Racecards
17:30 Cheltenham
WellChild National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 3m 5f 201y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £125,000 added
- Winner: £60,388
- 2nd: £30,188
- 3rd: £15,112
- 4th: £7,550
- Form 185-114
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Mr J J Codd
held up and behind on outside, slightly hampered 16th, headway when not fluent 18th, went 2nd after 3 out, 5 lengths down when left in lead 2 out, 3 lengths ahead last, headed final 75 yards, no impression towards finish
- Form 15-1111
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Mr Joshua Newman
mid-division, towards rear and niggled along after 11th, ridden after 14th, mistake 17th, well beaten 19th, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 652420
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Mr D G Lavery
led, bumped 1st, soon headed, led before 2nd, headed 4th, led next, not fluent and headed 12th, soon not much room briefly, mistake 14th, struggling after, bad mistake 18th and 19th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 333-213
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 155
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr P W Mullins
held up in rear, not fluent 10th, some headway 18th, pushed along in 5th and still a bit to do 3 out, staying on when left 2nd 2 out, 3 lengths down last, driven and switched right flat, led final 75 yards, won going away
- Form 71-2312
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey Mr J C Barry
prominent early, tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, led after 16th, clear 3 out, pushed along and 5 lengths ahead when fell 2 out
- Form 12/136
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer B Pauling
- Jockey Miss Gina Andrews
held up towards rear, closed on outside 4th, not fluent 15th, losing place when fell next
- Form -P2132
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Mr B O'Neill
chased leaders, jumped right 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 2220-22
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Mr Derek O'Connor
rousted away from start, bumped 1st, soon led, headed before 2nd, chased leaders, lost place after 12th, closed 16th, went 2nd 18th until after 3 out, 3rd and no extra last
- Form 231-322
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr N McParlan
held up in mid-division, not fluent 13th, closed from 17th, ridden and weakening when mistake 2 out, mistake last
- Form 1142-43
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Miss Lucy Turner
chased leaders on outside, challenged 3rd, led next, headed 5th, led 12th, headed after 16th, weakening in 6th when fell 3 out
Verdict
Mister Coffey finished second in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir here last year but is still seeking a first victory over the larger obstacles. Third in the Brown Advisory 12 months ago, Gaillard Du Mesnil looks certain to go off a short price favourite for this having won and placed in Grade 1 company this season. He placed in the Irish Grand National last spring so stamina shouldn’t be an issue but he won’t offer much in the way of value. Mahler Mission beat Tenzing at Navan in January and ran well again in a Grade 2 at the same track last month but he was beaten out of sight by CHEMICAL ENERGY over 3m here in the autumn and the latter has only run once since when having a prep race at Naas. Having Jamie Codd doing the steering in this is a massive plus. Stable companion Minella Crooner could also figure but there is a slight doubt about him staying this far.
Formwatch
Chemical Energy (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Towards rear, mid-division after 3rd, mistake at 10th and dropped to rear, 4th before 12th, left 3rd 4 out, mistake 3 out, closed in 2nd before 2 out, dropped to 4th before last where mistake, weakened, 4th of 5, at Naas 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Coolvalla (IRE) 9-4 (11-11) Led 2nd, slow and headed 6th, led 8th, drew clear from 2 out, stayed on, won at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Colonel Keating (10-8) by 17l, 8 ran.
Fakiera (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Held up in mid-division on outer, slight mistake 8 out, ridden towards rear after 5 out, soon no impression, 11th of 18, dist behind Carefully Selected (11-8) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Gaillard Du Mesnil (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Led, not fluent and headed 2 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd approaching last where mistake, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 9 3/4l behind Mighty Potter (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f (1) Yielding in Feb.
Mahler Mission (IRE) 6-4fav (11-3) Disputed lead, headed 3rd, disputed lead from 6th, led 9th, mistake 3 out and soon headed, soon ridden in close 2nd, disputed lead when not fluent at last, soon headed, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Churchstonewarrior (11-3) at Navan 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Feb.
Malinello 8-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway 12th, outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 31 1/2l behind Stage Star (12-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Minella Crooner (IRE) 8-13fav (11-7) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, pushed along after 3 out, went 2nd before next, soon ridden and kept on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Velvet Elvis (11-4) at Fairyhouse 3m Yielding in Feb.
Mister Coffey (FR) 3-1fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, closed on outside before 11th, hanging left from 4 out, challenged 3 out, not much room flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Guetapan Collonges (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Tenzing (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, dropped to 5th at 5th, pushed along in 3rd after 4 out, ridden in 3rd next, moderate 2nd and no impression on winner 2 out, kept on one pace in 2nd run-in, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Mahler Mission (11-12) at Navan 3m Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Bellatrixsa (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Handy, led narrowly after 1st, headed 8th, remained prominent, pushed along after 5 out, ridden and held after 4 out, 3rd of 4, 28l behind City Chief (11-2) at Wetherby 3m (1) gs in Feb.