2:55pm The Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race) - 2m 7f 98y

THE VIRGIN BET HEROES HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Grade 3) (GBB RACE)

for four yrs old and upwards x Total race value £100000

Owners Prize Money. 1st £43040, 2nd £17740, 3rd £8870, 4th £4440, 5th £2220, 6th £1110, 7th £550, 8th £280. (Penalty Value £56270) 3 Eliminated Under Rules (I)9 and (I)10.

ROLLOVER RACE

FORM ANALYSIS - A CLOSER LOOK

| FACTS | FANCIES | FORM | STATS | Leading course trainer (17-22): N Henderson (36 wins from 153 runners, 24%) runs CALL ME LORD Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): D Skelton (11 wins from 42 runners, 26%) runs PADLEYOUROWNCANOE Longest Traveller: BORN PATRIOT trained by P Fahey, Ireland.

J Jockey T Trainer O Owner B Breeder S Sponsor Br Breeding

colours no horse age st-lb

1 EASYSLAND (FR) (325) 1111/42- D

Br B or Br g Gentlewave (IRE) - Island du Frene (FR) O Mr John P. McManus

8 11-12

Jonjo O’Neill Jr. J Jonjo O’Neill, Cheltenham T B Marinette Avril & Marie Laure Labbe Wasdell Group S TIMEFORM VIEW Top-notch on cross-country scene, including Cheltenham Festival win in 2020. Second to Tiger Roll at last year’s Festival (final start for David Cottin). Cheltenham presumably the main aim again. TFRHHIII BHA150

2 CALL ME LORD (FR) (21) 453-4P3 C

Br B or Br g Slickly (FR) - Sosa (GER) O Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede

9 11-6

James Bowen J Nicky Henderson, Lambourn T B Mr Roger Marot Ptarmigan Media Limited S TIMEFORM VIEW Dual Grade 2 winning hurdler. Didn’t take to fences first 2 runs this term but shaped well back hurdling when third of 19 in Lanzarote at Kempton. This trip a maximum for him but still respected. TFRHHHHI BHA144

3 DOLPHIN SQUARE (IRE) (35) 5-12211

Br B g Shantou (USA) - Carrig Eden Lass (IRE) O Mr David Maxwell

8 11-6

Mr David Maxwell (3) J Philip Hobbs, Minehead T B Mrs Evelyn Sheridan Fitzdares S TIMEFORM VIEW In the form of his life back hurdling of late, winning 3m handicaps at Newbury and Cheltenham. A really smart effort will be needed if he’s to overcome another 5lb rise, though. TFRHHHII BHA144

4 IF THE CAP FITS (IRE) (41) 200-204 BF

Br B g Milan - Derravaragh Sayra (IRE) O Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede

10 11-4

Mr Ben Bromley (7) J Harry Fry, Seaborough T B Liam Gilsenan Ptarmigan Media Limited S TIMEFORM VIEW Really smart hurdler/chaser at best. Aintree reappearance second shows he still retains good level of ability but he’s been comfortably held in pair of handicaps since. Blinkers replace cheekpieces. TFRHHIII BHA142

5 ORBYS LEGEND (IRE) (41) 131-101 C

Br B g Milan - Morning Legend (IRE) O Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Milan

6 11-4

Tom O’Brien J Philip Hobbs, Minehead T B Mr Michael Dillon Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW Landed Silver Trophy on 19.5f Chepstow return. Faded into seventh in valuable 3m Haydock handicap next time but proved stamina for this trip with Wincanton win on Boxing Day. Should go well again. TFRHHHHI BHA142

6 DANS LE VENT (FR) (21) 02-2145

Br B g Skins Game - Boreade (FR) O R J Gambarini Racing

9 11-4

Isabel Williams (5) J Evan Williams, Llancarfan T B C. Laval, J. Laval & A. Larrieu Office Visions (Wales) Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW Versatile sort who bagged valuable 3m Haydock handicap before excellent fourth in Relkeel at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Credtable fifth (Call Me Lord third) in Lanzarote at Kempton since. TFRHHHII BHA142

7 ASK DILLON (IRE) (35) 1-4603P

Br B g Ask - Mum’s Miracle (IRE)

9 11-2

Peter Kavanagh (7) J

O 4 The Fun Partnership

Fergal O’Brien, Cheltenham T B Mrs Jerry Rohan Dunraven Group of Companies S TIMEFORM VIEW Smart handicap hurdler last season. Easily best effort this term when third at Cheltenham in December but pulled up back there on New Year’s Day. First-time blinkers need to have positive effect. TFRHHIII BHA140

8 FLEMCARA (IRE) (41) 1F31-23 D

Br B g Flemensfirth (USA) - Cara Mara (IRE) O Andy & The Frisky Fillies

10 11-2

Tom Bellamy J Emma Lavelle, Marlborough T B William Bourke Hatherden Horse Transport S TIMEFORM VIEW Dual winner at 3m+ last season and has returned with good placed efforts at Newbury and Wincanton this winter. No reason why he won’t give his running again. TFRHHHII BHA140

O Bryan & Philippa Burrough

Nigel Twiston-Davies, Cheltenham T B Byerley Stud Ltd Agetur (UK) Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW Won the 2 1/2m EBF Final here last March. Even better form when placed in handicaps over that trip this season and has long left the impression there’ll be more to come when stepped up in trip. Player. TFRHHHHI BHA136

10 THE COB (IRE) (38) 1310-2P BF

Br B g Let The Lion Roar - Millenium Love (IRE)

