Racecards
15:35 Cheltenham
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Class 2)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 3m 7f
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places, Cross Country: Good, Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £25,000 added
- Winner: £15,640
- 2nd: £4,620
- 3rd: £2,310
- 4th: £1,155
- Form 1112-F1
- Age 10
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
in touch led 2nd to 4th, mistake next, led again 15th, mistake 19th, headed 6 out, in touch, regained lead 3 out, ridden last, stayed on gamely flat
Carruthers
34- Form P/26U9-8
- Age 11
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer M Bradstock
- Jockey N de Boinville
soon in touch, led 4th to 6th, chased leaders, outpaced 7 out, soon struggling, weakened from 2 out, tailed off
- Form 96183-P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
in touch, joined winner when mistake 19th, led 6 out, headed 3 out, ridden after next, kept on under pressure flat
- Form P/2P07-3
- Age 13
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr P W Mullins
in touch, dropped to last pair 8th, close up 18th, hit 5 out, went 2nd 3 out, effort when pecked next, ridden last, kept on, held flat
- Form 53252-5
- Age 11
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
in touch, led 6th to 15th, tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace before last
- Form 1F94-23
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Miss S West
- Jockey M Goldstein
held up in touch, struggling when mistake 17th, tailed off 5 out, soon pulled up
- Form 92PP40
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 132
in touch, disputed lead 10th to 12th, behind from 18th, tailed off
Verdict
Uncle Junior won this in 2011 and 2012 but was beaten fair and square by the younger BALTHAZAR KING (NAP) last year. Philip Hobbs' charge went on to give Any Currency 18lb in the big cross-country race at The Festival and finish second in the Grand National. He proved his well-being when landing a Listed race over the cross-country course at Craon in France in September and is difficult to oppose back here as long as none of the others get in his way. Sire Collonges did beat Any Currency over course and distance in December last year on much worse terms and should confirm that form without being good enough to threaten the selection but former Hennessy winner Carruthers is best watched on his first try over these unconventional obstacles. The remainder are even harder to recommend.
Formwatch
Balthazar King (IRE) (10-10) won at Craon(FR) 3m 6f crs cty chs gd in Sep beating Kapville (10-10) by 3l, 12 ran.
Carruthers 25-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, challenged 6th, pushed along before 11th, lost place after 13th, well beaten before 5 out, tailed off, 8th of 15, well behind Victors Serenade (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Oct.
Sire Collonges (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along 15th, lost place next, well beaten after 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Roalco De Farges (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct, 13 ran.
Uncle Junior (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up, soon in mid-division, moderate 8th 6 out, progress to chase leaders 5 out, 7th approaching 2 out, soon left 5th and no impression, kept on, 3rd of 19, 12l behind Jacks Island (11-0) at Punchestown 4m 1f crs cntry chs (5yo+) gf in May.
Any Currency (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent 3rd, ridden 13th, headed next, outpaced and no impression from 3 out, 5th of 11, 16l behind Bear's Affair (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Leg Iron (IRE) 6-5fav (11-3) Led, jumped right at times, bumped 1st, headed 7th, not fluent 12th, one pace and beaten 3 out, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Nodform Richard (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Jun.
Lambro (IRE) (10-9) 17th of 22, well behind Orphee Des Blins (10-5) at Pardubice(CZE) 4m 2f crs cntry ch gd in Oct.
Rare Bob (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway when not fluent 2 out, no impression on leaders before last, 7th of 20, 12l behind Trackmate (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct '13.