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Racecards

13:30 Cheltenham

Mears Group 'relkeel' Hurdle (grade 2) (Class 1)

  • 5 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 5f 110y
  • Going: Soft
  • Surface: Turf
  • £40,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 36.80s
  • Off Time: 13:30:44
  • 5 Ran
1
Silk - White, Mauve stars
  • Form 1/11111-
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-7
  • Official Rating 161

always travelling, tracked leaders, went 2nd at the 6th, stalked leader, good jump to lead last and extended

3
Silk - Royal Blue, Yellow chevrons, Yellow sleeves, Royal Blue spots, Yellow cap
11/4
  • Form 1232-01
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-1
  • Official Rating 150

led, mistake 3 out, soon quickened pace, ridden after 2 out, headed last, no chance with winner

4
Silk - Emerald green, orange hoops, white cap
33/1
  • Form 61
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-1

chased leaders, readily outpaced after 3 out, went moderate 3rd next

5
Silk - White, Mauve stars
  • Form 28P-211
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 120

tracked leader until 6th, readily outpaced after 3 out, weakened after next

6
Silk - Mauve, Purple seams, Mauve sleeves and cap
150/1
  • Form 61F318-
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-5

dwelt badly start, always tailed off

2
NR
  • Form 800-UF2
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 130

Nonrunner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

The welcome return of Black Jack Ketchum for the season gives this race huge appeal and he is taken to score; his main rival looks to be Blazing Bailey. Black Jack Ketchum has put together quite a CV, which includes seven wins from seven starts, those victories including the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last season, followed by a Grade 1 event at Aintree. Quite simply, he is impossible to oppose. The Aintree Grade 2 runner-up, Blazing Bailey - who has already scored this season - looks best of the rest, but the remainder, apart from Thierry Doumen's lightly-raced and hard to assess runner, Palmridge, are rated upwards of 31`pounds inferior to the selection. All of which returns us to the selection, Black Jack Ketchum.

Formwatch

Black Jack Ketchum (IRE) 8-13fav (11-4) Held up, headway 4 out, led on bit after 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Apr beating Money Trix (11-4) by 5l, 11 ran.

Blazing Bailey 4-1 (11-10) Led, hit 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, rallied to lead again flat, driven out, won at Haydock 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov beating Slew Charm (10-1) by 2l, 6 ran.

Palmridge (GER) (10-4) Won at Lyon Parilly 2m 3f hdl hvy in Nov beating Saintongeais (9-13) by 6l, 6 ran.

Youlbesolucky (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 7th, ridden 13th, left clear 3 out, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 3m nov chs (4) gf in Jul beating Alikat (10-6) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.

Sarahs Quay (IRE) (10-3) Blundered 3rd, soon dropped back, last of 8, well behind Rock And Palm (11-0) at Auteuil 2m 4f hdl sft in Apr.

Magnifico (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Led 1st, stayed prominent, led again 7th, headed after 3 out, with leader and chance last, held flat, 2nd of 11, nk behind Rowley Hill (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.