Cleeve Hurdle Tips: Soft Ground Means Botox Has To Be Backed

In a race in which we've seen some epic battles down the years, the Cleeve Hurdle of 2025 looks another intriguing renewal. While Crambo warrants respect as market leader, Billy Grimshaw is backing an outsider with the ground sure to suit...

I'm a fan of CRAMBO for Fergal O'Brien and think he is bound to scoop plenty of this sort of pot in his career as years the years rumble on without having full confidence he'll ever get it done on the biggest of days, in the Stayers' Hurdle. He definitely warrants his place atop the market here, although 6/4 looks far too short for me to consider rowing in with him considering the potentially packed field behind him. It's true there is no standout stayer on this side of the Irish Sea, but that doesn't mean the division is uncompetitive and I could make a case for at least five in here so the favourite has to be a firm avoid unless taking a marked drift.

The chief threat according to the odds compilers is Strong Leader, who was the beaten fav the last time these two clashed at Ascot in the Long Walk Hurdle, in the end finishing tenth of ten and promptly being sent for wind surgery to hopefully resolve whatever was troubling him in Berkshire. Prior to that run he'd been a fairly consistent animal so I don't doubt he'll be better back here, but Olly Murphy has never really warmed to the idea of him being a horse who likes it round here and given I was with Crambo the last time the two met, I can't see Strong Leader off the back of that flop last time out as an enticing betting opportunity at just 4/1 in here.

Gowel Road comes next and could potentially be the pace angle for team Twiston-Davies should Sam decide he is blasting off and issuing a come and catch me challenge to the field. They'd be wise not to give him too much rope as he is as honest as the day is long and will try his heart out, but I'm not sure he has the speed particularly on this ground when push comes to shove against some of the other contenders.

Monmiral is not a horse I could trust in a graded race like this with my cash at sub 10/1 as he is just as likely to throw in a tantrum as he is to run to his ability, which was on show when surprising all including his connections with a Festival handicap win last March at a massive price. if on a going day he will be a contender and we know he handles conditions, but I can't really tip him up in good faith with such a patchy profile.

The ground is something I've mentioned over and over in this preview and with the forecast indicating Cheltenham should be on the softer side come Saturday afternoon, I'm very sweet indeed on the chances of known mudlark BOTOX HAS for Josh and Gary Moore each-way. If the heavy rain set for Friday night does not materialise, my confidence will wane somewhat so bear that in mind if you're reading this before then, but should there be soft as the dominant ground indicator come Saturday morning I can see this lad going off single figures and would be disappointed to see him out of the three.

He has not had his ground at all so far this season, in fact he's only raced on heavy once in his last six attempts. That day though he glided through the slop and was uber impressive to scoop the prize at Haydock so despite a poor run in this race last season (good to soft) and a lacklustre showing behind Crambo last time out (good to soft again) I am sure this horse will improve bundles should the rain arrive. The reason I'll be taking him each-way is that I don't think the soft ground will massively inconvenience Crambo either and I do respect at their peaks, he is probably the better horse so I don't want to lose money if our lad comes in a gallant second behind the favourite.