Racecards
17:30 Cheltenham
Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) (Class 1)
- 20 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 78y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £65,000 added
- Winner: £37,018
- 2nd: £13,890
- 3rd: £6,955
- 4th: £3,464
- Form 42/U62F
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey B S Hughes
tracked leaders, challenged going well after 3 out, led briefly between last 2, soon ridden, stayed on to regain lead final 110 yards, held on well
- Form 46-1113
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey G Sheehan
prominent on outside, disputed lead 10th (water), driven after 3 out, soon lost place, ridden and one pace in 4th between last 2, no impression when lost place flat
- Form 5U15P1
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer A Fleming
- Jockey S A Shortall
mid-division, chased leaders before 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on to take 4th flat, no impression
- Form P6-121U
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey N D Fehily
with leader, disputed lead 10th (water), lost place 4 out, outpaced next, weakened from 2 out
- Form 162-313
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey A E Lynch
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
Amore Alato
24- Form 0-42U24
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer J Farrelly
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
chased leaders, driven before 3 out, weakened from next
- Form 08-5216
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey B J Cooper
mistake 2nd, towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 10th (water)
- Form 455-1U1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey S Bowen
towards rear, struggling when bumped 11th, well beaten when mistake and unseated rider 3 out
- Form 2P-1441
- Age 9
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey R Johnson
in touch, led 2nd to 10th (water), close up, lost place 4 out, weakened from next
- Form 26-751P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey J J Burke
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, never near leaders, weakened before 2 out
- Form 180-119
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, never near leaders
- Form 111-141
- Age 9
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along 3 out, close up in 3rd and staying on when fell next
- Form 95-1PP2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer K C Bailey
- Jockey David Bass
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, chased leaders under pressure next, soon ridden, kept on from last, never reached leaders
- Form 611-241
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
led to 2nd, tracked leaders, led again narrowly 4 out, headed between last 2, kept on and every chance last, soon ridden, no extra in 3rd final 110 yards
- Form 27-0515
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
mid-division, blundered 5th, headway 4 out, tracked leaders next, effort 2 out, led narrowly last, soon ridden, headed final 110 yards, kept on, just held
- Form 161U22
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer Kerry Lee
- Jockey C Gethings
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, beaten when hampered next
Rezorbi (FR)
45- Form 30311F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Joshua Moore
mid-division, headway on outside 3 out, chased leaders and staying on when fell next
- Form 6610-13
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 31F231
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 35-1011
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey Danny Cook
mid-division on outside, lost place 10th (water), behind from next
Verdict
Previous Festival form is always a plus and Katgary was second in the Fred Winter a couple of years ago. Killala Quay beat Twelve Roses on unfavourable terms at Kempton but both need more in this company. Aloomomo has won his last three over fences but has attracted the wrath of the handicapper. Willow's Saviour and Ballyalton may not have much scope but Thomas Brown could go well if a blunder at Kempton hasn't affected his confidence – he wears blinkers to aid concentration. Bridgets Pet sprang a surprise at Fairyhouse in January but is hard to catch right and Mckinley was tailed off at Leopardstown when last seen. DOUBLE SHUFFLE (NAP) has already run well twice over these fences and only had to be pushed out to score when giving 11lb to last month's easy Wincanton winner Fourth Act at Ludlow in December. Tom George has kept his unexposed six-year-old under wraps since and that patience can be rewarded today.
Formwatch
Ballyalton (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in rear but in touch, fell 7th, at Ascot 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Aloomomo (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, stayed on well from last, 3rd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Yala Enki (11-8) at Ascot 2m 3f (2) sft in Feb.
Bridgets Pet (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) In rear, closed to track leaders from before 3 out travelling smoothly, challenged from before 2 out, soon gained narrow lead, ridden and strongly pressed approaching last, stayed on well run-in, all out, won at Fairyhouse 2m 6f hvy in Jan beating Morning Assembly (11-8) by hd, 7 ran.
Thomas Brown 4-1fav (10-7) Behind, slow 2nd, blundered and unseated rider 11th, at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Domesday Book (USA) 14-1 (11-12) Chased leader, soon disputed 2nd and 3rd after 3rd, slight mistake 4th, slight mistake 3 out and pushed along, ridden and no impression entering straight, last of 3, 28l behind Douvan (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Amore Alato 33-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, under pressure 5 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 8, 36 1/4l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Mckinley 12-1 (11-10) Soon raced in 5th, mistake 9th and pushed along, headway next, moderate 3rd and pushed along approaching 2 out, soon no impression, weakened straight, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Outlander (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Javert (IRE) 9-2fav (11-5) With leaders, led 4th, about a length up when left clear after 2 out, kept on well, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Fairy Rath (11-5) by 12l, 10 ran.
Killala Quay 5-1 (11-4) Made all, jumped well although to the left throughout, pushed along 11th, driven when challenged from 3 out, stayed on strongly under pressure closing stages, won at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb beating Twelve Roses (11-0) by 3 1/4l, 5 ran.
Racing Pulse (IRE) 5-4fav (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until 6th, not fluent 13th, pushed along before next, mistake 15th, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out, at Warwick 3m 1f (3) sft in Feb.
On Tour (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) In rear, pushed along 4th, never dangerous, 9th of 10, 35l behind Dandridge (10-2) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Willow's Saviour 1-20fav (11-7) Made all, jumped well, 10 lengths clear 3 out, unextended, very easily, won at Fakenham 2m 5f (4) gs in Feb beating Larteta (11-0) by 12l, 2 ran.
Twelve Roses 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, driven to challenge after 4 out, every chance from 3 out, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Killala Quay (11-4) at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb.
Double Shuffle (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, headway to lead after 5 out, driven clear after 2nd last, strongly challenged closing stages, held on well under pressure, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Fourth Act (10-11) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Bouvreuil (FR) 25-1 (10-11) In rear, pushed along and weakened before 4 out, last of 5, 29l behind Vaniteux (11-0) at Doncaster 2m (1) gd in Jan.
Jayo Time (IRE) 2-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd last, ridden and switched right flat, unable to challenge winner, 2nd of 3, 3l behind All Together (11-1) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Rezorbi (FR) 22-1 (10-8) Behind, headway 8th, pushed along 4 out (usual 5 out), 5th and no impression when fell 2 out (usual 3 out), at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Katgary (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Led, ridden and headed before last, no extra, last of 3, 8l behind Volnay De Thaix (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Fourth Act (IRE) 2-1jfav (11-12) Tracked leaders, not much room 3rd, closed 7th, led 4 out, clear 2 out, easily, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Cresswell Breeze (11-12) by 11l, 6 ran.
Five In A Row (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along 5 out, ridden and rallied to chase leader after next, ran on flat, led narrowly towards finish, held on, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Central Flame (11-9) by nk, 9 ran.