Racecards
14:10 Cheltenham
Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Class 2)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Winner: £12,524
- 2nd: £3,700
- 3rd: £1,850
- 4th: £926

- Form 1-21212
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Paul Carberry
held up in 5th, headway 3 out, challenged last, led flat, stayed on

- Form 241610
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey A E Lynch
held up in rear, headway 3 out, led after next, hard pressed last, headed flat, kept on

- Form 86-1211
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in 4th, headway 3 out, led next, soon headed, kept on same pace approaching last

- Form 7001-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey D A Jacob
led, mistake 5th, headed 2 out, soon weakened

Total Submission
167- Form F3/01-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey W Marston
tracked leader, ridden 3 out, lost place next, soon weakened

Ceepeegee (IRE)
203- Form 84742-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
tracked leading pair, mistake 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
A chance is taken on FLAMING GORGE. Nick Williams has done well here in the past and this gelding impressed when last seen in April on his first start for the yard. He sauntered home at Chepstow in desperate going where he ran his rivals into the ground and if granted an easy lead today might take some pegging back. There's No Panic will be popular given connections but he was well-placed this summer and he has to improve, whilst Queiros Bleu represents an in-form trainer. He has more experience than most in the race and an official rating of 134, albeit flattering, makes him a major player. Fellow Irish raider Final Day should appreciate the greater test of stamina than at Galway in July, but along with the progressive former point-to-pointer Total Submission is reluctantly taken on.
Formwatch
Final Day (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Raced in moderate 3rd, jumped slightly left, slight mistake 3 out, ridden approaching next where closing and not fluent, chased winner into straight, no impression and drifted left run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Ballyadam Brook (11-12) at Galway 2m nh nov hdl gd in Jul.
Queiros Bleu (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 4 out, soon beaten, 10th of 13, 41l behind One Cool Tornado (11-7) at Listowel 2m 4f nh nov hdl gd in Sep.
There's No Panic (IRE) 4-11fav (11-7) Held up in touch, smooth headway to 2nd before 4 out, led 3 out, driven and idled before 2 out, in command between last 2, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug beating Kings Riches (10-9) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Flaming Gorge (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Made all, stayed on strongly from 2 out, won at Chepstow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) hvy in Apr beating It's Brown (11-0) by 13l, 7 ran.
Total Submission 3-1fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led after 4 out, kept on well from last, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in May beating Blue Monster (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Ceepeegee (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Set slow pace until before 2nd, remained close up, led approaching 2 out, soon headed, 1 length down and ridden when mistake last, no impression, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Pendower (11-1) at Newbury 2m 5f mdn hdl (3) sft in Mar.