday will be the first time Midnight Shadow has run over three miles, so that is a question mark for him, but he shapes as though he should stay the extra distance and it has the potential to bring out further improvement in him.

If that is the case, he has strong claims.

Trainer: Dan Skelton

General odds: 6-1

Scored on his British debut in the Coral Cup at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival when trained by Paul Nicholls and has been lightly-raced since then.

Ran a promising race after a lengthy absence when fifth at Newbury in November and won with a bit to spare when landing a competitive handicap hurdle over course and distance on New Year’s Day off a rating of 141.

He is now a nine-year-old, so does not have as much potential compared to some of his rivals and does have a bit to find on the ratings which makes him vulnerable for win purposes.

Horse: Wholestone

Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies

General odds: 9-1

Consistent performer who has won four times at Cheltenham and finished a close second in this race last year behind Agrapart who outstayed him in the testing conditions.

However, he was no match for Midnight Shadow in the Relkeel Hurdle last time out but the step back up in trip will suit him and he is yet to finish out of the first three at Prestbury Park.

The ground conditions will also be ideal for the eight-year-old and he can reverse the form with that rival.

Horse: Unowhatimeanharry

Trainer: Harry Fry

General odds: 12-1

High-class staying hurdler who landed this race in 2017 and has won four times at Cheltenham. Showed he retains plenty of ability when successful in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November and was travelling well when falling in the JLT Hurdle on his last start.

Harry Fry’s stalwart is now an 11-year-old and arguably isn’t as good as he once was, so will need a couple to underperform if he is to land a blow here.

Trainer: Colin Tizzard

General odds: 14-1

Finished second behind Unowhatimeanharry in this race in 2017 and embarked on a career over fences later that year.

Did produce some respectable efforts over the larger obstacles but ran his best race for some time when runner-up to Paisley Park in the JLT Hurdle on his first start over hurdles since April 2017.

Hard to see him reversing form with Paisley Park but is likely to be there at the finish if reproducing his run at Ascot.

Horse: Sam Spinner

Trainer: Jedd O’Keeffe

General odds: 14-1

Took his form to a new level when landing the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in 2017 and was sent off favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival last year but could only manage fifth.

Things haven’t gone to plan for him since and has failed to complete in his two starts this season.

Although he would have sound claims on his best form, he needs to bounce back to form and has plenty to prove.

Horse: Agrapart

Trainer: Nick Williams

General odds: 20-1

Has won three times at graded level during his career and was victorious in this race last year when he defeated Wholestone.

Has not tasted victory since, although he had excuses in the JLT Hurdle on his last start as a mistake four out seemed to end all chance.

Has produced two of his career-best efforts at Cheltenham and a case can be made for the nine-year-old, although slower ground would be preferable.

Trainer: Neil King

General odds: 20-1

Went agonisingly close to winning the Stayer’s Hurdle in 2017 when he finished runner-up to Nichols Canyon and has shown a good level of form over fences this season.

Hasn’t always been the most fluent jumper - both over fences and hurdles - and regularly races off the bridle.

Neil King’s stable star has the ability to win this race and shouldn’t be dismissed but will need to put his best foot forward and wasn’t the most consistent over hurdles last season.

Trainer: Nick Gifford

General odds: 28-1

Caused an upset when he won a 20-runner handicap at Cheltenham in October and has since run two decent races at Graded level.

Was beaten just under eight lengths when fourth behind Paisley Park in the JLT Hurdle on his latest start and meets that rival on 6lb better terms on Saturday.

The son of Shantou is clearly improving and, although he will need another career best, he is an interesting outsider.

Trainer: Fergal O’Brien

General odds:50-1

Got off the mark over hurdles at the eighth time of asking in a novices’ hurdle at Kelso in November and produced some decent efforts last season, most notably when he finished fourth in a Grade One at Aintree in 2018 behind Black Op.

However, disappointed in a Grade Two at Cheltenham in December and has plenty to find with his rivals.

Fergal O’Brien’s charge now wears a tongue tie for the first time.

This is a tricky puzzle to solve and a case can be made for several of the twelve contenders.

Paisley Park is firmly on the upgrade and there should be even more to come from him as he has only had eight career starts.

He finished last of the finishers in the Albert Barlett on his only start at Cheltenham but that run was too bad to be true and has to be high on any shortlist.

Black Op is an interesting contender and doesn’t need to improve much on his novice hurdle form to play a big part in the finish.

However, WHOLESTONE has some strong form next to his name and looks a great each-way bet.

His form figures at Cheltenham read 121131232 and, although Nigel Twiston Davies’ eight-year-old finished runner-up to Midnight Shadow last time out, this test will suit him better and that rival needs to prove he stays three miles.