Racecards
16:40 Cheltenham
David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places , Cross Country G/F,Good in places )
- Surface: Turf
- £70,000 added
- Winner: £39,431
- 2nd: £14,854
- 3rd: £7,434
- 4th: £3,717
Alegralil
66- Form 25U-1F6
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
held up in touch, ridden and chasing leaders approaching 3 out, lost place before next, soon weakened
- Form 21-2201
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 11/3911-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up towards rear, headway after 7th, tracking leaders going well 3 out, went 2nd before next, led approaching last, soon clear, impressive
Sparky May
52- Form 43-1111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer P R Rodford
- Jockey K Burke
held up in rear, took keen hold, blundered 2nd, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd when not fluent 7th, led when not fluent 2 out, driven and headed approaching last, stayed on, no chance with winner
Alasi
52- Form 382-523
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey D Elsworth
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 3 out, chased leading pair after 2 out, hit last, stayed on same pace, lost 3rd near finish
- Form 1-1116
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway approaching 6th, ridden after 3 out, never reached leaders, weakened last
- Form 495110/
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey G Lee
held up towards rear on inside, well beaten approaching 2 out
- Form 804153
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 125
held up towards rear, mistake 4th, behind from 6th
- Form 4U2406
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
chased leaders, ridden 6th, soon lost place, stayed on flat, no chance
- Form 263011
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 124
held up in rear, ridden after 6th, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd near finish, no chance with winner
- Form 531403
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey A O'keeffe
took keen hold, mid-division on outside after 2nd, closed 5th, ridden after 7th, weakening when mistake 3 out
- Form 412313
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 139
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 7th, effort after 3 out, no impression from next
- Form P1-2113
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
pressed leader, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 72142D
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer C F Swan
- Jockey Paul Carberry
held up towards rear, some progress when hampered after 7th, soon not clear run and lost place, stayed on from 2 out and kept on flat, never troubled leaders
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
QUEVEGA has won the last two renewals of this contest and an absence proved no barrier to success 12 months ago when Alasi and Princess Rainbow were behind. Willie Mullins' mare hasn't been seen since landing a Grade 1 over 3m at the Punchestown Festival last April but is in a different league to her rivals if anywhere near her best and will be many people's idea of the meeting's banker. Sparky May has given her small stable a lot of fun this winter but she would probably prefer the ground a bit softer and is arguably better over further. Patrick Rodford's six-year-old finished a long way ahead of the disappointing L'Accordioniste at Ascot in January however. Banjaxed Girl beat Alasi, Silver Gypsy and Alegralil at Sandown last time and is another with place claims while Santera could also play a part if rediscovering the form she showed in the autumn.
Formwatch
Alegralil 9-2 (11-8) Held up in last pair, not fluent 3th, pushed along 5th, not fluent and ridden 3 out, soon struggling, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Banjaxed Girl (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f mrs hdl (listed) (4yo+) (1) hvy in Jan.
Banjaxed Girl 6-4fav (11-4) Made all, ridden when went right and not fluent 2 out, driven and held on gamely flat, won at Sandown 2m 4f mrs hdl (listed) (4yo+) (1) hvy in Jan beating Alasi (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Quevega (FR) 5-2fav (11-5) Settled behind leaders, 7th halfway, 4th 5 out, improved to challenge approaching 2 out, led before last, asserted run-in, kept on strongly, comfortably, won at Punchestown 3m hdl G1 (1) gd in Apr beating Bensalem (11-10) by 3l, 13 ran.
Sparky May 7-1 (11-0) Keen hold in rear, headway approaching 6th, soon tracking leaders, led 9th, hard ridden 2 out, kept on well under pressure, won at Ascot 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan beating Carole's Legacy (11-5) by 4l, 8 ran.
Alasi 12-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders next, weakened before last, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Sparky May (11-0) at Ascot 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
L'accordioniste (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Held up in touch, not fluent 3rd or 4th, mistake 7th, soon weakened, 6th of 8, well behind Sparky May (11-0) at Ascot 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
La Vecchia Scuola (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Towards rear, pushed along 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, some headway on outer when blundered 2 out, no impression, 12th of 24, 17l behind Blue Bajan (10-8) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in May '08.
Lonesome Dove (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway to challenge in 2nd entering straight, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no extra before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Our Girl Salley (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f mares listed nov hdl (1) hvy in Jan.
Miss Overdrive 14-1 (10-4) In touch, lost place 6th, ridden 4 out, kept on under pressure from next, no impression, 6th of 12, 19l behind Stow (10-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Ocean Transit (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) In rear, pushed along 5th, headway 3 out, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb beating Paint The Clouds (10-8) by 3l, 14 ran.
Princess Rainbow (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Led, ridden and headed before 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on from next, no impression, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Cool Operator (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Feb.
Santera (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Tracked leading trio, went 3rd 4 out, chased leader 3 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, 3rd and hung right between last 2, kept on same pace under pressure flat, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Carole's Legacy (10-12) at Kempton 3m mrs lst hdl (1) gd in Nov.
Silver Gypsy (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked winner, mistake 3rd, lost 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure flat, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Banjaxed Girl (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f mrs hdl (listed) (4yo+) (1) hvy in Jan.
Stephanie Kate (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Made all, ridden and challenged 2 out, drifted right under pressure approaching last, kept on run-in, all out close home, in a race won by Definite Class (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f Mares Novice Hurdle (5-7yo) hvy in Feb, 8 ran.