Racecards
15:10 Cheltenham
Mitie Group Handicap Hurdle
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 110y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- Form 1-51460
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
in touch, went 2nd 7th, driven and outpaced by leading pair after 2 out, stayed on under pressure to challenge last, driven to lead flat
- Form 311/122-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
mid-division, steady headway from 6th, went 2nd 3 out, led before last, headed flat
- Form 13/3700
- Age 9
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 137
tracked leader, led 5th, driven along approaching 2 out, headed before last and weakened
- Form 2/U3608
- Age 10
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey G Lee
led to 5th, ridden next, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 831913
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Stephens
chased leaders, hard ridden approaching 2 out, weakened well before last
- Form 14FF6P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Christian Williams
pulled hard in rear, struggling after 7th, tailed off
- Form 134205
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in rear, driven along after 7th, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd last, no impression flat
- Form 231/7-35
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer J A B Old
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
always behind, struggling 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Tacin (IRE)
40- Form 13F/1P-3
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey J Culloty
pressed leaders until mistake 5th, ridden and weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 4P880P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer J R Jenkins
- Jockey J Culloty
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, weakened after next
- Form 4153U0
- Age 11
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer A E Jessop
- Jockey C Sharkey
soon trailing, tailed off after 4th
- Form 5101
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 126
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
With the bottom four runners in the handicap out of the weights proper this may not be as competitive as the numbers suggest and the vote goes to Admiral, who is preferred to the Hobbs pair Xellance and Unleash. The last mentioned has been off the track since finishing a three-length second to Zibeline at Aintree a year ago and would need to be absolutely spot on to take this on his reappearance, especially as he has to race off a 5lb higher mark today. Stablemate Xellance reverts to hurdling after a spell chasing and has claims at his best but looks a shade high in the weights at present. Top weight Lough Derg faces no easy task giving weight away all round, while stablemate Ilnamar has given little sign of encouragement of late. Goblet of Fire looks the pick of Paul Nicholls two runners with Ruby Walsh choosing him over Blue Americo but he has yet to prove his effectiveness over today's trip and preference is for Admiral. The selection stayed 1m4f on the flat on the level and is bred to get further so there should be more to come from Richard Guest's gelding, who put a disappointing effort in the Triumph behind him when beating the useful Iron Man at Market Rasen subsequently. Admiral is taken to make the most of the weight that he receives from some more experienced rivals.
Formwatch
Lough Derg (FR) 40-1 Mid-division until weakened after 6th, 15th of 29, 38l behind Idole First at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Unleash (USA) 5-1jt-fav Held up, headway 8th, ridden to lead 2 out, hung left approaching last, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 23, 3l behind Zibeline at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Apr '04.
Ilnamar (FR) 12-1 Mid-division ridden after 7th, weakened quickly, behind when mistake 3 out, 22nd of 29, well behind Idole First at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Majestic (IRE) 50-1 Led, ridden and headed when not fluent 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 14, 44l behind Celtic Son at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (B) sft in Jan.
Xellance (IRE) 3-1 Tracked winner, mistake and pecked 2nd, close up when blundered 14th, weakened next, 3rd of 5, well behind Lord Of Illusion at Ludlow 3m nov chs (D) gs in Nov.
Blue Americo (IRE) 13-2 Not jump well in rear, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Grey Report at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (D) sft in Mar, 10 ran.
Goblet of Fire (USA) 3-1fav Chased leaders, blundered 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next, 5th of 8, 20l behind Handy Money at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Mar.
Majestic Bay (IRE) 7-2 Held up, headway to track leaders 17th, mistake 4 out, weakened from next, 5th of 7, 26l behind Boy's Hurrah at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Dec.
Tacin (IRE) 20-1 Led, clear 4th, joined 3 out, soon headed, upsides but ridden when mistake 2 out, no impression before last, weakened and lost 2nd run-in, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Pretty Star at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Mar.
Joshua's Bay 8-1 Held up and mistakes, blundered 3rd, hampered 8th, weakened approaching 4 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Fool On The Hill at Doncaster 2m 3f beg chs (E) gd in Mar, 7 ran.
Moss Run (IRE) 18-1 Held up, ridden and weakened 3 out, 11th of 15, 30l behind Diletia at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Mar.
Admiral (IRE) 11-8 Raced keenly in touch, headway to challenge 3 out, led approaching next, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (D) gd beating Iron Man by 3l, 15 ran.