Racecards
16:50 Cheltenham
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 19 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 199y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £125,000 added
- Winner: £70,338
- 2nd: £26,500
- 3rd: £13,262
- 4th: £6,625
- Form 22-F378
- Age 9
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 155
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, some headway on inside 3 out, no impression, well beaten before 2 out
- Form 17-2F42
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Ben Harvey
chased leaders, mistake 8th, ridden after 3 out, beaten when left 5th 2 out, weakened quickly
- Form 211111
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer G P Cromwell
- Jockey K M Donoghue
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, headway 2 out, went 5th flat, never troubled leaders
- Form 23-4631
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, hampered and left 4th 2 out, no impression flat, kept on
- Form 42P114
- Age 9
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer P D Niven
- Jockey Danny McMenamin
chased leaders, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
- Form F64P03
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey S D Torrens
in rear, mistake and struggling 8th, mistake and well beaten 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
- Form PP-9212
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer J Tizzard
- Jockey Brendan Powell
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, no impression in 6th when hampered 2 out, no extra
- Form U12F-15
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
held up in mid-division, headway on outside 8th, challenged going well when fell 2 out
- Form F36/1-23
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, well held when left 7th 2 out, kept on flat
- Form F-22315
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey M J M O'Sullivan
in rear, mistake 3rd, well beaten before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 511519
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey B Hayes
towards rear, pecked 1st, mistake 4th, hampered 4 out, never dangerous
- Form 1122F5
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 145
mid-division, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, kept on flat, never on terms
- Form 35P493
- Age 10
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey J C Gainford
in rear, reminders 1st, struggling 7th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
- Form 426-334
- Age 10
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer S Thomas
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
not always fluent, towards rear of mid-division, some headway on outside 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 3F-4F10
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey D J O'Keeffe
held up in touch, closed 3 out, switched left before 2 out, led last, stayed on strongly to draw clear flat
- Form 0-12956
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Jack Tudor
mid-division, mistake and lost place 8th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
- Form 94-4122
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey L P Dempsey
took keen hold, prominent, jumped right 3rd, led and mistake 2 out, mistake and headed last, no impression on winner flat, kept on
- Form 231-P74
- Age 11
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer B Pauling
- Jockey Luca Morgan
led until 2 out, 3rd and held from last, kept on
- Form 456/F1-5
- Age 11
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
not fluent 1st, soon towards rear, some headway after 4 out, no impression, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 3F02-09
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey J J Slevin
NonRunner
Verdict
Global Citizen and Andy Dufresne finished 1-2 in this last year with A Wave Of The Sea and Dancing On My Own unplaced and Elixir De Nutz pulled up. Malystic won at Doncaster in January, with Before Midnight back in fourth, before finding Grade 2 company too hot at Newbury. Coeur Sublime is having a first-ever run in a handicap but looks closely matched with Battleoverdoyen on recent Naas running. THIRD TIME LUCKI has a solid record here and was back to his best at Sandown last month. A 6lb rise for that appears harsh at first sight but it looks like wind surgery has produced the desired effect so he may be worth sticking with even though Dinoblue is potentially thrown in having a first run in a handicap. However, the Mullins’ runner was a hot favourite for a mares’ Grade 2 over hurdles at this meeting last year and she didn’t deliver. Final Orders is on a roll but no certainty to confirm latest Leopardstown form with A Wave Of The Sea at the revised weights.
Formwatch
Andy Dufresne (IRE) 28-1 (11-9) Towards rear, not fluent at 1st, 9th after 8th, under pressure after 3 out, no impression 2 out where jumped left, weakened, not fluent last, never a factor, 8th of 11, dist behind Rebel Gold (10-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Coeur Sublime (IRE) 1-2fav (11-1) Tracked leaders on outer, 2nd travelling well 2 out, pushed along before last, ridden after last, strongly pressed winner inside final furlong, stayed on well, not reach winner, 2nd of 6, nk behind Rebel Gold (11-1) at Naas 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Final Orders 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden to lead on outer before last, stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Feb beating Barnacullia (10-11) by 4l, 12 ran.
Third Time Lucki (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd last, led flat, stayed on, won at Sandown 1m 7f hcp (2) gs in Feb beating Fast Buck (10-9) by 1l, 8 ran.
Malystic 5-1 (11-2) Held up in 4th, hit 5 out, jumped slowly and outpaced next, never involved, last of 4, 7 3/4l behind Funambule Sivola (11-8) at Newbury 2m (1) gd in Feb.
A Wave Of The Sea (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Always prominent, pushed along in 3rd 2 out, ridden in 3rd before last, went 2nd after last, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd close home, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Final Orders (11-8) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Elixir De Nutz (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked winner until 5 out, went 2nd again at the last, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in, well held, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Funambule Sivola (11-8) at Newbury 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Thyme White (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Held up, pushed along and outpaced from 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 7, 13 1/4l behind Boothill (10-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Epson Du Houx (FR) 9-1 (11-1) In touch, improved to 3rd at 4th, took closer order after 7th, no impression on leader before last where jumped left, kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Rebel Gold (10-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Midnight Run (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, dropped to 4th briefly 3rd, 2nd and mistake 7th, soon dropped to 4th, progress into 2nd after 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra in 4th before last, weakened, last of 5, 33 3/4l behind Saint Roi (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Dec.
Dads Lad (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Off the pace and always towards rear, 9th of 13, 34 1/4l behind I Like To Move It (12-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Call Me Lyreen (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Held up behind leaders, 4th halfway, closer in 3rd 4 out, ridden and disputed 2nd after 3 out, pressed leader approaching 2 out where bad mistake, soon no extra, 5th of 6, 29 1/2l behind Adamantly Chosen (11-1) at Punchestown 2m 3f (1) gd in Oct.
Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, jumped right at 1st, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, no impression on leaders before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Rebel Gold (11-1) at Naas 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Before Midnight 13-2 (11-13) Tracked leaders out wide, led briefly after 3 out, soon headed, kept on until no extra run-in, weakened final 110yds, 4th of 11, 6l behind Malystic (12-0) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Maskada (FR) 5-1fav (11-5) Mid-division on inner, mistake 8th, in touch in 7th when mistake 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, 11th of 23, 19 3/4l behind The Goffer (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Sizing Pottsie (FR) 250-1 (11-10) Held up in last pair, lost touch from 3 out, last of 6, dist behind Editeur Du Gite (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Dinoblue (FR) 4-5fav (10-7) Prominent, raced in 2nd after 1st, not fluent 2nd, closer 2nd entering straight, pushed along when not fluent 2 out, ridden and pressed winner after last, no impression final 100 yards, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Magic Daze (10-11) at Naas 2m lst (1) Yielding in Feb.
Global Citizen (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Chased leader until before 4th, outpaced 3 out, weakened well before 2 out, last of 4, dist behind I Like To Move It (11-8) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) gd in Feb.
The Last Day (IRE) 28-1 (12-0) Held up in last pair, headway out wide tracking leaders going well after 4 out, no impression and left modest 5th 2 out, 5th of 7, 20l behind Xcitations (11-6) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Dancing On My Own (IRE) 28-1 (10-11) Close up, slow jump at 2nd, slow jump at 3rd and lost place, 8th after 8th, no impression, weakened 2 out, 9th of 11, dist behind Rebel Gold (10-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.