Racecards
14:05 Cheltenham
Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Listed) (Class 1)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Winner: £11,888
- 2nd: £4,452
- 3rd: £2,224
- 4th: £1,110
- Form 113123
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer D E Cantillon
- Jockey Conor Shoemark
made all, clear after 2nd until before 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on well, very game
- Form 0-1110P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey R M Power
held up towards rear, took keen hold, mistake 2nd, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
- Form 11257F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey T E Whelan
in touch in mid-division, lost place before 5th, well behind approaching 2 out, tailed off
- Form 121211
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D C Costello
held up in touch, headway when not fluent 5th, outpaced after 3 out, no impression after, well beaten before last
- Form 8-11411
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey N D Fehily
tracked winner until after 3 out, ridden and lost place before next, soon weakened
- Form 113155
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer T E Hyde
- Jockey B J Geraghty
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, went 2nd after 2 out, stayed on under pressure, not able to trouble winner
- Form 130-162
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, 4th and tracking leaders 2 out, weakened approaching last
Norfolk Sky
23- Form 861
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer B Barr
- Jockey Dave Crosse
held up towards rear, headway on outside 4th, chased winner after 3 out until after 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 5-12242
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
held up in rear, not much room when mistake 2nd, hampered on bend after 5th, headway 2 out, went 3rd before last, one pace and no impression
- Form 991354
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
Nonrunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
As I Am beat The Pirate's Queen by nine lengths in this grade at Newbury in November when Free Thinking was a well-beaten last of six. Don Cantillon's mare is 5lb worse off now and hasn't raced since the end of December but should still confirm the form. Cloudante has won three of her four starts under Rules but is upped in class here while Run Runctions Run's victory in a valuable event at Newbury came over an extra half-mile and she only had a short-head to spare over The Pirate's Queen, who is 5lb better off. Emily Gray was well beaten in a Grade 3 last time and we're giving another chance to the less-exposed FLEMENTIME. She travelled strongly for a long way at Exeter last time but a big weight found her out in the end. The drop in distance might suit on this stiff course.
Formwatch
As I Am (IRE) Evensfav (11-7) Jumped left, kept slight advantage when joined after 3 out, hung right and headed before 2 out, ridden and headed before last, dropped to 3rd and blundered last, weakened flat, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Down Ace (11-2) at Taunton 2m 1f (1) hvy in Dec.
Gambling Girl (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) In rear, no extra and dropped behind approaching 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by The Tullow Tank (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Roja Dove (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Led to 4th, tracked leader, driven after 4 out, kept on and every chance 2 out, 3rd and one pace when fell last, in a race won by Pass The Time (11-12) at Doncaster 2m mares hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Feb, 9 ran.
Run Ructions Run (IRE) 11-2fav (10-7) Took keen hold in touch, hit 4 out, chased leaders next, went 2nd between last 2, upsides last, wandered under pressure run-in, stayed on to lead close home, just held on, won at Newbury 2m 5f mares nov hcp hdl Listed (1) gs in Mar beating The Pirate's Queen (10-9) by shd, 13 ran.
Cloudante (IRE) 1-7fav (11-6) Made all, joined 3 out, driven clear next, easily, won at Catterick 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Miss Mohawk (11-0) by 6l, 9 ran.
Emily Gray (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Soon tracked leaders, closer in 2nd before straight, dropped to 5th and no impression from before last, kept on one pace, 5th of 8, 8l behind Katie T (10-12) at Limerick 2m mrs nov hdl G3 (1) hvy in Mar.
Free Thinking 4-5fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, led when mistake 3 out, headed narrowly after next, every chance last, soon ridden, not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Bull And Bush (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f mares NH nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Norfolk Sky 5-1 (11-0) Led from 1st, soon headed, led again 2nd, clear from 4 out, clear when blundered last, kept on well, won at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Bow Quest (11-0) by 17l, 12 ran.
The Pirate's Queen (IRE) 13-2 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, led 2 out, joined last, soon driven, headed close home, rallied, just failed, 2nd of 13, shd behind Run Ructions Run (10-7) at Newbury 2m 5f mares nov hcp hdl Listed (1) gs in Mar.
Flementime (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Led and disputed, narrowly headed before 3rd, led again next, clear after 3 out, 3 lengths ahead but tiring last, no extra and headed final 120 yards, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Midnight Belle (11-6) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) sft in Feb.
Molly's A Diva 16-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, went modest 4th and went right last, 4th of 13, 11l behind Run Ructions Run (10-7) at Newbury 2m 5f mares nov hcp hdl Listed (1) gs in Mar.