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15:20 Cheltenham

Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase (Class A) (Grade 3)

  • 11 Runners
  • Distance: 3m 3f 110y
  • Going: Good
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 7m 2.66s
  • 11 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Stormez (FR)

7/1

    2
    Silk -

    Ballycassidy (IRE)

    12/1

      3
      Silk -

      Lord Noelie (IRE)

      8/1

        1
        Silk - MAROON and LIGHT BLUE (quartered), MAROON sleeves

        Royal Emperor (IRE)

        14
        5/1
        • Form 1F12F-3
        • Age 8
        • Weight 11-12

        chased leaders, mistake 7th, blundered and weakened 12th

        2
        Silk - White, Red chevron, Emerald Green and Red striped sleeves, Red cap

        Ballycassidy (IRE)

        280
        12/1
        • Form 31112P-
        • Age 8
        • Weight 11-10

        made most, driven clear on long run after last, headed and not pace of winner, run in

        3
        Silk - ROYAL BLUE, EMERALD GREEN sleeves, WHITE cap, EMERALD GREEN spots

        Stormez (FR)

        203
        7/1
        • Form 23306U-
        • Age 7
        • Weight 11-5

        jumped badly in rear, some headway on outside when blundered 2 out, driven along and stayed on under pressure before last, ran on to lead run in

        4
        Silk - Emerald Green, Dark Blue diamond and diamond on cap

        Lord Noelie (IRE)

        42
        8/1
        • Form P/541P-2
        • Age 11
        • Weight 11-4

        in touch, headway to chase leaders from 10th, challenged 12th, one pace on long run after last

        5
        Silk - RED, GREEN hooped cap

        Innox (FR)

        12 b
        16/1
        • Form 032F-63
        • Age 8
        • Weight 10-7

        not jumped well, mistake 10th, weakening when blundered 14th

        6
        Silk - DARK BLUE, WHITE triple diamond, diamonds on sleeves and cap

        Lords Best (IRE)

        292
        20/1
        • Form 431/51F-
        • Age 8
        • Weight 10-3

        mistake, always behind, blundered 7th, tailed off

        7
        Silk - Dark Green, White and Black hooped sleeves, Red cap

        Fasgo (IRE)

        203
        5/1
        • Form 1222P0-
        • Age 9
        • Weight 10-1

        held up, challenged from 4 out, chased leader before 2 out, outpaced on long run soon after last

        8
        Silk - Light Blue and Emerald Green (quartered), Emerald Green and Light Blue halved sleeves, White cap

        Merchants Friend (IRE)

        21
        4/1
        • Form F352P-3
        • Age 9
        • Weight 10-1

        in touch, lost place and behind from after 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out

        9
        Silk - GREY, RED sleeves, BLACK and RED check cap

        The Villager (IRE)

        42
        20/1
        • Form 21P/55-P
        • Age 8
        • Weight 10-0

        in touch, under pressure and close up before last, one pace under pressure run in

        10
        Silk - Dark Blue, Light Blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap

        Dunster Castle

        46
        12/1
        • Form 1P2F-21
        • Age 9
        • Weight 10-0

        prominent, weakened and lost place before 12th, tailed off

        11
        Silk - Light Blue, Royal Blue sash, sleeves and cap

        Bright Approach (IRE)

        18
        15/2
        • Form 01-5332
        • Age 11
        • Weight 10-0

        pushed along 7th, kept on under pressure from 14th, never going pace to reach leaders

        In depth

        Verdict

        Royal & SunAlliance Chase runner-up Royal Emperor was well held when third in the Charlie Hall on his reappearance last month and faces no easy task under top weight so preference is for Merchants Friend, who gets the vote over Stormez. The last mentioned has been given a chance by the handicapper but is difficult to catch right these days and is reluctantly passed over. Lord Noelie can race off a fair mark only 2lbs higher than when scoring here last December, and should come on for his recent return at Chepstow. He makes more appeal than the Paul Nicholls-trained Fasgo, who makes his reappearance this afternoon. Second season chaser Ballycassidy faces no easy task on his first venture into a handicap over fences and a bigger threat may come from Philip Hobbs Exeter winner Dunster Castle. The vote though goes to Merchants Friend. Charlie Mann's gelding made a satisfactory return when third to a revitalised Gunther McBride at Kempton last month and can race off a 3lb lower mark today. The nine-year-old can race off the same rating as when an unlucky second to Maximize in last season's Kim Muir, the pair clear, and a reproduction of that effort may suffice.