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Racecards

14:40 Cheltenham

Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy Chase) (Grade 1) (Class 1)

  • 12 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 5f
  • Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £260,000 added
  • Winner: £148,070
  • 2nd: £55,562
  • 3rd: £27,820
  • 4th: £13,858
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 9.60s
  • Off Time: 14:41:29
  • 12 Ran
1
Silk - EMERALD GREEN and YELLOW (quartered), WHITE sleeves and cap
10/1
  • Form 4FP12-1
  • Age 11
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 168

led until 4th, led 7th, soon headed, led 12th, headed 4 out, led 3 out, driven and hung right flat, headed final 50 yards

2
Silk - Dark Blue, Light Blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap
10/1
  • Form 11-1U3P
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 164

held up in touch, took keen hold, jumped right at times, lost place 12th, rallied from 2 out, went 4th after last, no impression on leaders

3
Silk - Red and White stripes, hooped sleeves, striped cap
  • Form 2P-2334
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 159

in touch in mid-division, hit 6th, lost place 11th, hit 13th, 5th when hit 2 out, no extra last, weakened flat

4
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, EMERALD GREEN sleeves, WHITE cap, EMERALD GREEN spots
12/1
  • Form 2F6-140
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 157

pressed leader, led 4th, headed 7th, soon led again, headed when not fluent next, lost place 13th, well beaten before 3 out

5
Silk - RED and WHITE (quartered), RED sleeves
  • Form 542P-5P
  • Age 11
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 166

held up towards rear, mistakes 12th and 13th, weakened next

6
Silk - Royal blue, white seams, royal blue cap, white star
66/1
  • Form 1155-6P
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 148

prominent, hit 4th, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off

7
Silk - Orange, Black star, Black and Orange striped sleeves
8/1
  • Form 42-1322
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 165

held up in touch towards rear, hit 10, pushed along after 11th, headway when hit 13th, went close 3rd when not fluent 2 out, upsides flat, held close home

8
Silk - PURPLE, gold sleeves, hooped cap
8/1
  • Form 1-F1222
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 165

held up towards rear, jumped right 6th, 7th and when mistake 8th, soon lost touch, pulled up before 10th

11
Silk - Red and White diamonds, White sleeves, Red armlets, Red cap
  • Form 5F/121-1
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 168

held up in touch in mid-division, jumped slowly 3rd, closed 4th, pushed along after 10th, hit 13th, ridden to challenge 3 out, stayed on under strong pressure to lead final 50 yards

12
Silk - Light Blue and Maroon hoops, Blue sleeves, striped cap
13/2
  • Form 13-3121
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 164

prominent, challenged 7th, led next until 12th, led 4 out, headed next, 4th and beaten after 2 out, no extra flat

13
Silk - Dark Green, Maroon stars, Maroon cap
5/1
  • Form 3-12241
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 166

held up towards rear, headway on outside 9th, not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced by leaders, no extra from next

14
Silk - Pink, Light Green spots, Pink sleeves and cap
  • Form 143111
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-3
  • Official Rating 154

not fluent, behind until pulled up before 10th

9
NR

Poquelin (FR)

47 CCD
20/1
  • Form 141-5U2
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 168

Withdrawn

10
NR
  • Form 113-125
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 157

Nonrunner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

Albertas Run has won this for the last two years and had Kalahari King, Rubi Light and Poquelin behind 12 months ago. But he hasn't been seen since winning a three-runner race at Aintree on his reappearance in October when his only serious rival flopped. Jonjo O'Neill's 11-year-old may be worth opposing this time as this renewal looks a bit more competitive than usual. NOBLE PRINCE won the Jewson on this day in 2011 and may well have beaten Realt Dubh at Fairyhouse later had he not tipped up two out. Paul Nolan's charge is back over his best trip today, having just been touched off by Blazing Tempo over 2m1f last time, and the better ground is ideal. Captain Chris and Forpadydeplasterer are both past winners of the Arkle but have a bit to prove now, while this looks a big ask for handicapper Great Endeavour. Riverside Theatre had a bit in hand when beating McDermott in a Grade 1 at Ascot last month, however, though seems to run his best races on a flat track. Somersby won the Victor Chandler at Ascot in January and is rarely far away at this level. He is a very sound jumper and looks a cracking each-way bet again but may possibly find one or two too good over this trip.

Formwatch

Albertas Run (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Made all, ridden between last 2, hard pressed last, kept on under pressure flat, won at Aintree 2m 4f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct beating Pure Faith (10-4) by 1l, 3 ran.

Captain Chris (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Jumped badly right, blundered 2nd and 4th, lost place when pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Midnight Chase (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan, 9 ran.

Forpadydeplasterer (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Led, headed after 6th, chased leader until 8th, weakened and no chance with leading trio from 3 out, 4th of 8, 11l behind Somersby (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f chs G1 (1) gs in Jan.

Great Endeavour (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Led, blundered and headed 10th, chased leaders, outpaced when bumped 3 out, weakened before next, 11th of 16, 40l behind Quantitativeeasing (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.

Kalahari King (FR) 15-2 (11-1) Held up in last pair, mistake and stumbled 4th, went wrong and pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Master Minded (11-11) at Ascot 2m 3f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov, 6 ran.

Little Josh (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Led, headed approaching 8th, outpaced next, soon lost place, behind when blundered 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Riverside Theatre (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Feb, 8 ran.

Medermit (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, making good headway and tracking leaders when mistake and nearly unseated rider 10th, went 3rd next, chased winner 4 out, driven and 2 lengths to find last, kept on but no real impression flat, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Riverside Theatre (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Feb.

Noble Prince (GER) 9-10fav (11-10) Chased leaders, closed approaching straight, soon pushed along in 3rd, challenged and on terms approaching last, headed and kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Blazing Tempo (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.

Riverside Theatre 13-8fav (11-7) In touch, headway to 3rd at 7th, went 2nd before next, led 13th, travelling strongly before 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, ridden out from last, eased close home, comfortably, won at Ascot 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Feb beating Medermit (11-7) by 3l, 8 ran.

Rubi Light (FR) 2-5fav (11-10) Made all, drew clear from 8th, totally in command from 4 out, mistake 2 out, kept on well, very easily, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Chicago Grey (11-6) by 16l, 5 ran.

Somersby (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Took keen hold and soon settled 4th on inside, went 2nd 4 out until next, effort on inside approaching 2 out, ridden to chase leader between last 2, driven and stayed on gamely to lead final 130 yards, won at Ascot 2m 1f chs G1 (1) gs in Jan beating Finian's Rainbow (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.

Blazing Tempo (IRE) 9-4 (11-3) Waited with well off pace towards rear, closed from 3 out, 4th travelling well before next, on terms approaching last, led and stayed on best run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan beating Noble Prince (11-10) by 3/4l, 5 ran.

Poquelin (FR) 8-1 (11-5) In touch on inside, tracked winner 6th, lost place 4 out, regained 2nd next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 17l behind The Giant Bolster (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.

Realt Dubh (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Raced in 3rd, pushed along on outer after 4 out, improved to be 2nd before straight, soon challenged, carried to left before last, switched run-in and kept on well without matching winner, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Captain Chris (11-12) at Punchestown 2m nov chs G1 (1) gs in May.