Racecards
14:30 Cheltenham
Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase (Grade 3 Handicap) (Class 1)
- 18 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £160,000 added
- Winner: £91,120
- 2nd: £34,192
- 3rd: £17,120
- 4th: £8,528
- Form 2111F2-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 156
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up in mid-division, headway before 6th, not fluent, bumped and lost place 3 out, rallied before last, edged left and stayed on flat
- Form 11540-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 156
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey R P McLernon
held up in rear, headway before 9th, lost place 12th, closed when bumped 3 out, led last, headed close home
- Form 60903-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey D A Jacob
mid-division, in rear when not fluent 8th, headway 4 out, jumped left 2 out and last, no extra flat
- Form U2679-7
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
in touch, challenged 9th, every chance 3 out, no extra flat
- Form 311PB/1-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
tracked leaders, lost place 10th, went wrong and pulled up after 4 out
- Form P8F26B-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up towards rear, headway when not fluent 9th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
- Form 8-R2831
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer C Byrnes
- Jockey D N Russell
held up in rear, headway 12th, close up when not fluent last, no extra final 100 yards
- Form 12F08-0
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey T J O'Brien
mistakes 8th and 9th, always behind
- Form 31463-5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey J M Maguire
mid-division, lost place 5th, well beaten before 2 out, pulled up last
- Form 11151-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, hit next, not fluent 7th, mistake 9th, headway after 2 out, stayed on well flat, nearest finish
- Form 21211-2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer Jamie Snowden
- Jockey Brendan Powell
led 1st until 3rd, prominent, led 9th, headed last, stayed on, held by leaders towards finish
- Form 21532-7
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway approaching 2 out, ran on flat, led close home
- Form 12167-2
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders on inside, no extra and not much room 2 out
- Form 2/11217-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey N D Fehily
tracked leaders, hit 4th, not much room and lost place 2 out
- Form 2260-25
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 139
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, mistake 6th, headway 12th, jumped left and no extra 2 out
- Form 0B20-19
- Age 11
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer T Gibney
- Jockey M A Enright
jumped right, led until 1st, led 3rd unti 9th, lost place 12th, weakened before 3 out, soon pulled up
- Form 251P-63
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
in touch, close 3rd when stumbled 2 out, no extra when mistake last
- Form 1F0-U44
- Age 8
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
mid-division, not fluent 11th, well beaten before 2 out
- Form 49520-5
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey Non Runner
Nonrunner
Verdict
Present View became the flagship horse that the Jamie Snowden team had been seeking when obliging in an ultra-competitive handicap at this year's Festival and has been the subject of consistently strong support to follow up here. He's been a revelation since going chasing and a 7lb rise for that win last March looks acceptable. He ran really well on his comeback over hurdles at the Open meeting here just under a month ago and is highly respected. There are plenty of potent dangers though, such as last year's winner Johns Spirit, who gives the impression he could well progress through the ranks in the manner of a number of Jonjo O'Neill inmates of recent times. He was most impressive in scoring over course and distance on his seasonal reappearance and seems sure to be in the shake-up. However, he is 17lb higher than when scoring last year and BUYWISE is the preference. A massive improver last season, he had the ideal preparation when scoring cosily in hurdles company from a useful sort, remains very much on the upgrade and looks to have been laid out for this. Oscar Whisky and Ericht provide Nicky Henderson with a decent hand too, with Attaglance, Persian Snow and Irish raider Shanpallas all considered in a cracking renewal.
Formwatch
Oscar Whisky (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Held up in touch and in rear, jumped right 12th, headway after 3 out, chased winner before last, stayed on well towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Uxizandre (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 5-1fav (11-7) Held up in rear, headway on outside after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, led flat, pushed out, readily, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct beating Persian Snow (10-11) by 1l, 11 ran.
Edgardo Sol (FR) 9-1 (10-10) Held up, kept jumping slightly left and hitting brush uprights of fence, stumbled 4th, headway 3 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 12l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-8) at Aintree 2m 4f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Champion Court (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Led, jumped right, headed before 2 out, weakened flat, 7th of 11, 20l behind Johns Spirit (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
Kapga De Cerisy (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Prominent, led 4th, mistake 10th, hit 3 out, driven clear from last, eased towards finish, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Nov '13 beating Ackertac (11-12) by 12l, 9 ran.
Easter Meteor 25-1 (10-10) Towards rear, hampered 5th, struggling 9th, brought down 4 out, in a race won by Savello (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 23 ran.
Shanpallas (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Mid-division, progress into 3rd before straight, challenged entering straight, ridden in 2nd 2 out, stayed on to challenge last, led run-in and kept on well closing stages, won at Limerick 3m hcap ch gd in Oct beating Tom Horn (10-12) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Cantlow (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, reached mid-division 10th, pushed along and struggling towards rear after 14th, no chance after, 10th of 15, 31l behind What A Warrior (10-6) at Ascot 3m Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd.
Eastlake (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway after 6 out, pushed along and hampered 4 out, no impression, 5th of 12, 19l behind Grey Gold (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) sft in Oct.
Buywise (IRE) 10-11fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4th, led approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, shaken up flat, stayed on, won at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Area Fifty One (11-5) by 3l, 6 ran.
Present View 11-4 (10-12) Held up in last pair in touch, headway on outside after 4 out, led after next, 1 length clear when mistake last, soon ridden and hard pressed, headed narrowly towards finish, 2nd of 6, hd behind Vicente (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Caid Du Berlais (FR) 10-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, moderate 6th halfway, slight mistake 6 out, closer before 2 out, ridden last, no impression entering straight, kept one pace, 7th of 22, 32l behind Road To Riches (10-11) at Galway 2m 6f hcap ch gd in Jul.
Persian Snow (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, mistake 4th, headway 9th, led before 2 out, driven and headed flat, stayed on, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Johns Spirit (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
Indian Castle (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway on inside 15th, tracking leaders 4 out, ridden before 2 out, disputing 3rd and beaten when blundered badly last, weakened flat, 7th of 23, 36l behind Spring Heeled (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f amat hcap ch (2) gd in Mar.
Cedre Bleu (FR) 5-1 (11-9) Led from 3rd, jumped slow 9 out and 8 out, headed 7 out, led before 5 out, headed before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 21l behind Shadows Lengthen (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f Listed hcap ch (1) gd in Oct.
Orpheus Valley (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Close up early, tracked leaders, no extra from before 5 out, tailed off,, 9th of 14, well behind Fosters Cross (11-6) at Galway 2m 1f hcp chs in Aug.
Ericht (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division on outside, headway approaching 8th, went 3rd after last, stayed on, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Johns Spirit (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
King Massini (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace flat, 4th of 11, 7l behind Commitment (11-10) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Oct.
Attaglance 11-2fav (11-4) In touch on outside, driven to chase leaders 3 out, soon one pace, ridden and kept on flat, never on terms, 5th of 12, 6l behind Mart Lane (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.