Grade Two Cleeve Hurdle Guide 2023

Harry Haskell | @HarryHaskell4

Cheltenham - January 28 2023
Cheltenham 15:00
2
Aidan Coleman

Paisley Park

J: Aidan Coleman
T: Emma Lavelle
N/A
Age: 11
Weight: 11-8
OR: 161
Days: 33

Paisley Park has looked better than ever this year really when you take his form into consideration. He usually leaves a lot to be desired on his first run of the season, but this season he ran Champ to a neck in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.

He vanquished Champ on his next start though, in the G1 Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton, (a track that’s probably sharp enough for him nowadays).

He won by 4 and a quarter lengths there from Goshen in second with the aforementioned Champ in third. He holds the key, he is the horse to beat.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
16/03/23CHL24Sft11-107
28/01/23CHL24Sft11-83
26/12/22KEM24.5Sft11-71
25/11/22NBY24Gd11-82
28/04/22PUN23.5Gd/Y11-105
Cheltenham - January 28 2023
Cheltenham 15:00
4
Rex Dingle

Dashel Drasher

J: Rex Dingle
T: Jeremy Scott
N/A
Age: 10
Weight: 11-2
OR: 151
Days: 27

Dashel Drasher ran a very good second to Mares Hurdle favourite, Marie’s Rock, last time out here, over 2 and a half miles. The trip was probably on the short side there for him now, as he is a 10yo.

He ran over fences prior to this, finishing a cracking second to Noble Yeats in the Many Clouds at Aintree. He has all the right bits of form, but does today’s test ask the right questions of him? He has a good chance, but he’s hit the bar a lot recently.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
04/11/23WET24Sft11-23
15/04/23AIN24.5GS11-106
16/03/23CHL24Sft11-102
28/01/23CHL24Sft11-22
01/01/23CHL20.5Sft11-02
Cheltenham - January 28 2023
Cheltenham 15:00
7
Harry Skelton

Molly Ollys Wishes

J: Harry Skelton
T: Dan Skelton
N/A
Age: 9
Weight: 11-1
OR: 144
Days: 68

Molly Ollys Wishes has been hard to predict of late, as highlighted in her seven runs. She seems to either win, finish last or fail to complete, which makes her a punters worst nightmare!

She was last of three last time out at Kempton in a listed mares hurdle contest won by Miranda, and she folded tamely off the front end there.

She seems to be better over slightly shorter too, so I’d still raise question marks around the trip. She’s hard to be confident in today.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
18/11/23WET19.5Hy11-102
14/10/23CHP19.5Hy11-128
14/04/23AIN20GS11-513
17/03/23CHL20.5Sft11-711
11/02/23WAR21Gd11-82
Cheltenham - January 28 2023
Cheltenham 15:00
1
Jamie Moore

Botox Has

J: Jamie Moore
T: Gary Moore
N/A
Age: 7
Weight: 11-8
OR: 150
Days: 27

Botox Has was running well prior to an absolute no show last time out. That said, this was over 2m4f, which is probably short enough for him nowadays.

Back up to 3m today, he definitely comes here with a chance. His last run at 3m was in a premier handicap at Haydock, which was competitive for the grade.

He will have to improve on that form here though, to beat genuine G1 horses, like Paisley Park – who is standing the test of time, too.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
28/01/23CHL24Sft11-84
01/01/23CHL20.5Sft11-67
19/11/22HAY24.5Sft11-41
22/10/22CHL24Gd11-92
27/02/22FON19GS11-41
Cheltenham - January 28 2023
Cheltenham 15:00
6
Luca Morgan

Lord Accord

J: Luca Morgan
T: Neil Mulholland
N/A
Age: 8
Weight: 11-2
OR: 133
Days: 63

Lord Accord is another who looks out of his depth. He hasn’t ran over hurdles since September last year, where he finished third behind Finisk River and Back On The Lash at Worcester, in a C3 handicap.

He is a horse who’s best form is unequivocally over fences, though he has been running well of late, he has it all to do on these terms.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
28/10/23CHL25GS11-1PU
05/10/23WAR21Gd12-24
22/04/23AYR32Gd10-99
16/03/23CHL26Sft11-6PU
28/01/23CHL24Sft11-26
Cheltenham - January 28 2023
Cheltenham 15:00
5
Johnny Charron

Gold Tweet

J: Johnny Charron
T: Gabriel Leenders
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-2
OR: 136
Days: 28

Gold Tweet looks out of his depth here. He has an official rating of 136, and I think that’s more than fair.

It’s difficult to weigh up his form, as he’s never left France, but he does look relatively useful, as he is a graded winner and he’s been placed in a few G1’s. His best form is over fences, but he’s ran very well over hurdles on his last three starts.

He will have to improve to beat the British trained horses though, and is that likely?

Cheltenham - January 28 2023
Cheltenham 15:00
3
Harry Cobden

Gelino Bello

J: Harry Cobden
T: Paul Nicholls
N/A
Age: 7
Weight: 11-5
OR: 148
Days: 33

Gelino Bello is certainly a horse still on the up. Unlike a lot of his opposition, he has age in his corner. He’s a 7yo, but a relatively unexposed 7yo in all fairness, we’ve only seen him 11 times under rules over a few seasons. He’s back to hurdles after a spell novice chasing, he did win 2/3, but it’s quite evident class got him through. Re-routing back to the smaller obstacles should help, but whether he’ll make a seamless transition is another question.