8 10-12

Kielan Woods J O The Cob Nuts Ben Pauling, Bourton-on-the-Water T B Second Chance Syndicate Jeremy Houghton - Houghtonart, Fitzdares Club S TIMEFORM VIEW Grade 2 novice hurdle winner over 3m last season. Returned with a very good second over C&D in December but a poor run at Doncaster since needs forgiving. Cheekpieces go on. TFRHHIII BHA136

11 BORN PATRIOT (IRE) (105) 34-6342

Br B g Born To Sea (IRE) - Persian Patriot

6 10-11

Kevin Brogan (3) J

O Direct Bloodstock Limited Peter Fahey, Ireland T

B Aliz Vidacs & Jacqueline Norris TIMEFORM VIEW Maiden hurdle winner last November and has shown better form in defeat since, finishing second in a 3m Cheltenham handicap when last seen in October. Nudged up ksim-read@brighton-racecourse.co.uk 3lb, though, and this looks tougher. TFRHHHII BHA135

12 PADLEYOUROWNCANOE (GB) (21) 4/443-3P

Br B g Nayef (USA) - Pooka’s Daughter (IRE)

8 10-11

Bridget Andrews J O K.A.C. Bloodstock Limited Dan Skelton, Alcester T B Lianne Barrett & Ferdlant Stud Ladbrokes, The Air Ambulance Service (Warwickshire & Northamptonshire) S TIMEFORM VIEW Useful for Colin Tizzard and made positive start for this yard after 15 months off when third in 3m Haydock hurdle in December. Pulled up after an early blunder over fences at Warwick since. TFRHHHHI BHA135

13 ONAGATHERINGSTORM (IRE) (57) 21-1325 7 10-7

Br B g Imperial Monarch (IRE) - Springfield Mary (IRE) Paddy Brennan J

O Craig & Laura Buckingham

Fergal O’Brien, Cheltenham T B John Killeen Red Rock Partnership Limited S TIMEFORM VIEW Point winner who comfortably landed maiden/novice hurdles last spring. Good second in 3m Cheltenham Listed handicap in November and given time since a lesser run there in December. Tongue tie added. TFRHHHII BHA131

14 GREEN BOOK (FR) (21) 2-211U BF

Br B g Authorized (IRE) - Mantissa O Lady Price, C Shaw, C Boylan & I Tagg

5 10-6

Charlie Deutsch J Venetia Williams, Hereford T B S.A. Le Thenney Faucets Limited S TIMEFORM VIEW Improver on Flat in 2021 and has continued on the up switched to hurdles, landing handicaps at Haydock (2m) and Ludlow (21f). Hampered and unseated early in Lanzarote latest. This trip should suit. TFRHHHHI BHA130

15 JESUITIQUE (FR) (49) 03-1121 C

Br B g Saint des Saints (FR) - Jaune de Beaufai (FR)

7 10-6

Cillin Leonard (5) J

O The Three Amigos

Dr Richard Newland, Droitwich T B Mr G. Cherel, Mme I. Pacault et al Coulthursts Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW Winner of 3 of his 4 starts for this yard, absolutely bolting up at Haydock (3m) last time. The handicapper hasn’t missed him with a further 10lb rise but he could easily have more to come. TFRHHHHI BHA130

16 REE OKKA (GB) (21) P-1211

Br B g Getaway (GER) - Presenteea (IRE) O The Jago Family Partnership

6 10-6

Sean Bowen J Harry Fry, Seaborough T B Distillery Stud Citipost S TIMEFORM VIEW Irish point winner who has made a bright start over hurdles, winning novices at Chepstow (19.5f) and Kempton (3m) in recent months. Lacks experience for race like this but he looks a smart prospect. TFRHHHHH BHA130

17 GARO DE JUILLEY (FR) (14) 0-03606

Br B g Ungaro (GER) - Lucy de Juilley (FR)

10 10-4

Niall Houlihan (3) J

O Mr G. Thompson

Sophie Leech, Westbury-on-Severn T B Mr Georges Trincot W & S Recycling S TIMEFORM VIEW Hasn’t won on these shores since October 2018 but did hit the target twice in France last season. Recorded a couple of creditable efforts there in the autumn but well held back in Britain latest. TFRHIIII BHA128

18 THE BRIMMING WATER (IRE) (14) 01-2513 BF7 10-3

Br B g Yeats (IRE) - Dollar’s Worth (IRE) Sam Twiston-Davies J

O Mrs Karen Drinkwater Samuel Drinkwater, Strensham T

B Mr Jonathan Deacon TIMEFORM VIEW Maiden hurdle winner in Ireland and much improved on third start for new yard when landing 21f Wetherby handicap on Boxing Day. Travelled well long way when third over 3m at Haydock since. Unexposed. TFRHHHII BHA127

DECLARED RUNNERS 19 2021:NO CORRESPONDING RACE LAST YEAR

Blinkers worn first time by No. 4, 7. Tongue Strap worn first time by No. 13. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn first time by No. 10. Tongue Strap worn by No. 1, 8, 17. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 1, 3. Stewards Note: THE COB: Following its run on 29/12/2021 it was reported that the horse ran flat.

PLAY SMARTER Staying handicap hurdles don’t get much hotter than this. REE OKKA isn’t as battle hardened as the rest of these but the fact he looks a fluent jumper should hold him in good stead now moving into a big-field handicap and an opening mark of 130 could prove lenient given the way he took care of some decent opposition last time. Beauport, Green Book and Orby’s Legend head the many possible dangers.

TIMEFORM PREDICTION: 1.REE OKKA 2.BEAUPORT (IRE) 3.GREEN BOOK (FR)

RACE RESULT

1ST

2ND RACE TIME DISTANCE

3RD

4TH

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