Racecards
16:05 Cheltenham
Cheltenham Business Club Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £15,000 added
- Form P0-P690
- Age 13
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey T Scudamore
always towards rear
- Form 2F3633
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey F King
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon ridden, one pace after 2 out
- Form 516304
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey S Thomas
tracked leaders, lost place 8th, headway 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from next
- Form 070203
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next
- Form 3394FP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey D R Dennis
in touch until 8th, soon behind, tailed off
- Form 07-0015
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey A P McCoy
mid-division, ridden after 9th, stayed on after 2 out, went 3rd flat
- Form 327P67
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
reminders, led until approaching 3 out, weakened quickly approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
- Form 2225-11
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey D Elsworth
mid-division, headway after 3 out, went 3rd and ridden 2 out, held when mistake last
- Form 22/5162
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey S Durack
mid-division, headway and blundered 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 1-18396
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey R McGrath
tracked leaders, joined leader 6th, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, kept on, held from last
- Form 43F-46P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey A O'keeffe
held up behind, ridden after 3 out, headway 2 out, challenged for 3rd last, no extra
- Form 6-0700U
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
tailed off from 6th
- Form P-0P534
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer S T Lewis
- Jockey L Treadwell
always prominent, led approaching 3 out, stayed on gamely from last, ridden out
In depth
Verdict
The handicapper looks to have taken a chance with Theatre Dance and he gets our vote but Hopkins stands out like a sore thumb in this field, According To Pete and Rimsky are respected and Poker De Sivola looks interesting. The selection is rated just 123 despite running the 130 rated Very Cool to a neck over an extended 3 miles at Newbury last time. That was just his third run over hurdles and his first at the trip and he appeared to need every yard of it. Prior to that, he had been asked to contest a hot race at Huntingdon but he never seemed at ease on the track whilst his debut defeat of Supreme Ruler also points to him being handily treated. Hopkins has gone up by 10lbs for winning a competitive series final at Haydock but there should be more to come from this lightly raced individual on his first attempt at this trip and he's feared. Rimsky was second in this race from his current mark in 2006 and could go well as should According To Pete who seems almost assured of being in the mix but we're not sure that he's well enough handicapped to win. David Johnson's colours have been carried to victory three times in this race in eight years which brings us to Poker De Sivola. He was out the back and being scrubbed along early at Ascot last time but found plenty under pressure to finish sixth. He was made favourite on his only previous attempt at 3 miles and has always promised to be suited by this trip. He merits close consideration but Theatre Dance looks a safer option.
Formwatch
Redemption 250-1 (11-10) Always behind, tailed off, 15th of 17, well behind Inglis Drever (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
According To Pete 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway approaching 10th, stayed on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 22, 9l behind Forest Pennant (10-13) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd.
Rimsky (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Not always fluent, towards rear, ridden after 13th, stayed on from 3 out, never troubled leaders, 4th of 14, 17l behind Caribou (11-4) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Mar.
Chiaro (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, lost 2nd last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Pistol Desbois (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Mith Hill 9-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, reminders 3rd, jumped slowly 6th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Leading Attraction (10-9) at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Arrayou (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, driven approaching 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next, no impression, 5th of 11, 6l behind Star Beat (9-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Tora Bora (GER) 40-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakening when headed last, 7th of 14, 16l behind Pocket Aces (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Hopkins (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Always prominent, raced keenly, led 9th, headed 4 out, 4 lengths down when left clear 2 out, driven out, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar beating Blackpool Billy (10-13) by 5l, 14 ran.
Theatre Dance (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway and in touch 7th, stayed on to have every chance flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Very Cool (11-9) at Newbury 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Poker De Sivola (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, under pressure and lost place before 7th, headway before last, never dangerous, 6th of 18, 24l behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Downing Street (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Sea Wall (11-5) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Sept, 10 ran.
Jockser (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Led until mistake and unseated rider in race won by Bengal Bullet (9-12) at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd, 6 ran.
Jug Of Punch (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 4 out, stayed on again from 2 out, not reach leaders, 4th of 16, 5l behind High Jack (11-8) at Towcester 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.