Racecards
13:10 Cheltenham
Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase (grade 2) (Class 1)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £35,000 added
- Form 3F3111
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
tracked winner, 3 lengths down when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
- Form B484-11
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Christian Williams
held up in 3rd, hampered 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 12141-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
made all, jumped well, left clear 3 out, not extended
- Form 5/688-2F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in last, niggled along 5th, left chasing winner 3 out, no impression
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
TATANIANO will be a warm order for this and should take all the beating with Fosters Cross, Five Dream and Pigeon Island looking up against it. Paul Nicholls has had a few hotpots turned over in this race over the years and the Cheltenham fences are never easy for a novice to jump but big things are expected from Tataniano and he didn't disappoint on his chase bow last month. This will provide a sterner test of his credentials and Fosters Cross is no pushover. He beat Friday's Grade 2 winner, Loosen The Load, over hurdles at the start of October before impressing on his chase debut at Galway. The runner-up has gone on to win a fair race at Bangor from another Ditcheat inmate to give the form a boost and Fosters Cross should be able to pose Tataniano a question. Five Dream was short of the best over hurdles and it could turn out to be the same over fences but he's pretty smart and has a perfect record over the larger obstacles. He will, however, need to improve on the form that he showed at Aintree and is the clear second string to the Nicholls' bow. Pigeon Island proved better suited by the way that the race was being run last time than he had on debut at Perth but was caught out by the tricky second last when still in contention. He lacks the class of previous winners of this race but the yard has sprung the odd surprise in the past at this track. He's likely to start at a prohibitive price but connections will not be the only disappointed party if Tataniano fails to win.
Formwatch
Fosters Cross (IRE) 10-3 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 4th, slight mistake 2nd, improved to 2nd before 4 out, led entering straight, ridden and pressed final furlong, kept on well under pressure, won at Galway 2m 1f nov chs hvy in Oct beating Schelm (11-1) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Five Dream (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, left disputing lead 6th, led narrowly 3 out, ridden approaching last, driven out, won at Aintree 2m noc chs (3) gs in Oct beating Folk Tune (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 4 ran.
Tataniano (FR) 1-5fav (11-2) Tracked leader 2nd, led 5th, easily drew clear from 3 out, won at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (3) gd in Oct beating Award Winner (11-2) by 32l, 5 ran.
Pigeon Island 15-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden after 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, joined for that position when fell 2 out, in a race won by Snap Tie (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m noc chs (2) gf in Oct, 5 ran.