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Racecards

16:00 Cheltenham

William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase (Class A)

  • 18 Runners
  • Distance: 3m 110y
  • Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 6m 16.70s
  • 18 Ran
1
Silk - Black and White hoops, Emerald Green cap, White star
  • Form U-P1424
  • Age 10
  • Weight 12-2

in touch, mistake and unseated rider 5th

2
Silk - Maroon and Light Blue stripes, Light Blue sleeves, hooped cap
  • Form 10P-422
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-13

mid-division, behind from 15th

3
Silk - Emerald Green, Yellow spots, Yellow and Emerald Green halved sleeves, Purple cap
  • Form F111-44
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-7

chased leaders, blundered 4th, led 11th, not fluent next, ridden and headed 3 out, pecked next, weakened approaching last

4
Silk - MAUVE and PINK check, WHITE sleeves
5/1
  • Form B4-5123
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-0

prominent, blundered 4 out and lost place, rallied under pressure after 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, one pace flat, not trouble leaders

5
Silk - YELLOW, MAROON cross belts, ROYAL BLUE sleeves, ROYAL BLUE and YELLOW quartered cap
9/1
  • Form 312F-P5
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-12

in touch, blundered and unseated rider 7th

6
Silk - Purple and mauve chevrons, mauve cap
  • Form 11-21P0
  • Age 9
  • Weight 10-11

always towards rear

7
Silk - Emerald green, orange hoops, white cap
  • Form 320-131
  • Age 9
  • Weight 10-11

mid-division, steady headway 15th, went second travelling well after 2 out, ridden to lead final 75 yards, kept on

8
Silk - Yellow, narrow Black belt and cap, Gold tassel
  • Form 6-P6P00
  • Age 9
  • Weight 10-10

behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 11th

9
Silk - EMERALD GREEN and YELLOW (quartered), WHITE sleeves and cap
  • Form P2-2020
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-9

in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next

10
Silk - TURQUOISE and SILVER diamonds
33/1
  • Form 2/03P0-6
  • Age 14
  • Weight 10-9

prominent until 7th, mistake 10th, behind when pulled up before 12th

11
Silk - BLACK, WHITE hoops, BLACK sleeves, WHITE spots
  • Form 125-111
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-9

held up in touch, hit 6th, headway 15th, ridden 3 out, weakened after next

12
Silk - DARK BLUE, EMERALD GREEN seams, DARK BLUE cap
20/1
  • Form 162-440
  • Age 9
  • Weight 10-1

always prominent, led briefly 2nd, not fluent 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on same pace

13
Silk - Yellow, blue stars on body
16/1
  • Form FP/066-3
  • Age 11
  • Weight 10-1

behind, brief effort 14th, weakened 16th

14
Silk - Light Blue, Royal Blue armlets
  • Form 0-31200
  • Age 11
  • Weight 10-0

led, headed briefly 2nd, blundered 10th, headed next, ridden 3 out, no extra from next

15
Silk - Purple, White hoop, White sleeves, Purple hoops, White cap
  • Form 5421-13
  • Age 11
  • Weight 10-0

always towards rear

16
Silk - Crimson, Gold sleeves, hooped cap
10/1
  • Form F-14313
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-0

held up towards rear, headway 6th, hit 4 out, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on flat, headed final 75 yards

17
Silk - Orange, Emerald Green chevron, White cap
14/1
  • Form 2-32136
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-0

held up in touch, headway 15th, led and hit 3 out, ridden and headed next, no extra approaching last

18
Silk - Yellow, Purple seams, Yellow cap
50/1
  • Form 342050
  • Age 12
  • Weight 10-0

towards rear, behind and mistake 15th, not fluent 3 out, ridden and headway after 2 out, stayed on well flat, never near leaders

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

As ever, this looks ultra-competitive, with entries from Martin Pipe, Henrietta Knight and Jonjo O'Neill. The stats reveal that, despite being the top Festival trainer with 28 winners, Pipe is actually a trainer to avoid in this race, as he has drawn a blank so far. This year Pipe relies on Royal Auclair and Iznogoud, rather than You're Agoodun and iris Bleu who both looked to have better claims. Henrietta Knight is three-handed, with Foly Pleasant, Southern Star and Maximise. The first named could probably go round here blindfolded, having had six of his last seven outings at Prestbury Park, including when second in the Pillar Property Chase last time, proving that he stays this trip in the process. The Irish traditionally fail to make their presence felt in the winner's enclosure in this race so it is hard to get enthusiastic about the likes of Foxchapel King and Youlneverwalkalone. Indeed, the latter has yet to score in five previous attempts round Cheltenham. Ad Hoc is having his prep race for the Martell Cognac Grand National and has been campaigned over hurdles. With an absence to overcome and the trip on the short side nowadays, he is overlooked as well. Joss Naylor is very much on the upgrade, having posted three consecutive victories en-route, at Uttoxeter, Bangor, and more recently in class B company here where he got the better of Tarxien. Those of you with good memories will remember Joss Naylor finishing second to Ilnamar in last year's Coral Cup, so he obviously likes the place, and was thought good enough to hold an entry in the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase as well. Providing the ground does not dry out too much, making conditions fast, Jonjo O'Neill's charge, named after the famous Northern fell climber, can put his name in the record books as well, as he makes more appeal than stablemate Carbury Cross, despite the fact that last year's runner-up is well-weighted.