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Racecards

12:45 Cheltenham

Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (qualifier) (Class 2)

  • 16 Runners
  • Distance: 3m
  • Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places, Cross Country Course;Soft, Heavy in places)
  • Surface: Turf
  • £22,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 6m 16.20s
  • Off Time: 12:46:21
  • 16 Ran
1
Silk - Black and Light Blue (quartered), Black sleeves, White cap
8/1
  • Form 3437-21
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-12
  • Official Rating 152

mid-division early, tracked leaders 4th, ridden to lead after 2 out, clear when hit last, stayed on strongly

2
Silk - Dark Blue, Light Blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap

Liberate

41 D
12/1
  • Form 2054-14
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-3
  • Official Rating 143

prominent, led 5th, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra from last

3
Silk - Light Blue, Maroon chevron, halved sleeves, Light Blue and Maroon quartered cap
  • Form 03-3900
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 140

mid-division, effort approaching 2 out, weakened soon after

4
Silk - LIGHT BLUE and ROYAL BLUE diabolo, LIGHT BLUE sleeves and cap
28/1
  • Form 644303/
  • Age 9
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 138

mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened next

5
Silk - White, large Royal Blue spots, Royal Blue cap
  • Form 5/00004-
  • Age 11
  • Weight 10-7
  • Official Rating 133

mid-division until 3 out, never back on terms

6
Silk - Emerald green, orange hoops, white cap
  • Form 5/1F0-P8
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-7
  • Official Rating 133

held up behind, steady progress on outer from 7th, ridden to chase winner after 2 out, kept on but always held

7
Silk - EMERALD GREEN, WHITE stars, EMERALD GREEN cap, WHITE star

Diablo (IRE)

27 t CD
25/1
  • Form 13117P
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-6
  • Official Rating 132

tracked leaders, went prominent 6th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened

8
Silk - WHITE, RED disc, hooped cap

Mendo

20 C
6/1
  • Form 1F449-8
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-5
  • Official Rating 131

held up towards rear, hampered on inner after 3 out, stayed on after next, never troubled leaders

9
Silk - MAROON and WHITE STRIPES, maroon cap, white hoop
20/1
  • Form 53121-0
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-4
  • Official Rating 130

held up towards rear, smooth headway after 3 out, ridden to dispute 3rd after 2 out, 4th and beaten when mistake last

10
Silk - WHITE, LIGHT BLUE spots, LIGHT BLUE cap
16/1
  • Form 59P53P/
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-3
  • Official Rating 129

mid-division, hit 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next

11
Silk - Yellow, Maroon braces
28/1
  • Form 67P-0P1
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-2
  • Official Rating 128

led until 5th, prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakening when mistake next

12
Silk - White, Red Cross of Lorraine and armlets
16/1
  • Form 56-131F
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-1
  • Official Rating 127

in touch, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on again approaching last, went 4th near finish

13
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, WHITE star, ROYAL BLUE sleeves, WHITE stars and stars on cap
33/1
  • Form 721122/
  • Age 9
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 126

mid-division, headway when mistake 8th, effort approaching 2 out, soon weakened

14
Silk - Orange and White hoops, White sleeves, Orange cap
  • Form 24F972
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 126

held up towards rear, good headway approaching 2 out, ridden to dispute 3rd approaching last, stayed on

15
Silk - Purple, Yellow sash, hooped sleeves, Yellow cap
7/2
  • Form 1-5
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 125

in touch, struggling 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out

16
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, EMERALD GREEN sleeves, WHITE cap, EMERALD GREEN spots
15/2
  • Form 4/1302-4
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 125

mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden to dispute 3rd after 2 out, weakened approaching last, eased run-in

17
NR
  • Form P-P8713
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 122

Nonrunner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

Tora Bora has every chance of following up his recent Ascot success but the softer ground and a 10lb higher mark makes this tougher for Brendan Powell's gelding and a better bet may be LIBERATE, one of two runners representing Philip Hobbs, and he is preferred to stable companion Fair Along. An 8lb rise for a narrow success over Powerstation here last month leaves the six-year-old with more to do today but he is a proven performer over course and distance on testing ground so has to be respected. Nicky Henderson's Cesarewitch winner Caracciola is capable over hurdles but was disappointing over them last term so he may be best watched on his return to the winter game. Paul Nolan's Maucaillou ran well here behind Andytown last time and has claims if he can stay this far, while Alan King's Pennek is less exposed than most of these and has given every indication that he would improve for the step up in trip. David Pipe's Openditch ran well when last seen, finishing a close fourth behind Liberate at Haydock in May but he may have to settle for minor honours behind the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding again. The five-year-old made an encouraging return in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby last month, should not be inconvenienced by the cut in the ground and he looks worth chancing off a fair mark.

Formwatch

Fair Along (GER) 10-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 5th, ridden 2 out, held on gamely from last, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov beating Powerstation (11-7) by a nk, 15 ran.

Liberate 10-3 (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden approaching 3 out, driven and weakened approaching last, 4th of 8, 25l behind Pettifour (11-4) at Wetherby 3m 1f hdl Grd 2 (1) gf in Nov.

Buena Vista (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Mid-division, driven and weakened 9th, tailed off from 3 out, 10th of 15, well behind Fair Along (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov.

Lacdoudal (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 18, 10l behind Reveillez (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr '07.

Caracciola (GER) 16-1 (11-4) Held up, headway after 3 out, chased winner last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 5l behind Poquelin (11-6) at Sandown 2m hdl (2) gd in Apr.

Don't Push It (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, never in contention, 8th of 17, 17l behind Ballydub (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.

Diablo (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, well behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Fair Along (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov, 15 ran.

Mendo 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, effort 4 out, never dangerous, 8th of 15, 22l behind According To Pete (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.

Hidden Agent (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, tailed off, 10th of 18, well behind Casey Jones (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs hvy in Nov.

Valley Ride (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Prominent, hit 9th, lost place after 10th, in rear when badly hampered 3 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Albertas Run (10-4) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr '07, 21 ran.

Tora Bora (GER) 10-1 (11-3) Disputed lead, led 2nd, headed 5th, led again and hit 7th, ridden 2 out, clear approaching last, ran on, won at Ascot 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Nov beating Arrayou (11-10) by 8l, 7 ran.

Cullahill (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) In touch, every chance when fell 2 out in race won by Diablo (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov hdl (3) gd in Oct, 10 ran.

Saltango (GER) 11-2 (10-7) Tracked leader, led briefly after 3rd, led 2 out, ridden and headed close home, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Taranis (10-1) at Chepstow 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Oct '06.

Maucaillou (GER) 33-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, no impression on winner approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 22, 2 1/2l behind Andytown (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.

Pennek (FR) 16-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, staying on when hit last, nearest finish, 5th of 19, 15l behind Punchestowns (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.

Openditch (FR) 11-2 (10-8) Held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, stayed on flat, 4th of 15, 2l behind Liberate (11-10) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.

Dan Buoy (FR) 33-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, stayed on from after next, 3rd of 17, 7l behind Ballydub (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.