Racecards
12:30 Cheltenham
Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Novices' Chase (Class 2)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good (Cross Country: Good, Good to Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Winner: £12,512
- 2nd: £3,696
- 3rd: £1,848
- 4th: £924
Red Riverman
19- Form 3-12175
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up in 4th, mistake 11th, beginning to struggle when left 3rd 4 out, well held by front pair after
- Form 2/18-111
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D A Jacob
chased leader, closed 2 out, challenged last, ridden flat, kept on but always just held by winner
- Form 4-51590
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer P Henderson
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
raced in last, not fluent and lost touch 5th, tailed off after, left 4th 4 out
- Form 4/2109-9
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
raced in 3rd, not fluent 2nd, closing when fell 4 out
- Form 112P4-2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
made all, often went slightly right, mistake 4 out, pecked 3 out, ridden when pressed before last, kept on flat and always just holding rival
Verdict
We weren't overly impressed with Oscar Whisky's jumping on his chase debut here last month but he was only beaten a neck by the smart Taquin Du Seuil and will know more today. However, a line through third The Romford Pele suggests Nicky Henderson's charge will struggle to get the better of WONDERFUL CHARM, despite receiving 8lb. The latter looks a natural chaser and is working his way steadily through the ranks. He has hardly put a foot wrong in three starts over fences and can extend his unbeaten record here. Close House should make a chaser but this is a baptism of fire and he didn't manage a win here in five tries over timber.
Formwatch
Red Riverman 17-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway 5 out, ridden after next, soon no impression, 5th of 8, 26l behind Oscar Hill (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Wonderful Charm (FR) 8-11fav (11-8) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, led after last, soon ridden and ran on well, won at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov beating Up To Something (11-8) by 6l, 4 ran.
Captain Ocana (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Never better than mid-division, 14th of 18, 39l behind Quick Jack (10-13) at Listowel 2m cond hcp hdl 80-102 in Sep.
Close House 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division on inside, tracked leaders after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, weakened flat, 9th of 17, 19l behind Return Spring (9-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Nov.
Oscar Whisky (IRE) 4-6fav (11-2) Gifted lead 1st, set steady pace after, quickened when joined approaching 2 out, ridden and headed narrowly flat, kept on, just held, 2nd of 4, nk behind Taquin Du Seuil (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gd in Nov.