Racecards
13:05 Cheltenham
Opus Energy Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Good-Good to Soft in places; Cross country: Good.
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Winner: £11,992
- 2nd: £3,746
- 3rd: £1,872
- 4th: £936
- Form 2P/191F-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Mr William Biddick
held up in touch, dropped towards rear 8th, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, soon no impression, weakened next
- Form 1/332P-5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Mr P W Mullins
held up behind in touch, close up when mistake 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on same pace under pressure from next, never on terms
- Form 63P27P-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer K C Bailey
- Jockey Harry Bannister
with leader, led 6th, headed briefly 9th, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and headed flat, one pace towards finish
- Form 4F1111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Mr S Clements
prominent on outside, led briefly 9th, mistake next, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, weakened before last
- Form 517-641
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Jamie Bargary
led narrowly to 6th, remained in touch, driven approaching 3 out, chased leading pair before next, soon ridden, kept on when hard pressed for 3rd from last, no impression
- Form 65P0-5F
- Age 10
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Conor Smith
tracked leaders, lost place 14th, soon behind, tailed off 3 out
- Form 23465-1
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey C Gethings
prominent on inside, ridden approaching 3 out, lost place before next, soon weakened
- Form 292-713
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey Mr J J Codd
held up in rear, headway on inside approaching 3 out, stayed on to dispute 3rd approaching last, no impression
- Form 83139-4
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey Mr M Legg
tracked leaders, went 2nd going well 3 out, soon challenged, ridden to lead flat, stayed on well towards finish
- Form 0/P593-5
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
tracked leaders, outpaced on outside after 3 out, weakened from next
Verdict
There has been no stopping Standing Ovation lately and a five-timer certainly isn't out of the question as he appeared to beat Alfie Spinner with plenty in hand in a Listed handicap at Wincanton last week. But the drop in distance may not be ideal on faster going and he also has a penalty to contend with. Ruben Cotter faces a stiff task under top weight on his reappearance but Mr Moss will strip fitter for a run over hurdles at Kempton and Hunters Lodge is only 3lb higher than when successful over track and trip four weeks ago but the fourth and fifth, Handy Andy and Fredo, both have a chance of reversing that form while Imperial Circus is heading in the right direction judged on his win at Ludlow. Jamie Codd rides VICTRIX GALE for Tony Martin and his seven-year-old can take advantage of a lowly chase mark having been in good form over hurdles over the summer.
Formwatch
Ruben Cotter (IRE) 4-9fav (11-7) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, 6th or 9th, fell 11th, in a race won by Danimix (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov chs (3) gs in Mar, 4 ran.
Mr Moss (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leader until before 2nd, chased leading pair until pushed along before 2 out, still well there 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 12, 9l behind Warden Hill (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Charingworth (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Never travelled or jumped with any fluency in rear, mistake 3rd, ridden after 7th, struggling when blundered 10th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Mcmurrough (11-0) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Mar, 7 ran.
Standing Ovation (IRE) 5-2fav (10-2) Always prominent, led 4 out (usual 5 out), drew clear from 2 out (usual 3 out), stayed on well, won at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs beating Alfie Spinner (10-8) by 5l, 13 ran.
Hunters Lodge (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden 13th, lost place 15th, modest 8th 3 out, stayed on well from last, led close home, won at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct beating Five Star Wilsham (10-11) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Major Malarkey (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 13th, in rear when fell next, in a race won by Posh Bird (10-0) at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in May, 13 ran.
Imperial Circus (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 11th, pushed along before 4 out, led 3 out, hit next, clear after last, idled and hung left flat, driven out, won at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct beating Rockiteer (11-3) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Victrix Gale (IRE) 3-1fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, ridden in 11th before straight, no impression in 8th 2 out, ran on from last to 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 17, 6l behind Blackwell Synergy (11-4) at Listowel 3m hcp hdl sft in Sep.
Handy Andy (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, mistake 5th, not fluent 9th, headway before 12th, challenged 4 out, left in lead next, headed before 2 out, 1 length down when left clear last, weakened final 100 yards, headed and lost 3 places close home, 4th of 15, 2 1/4l behind Hunters Lodge (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Fredo (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, led before 2 out, soon headed, 3 lengths 3rd when bad mistake and left 2nd last, lost 3 places towards finish, 5th of 15, 3l behind Hunters Lodge (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.