An incredibly open listed handicap hurdle with six co-favourites all priced at around 8/1.
Fingal Bay (2/2 over timber at Cheltenham) and Irish Saint drop in class, switching from fences for their opening run of the season. They occupy the top two spots in the handicap for the Hobbs and Nicholls yards, however you feel both may just be given a spin with chasing the likely preferred route this campaign.
The lightly-raced ALLYSSON MONTERG has had just four starts over hurdles with two cracking performances at Cheltenham already in the bank. He outran his massive odds of 33/1 at the first attempt when a neck second to top juvenile hurdler Champers On Ice on just his third start under rules.
He then went on to win his next race breaking his maiden with a facile success by 9l in testing conditions over Potters Legend. That horse then went on to finish third in the Aintree Hurdle in the spring.
That gave Allysson Monterg’s connections enough confidence to run him in the Albert Bartlett (Grade 1), where he finished a gallant sixth-of-nineteen, behind the likes of Uknowhwhatimeanharry and Barters Hill. He travelled strongly throughout that race just off of Barters Hill, before just being outpaced on the long approach to the final hurdle.
Allysson Monterg was a 40/1 shot at The Festival, and although he looks a chaser in the making, his mark of 138 looks very manageable.
The drop in class from a Grade 1 to Listed company means he should be bang in-the-mix, and we want to be on him at 10’s.
WILL O’THE WEST is our other pick having looked desperately unlucky not to get the win on his opening appearance over course and trip. He was clear momentarily when he jumped the last only for his jockey to lose an iron, causing him to hang, before being gobbled up inside the last 50 yards.
He has been raised a modest 2lbs for that run, so should remain competitive as he looks to have markedly improved over the summer for Henry Daly.
He is entitled to come on for the run and might be dangerous off a mark of 130.
1pt win Will O’the West @9/1, 15:00 Cheltenham, Saturday (various)
1pt win Allysson Monterg @10/1, 15:00 Cheltenham, Saturday (32Red)
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