Racecards
15:40 Cheltenham
Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 21 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 127y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £82,500 added
- Winner: £46,423
- 2nd: £17,490
- 3rd: £8,753
- 4th: £4,372
- Form 0P/113-6
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Luca Morgan
chased leaders, driven after 3 out, 2nd from 2 out, unable to trouble winner and lost 2nd flat, just held onto 3rd
- Form 2/31-134
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey D A Jacob
mid-division, not fluent and outpaced 4 out, struggling next, stayed on flat, unable to get on terms
- Form 1/5P3-66
- Age 9
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey J J Burke
always in rear
- Form 63-12FF
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
chased leaders on outside when mistake 1st, soon mid-division, mistake 13th, closed 3 out, jumped left 2 out and last, held but kept on
- Form 219/2-1P
- Age 11
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer A M Hales
- Jockey Kielan Woods
held up in rear, headway on inside approaching 2 out, went 6th flat, stayed on, not trouble leaders
- Form 114-44U
- Age 10
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
mid-division, closed from 12th, 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, beaten last, weakened flat
- Form 111-534
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer Mrs D Foster
- Jockey J W Kennedy
chased leaders, driven after 3 out, went 3rd last, stayed on and went 2nd flat, not able to trouble winner
- Form 42-5F33
- Age 10
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 145
held up rear of mid-division, headway 2 out, no impression and weakened last
- Form 81-F125
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey D Meyler
rear of mid-division, not fluent 7th, blundered 12th, hit next and 4 out, never got on terms, well beaten when fell last
- Form 122163
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey T J O'Brien
chased leaders, hit 11th, ridden after 3 out, kept on flat, closing on 3rd close home
- Form 413751
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey M P Walsh
held up rear of mid-division, not fluent 7th, bumped 9th, some headway on outside approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 2/3020-4
- Age 11
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
prominent, outpaced after 3 out, weakened 2 out, mistake last
- Form 114131
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer E Mullins
- Jockey J C Gainford
led until 2nd, raced very handily after and travelled strongly, led before 2 out, stayed on well, ridden out
- Form 31P-234
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Jamie Snowden
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
prominent, led 2nd, not fluent 10th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, 6th and weakening last
Paddy's Poem
15- Form 1/12-231
- Age 10
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey James Davies
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened from 2 out, mistake last
- Form 6256-13
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer A J Honeyball
- Jockey R P McLernon
mid-division on inside, closed after 3 out, hit 2 out, no impression after
- Form 8-9P584
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
always towards rear
- Form 32/4563
- Age 10
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Tom Cannon
mid-division, some headway from 3 out but never threatened, weakened approaching last
- Form 2P-011P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey G Sheehan
in touch in mid-division, lost place after 4th, behind 9th, last when not fluent 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 1/22PP-1
- Age 9
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up in rear, struggling 3 out
- Form U-76212
- Age 10
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey David Noonan
held up rear of mid-division, headway when not fluent 3 out, no impression 2 out, weakened last
- Form 6-33173
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Charlie Deutsch
NonRunner
- Form 6-34315
- Age 7
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
The diminutive Top Notch may struggle under his big weight and Happy Diva hasn’t looked in the same form as when second 12 months ago, though is 4lb lower and likes it here. COOLE CODY won the Paddy Power on the Old Course here in November and led until the last when trying to follow up in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup in December. He then had a break before having little chance at the weights in a novices’ Grade 2 at Kempton and that run should have put Evan Williams’ front-runner spot-on for this. Last year’s third and fourth, Mister Whitaker and Oldgrangewood, have been lightly campaigned this season and could have each-way claims again with Caribean Boy another possibility for the home team. The Shunter has had a terrific campaign over hurdles and fences. He has several options this week but Emmet Mullins has chosen this race for his in-form eight-year-old and he should be thereabouts. Farclas boasts very strong handicap form in Ireland this season and is another for the shortlist while A Wave Of The Sea beat The Shunter when successful over a shorter trip at Leopardstown last month. Kiltealy Briggs didn’t stay 3m at Sandown last time and may be the pick of the remainder ahead of Smarty Wild, though he may lack the experience for a race like this.
Formwatch
Top Notch (FR) 8-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, gradually dropped back through field from 2nd, niggled along after 6th, not fluent next, tried to close before 2 out but no impression and well beaten when jumped left last, 6th of 8, 29 1/4l behind Mister Fisher (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Caribean Boy (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, outpaced in 4th before next, 4th of 7, 5 1/2l behind Moonlighter (10-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Mister Whitaker (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway into midfield 11th, not fluent 13th and ridden, stayed on under pressure before 2 out, kept on without troubling leaders from last, 6th of 12, 8 1/2l behind Two For Gold (11-6) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Assemble 66-1 (11-12) Held up, closer behind leaders when fell 5th, at Leopardstown 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Huntsman Son (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) In rear, some slow jumps, headway 13th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Oldgrangewood 6-1 (11-3) Prominent, lost place and ridden after 12th, blundered and unseated rider 3 out, at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Farclas (FR) 4-1fav (10-11) Mid-division, closer and chased leaders 6 out, mistake 2 out, ridden to challenge before last, dsputed last, narrow lead briefly run-in, headed last 100 yards, kept on same pace, 4th of 22, 3 1/2l behind Off You Go (10-8) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp sft in Feb.
Happy Diva (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Held up, closed 8th, shaken up after 3 out, ridden and no impression on front pair before last, no extra, 3rd of 5, 19 1/2l behind Annie Mc (11-4) at Warwick 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Feb.
Fils D'oudairies (FR) 40-1 (11-12) Held up early, improved to chase leader before 5th, dropped to 4th 4 out, slight mistake 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, no extra before last, 5th of 8, dist behind Monkfish (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Coole Cody (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leading pair on inside, went 2nd 3rd until before 5th, 2nd again 11th, led 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, headed and outpaced by winner after 3 out, soon no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 4, 15 3/4l behind Tamaroc Du Mathan (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gd in Feb.
A Wave Of The Sea (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Mid-division, jumped left 1st, 7th 3 out and headway next, pushed along early straight, ridden to lead last and 3 lengths clear over 100 yards out, held on closing stages, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp sft in Feb beating Top Moon (10-6) by nk, 20 ran.
Two Taffs (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, jumped left from 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 4th of 7, 5 3/4l behind Theo (11-6) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
The Shunter (IRE) 5-2fav (10-11) Mid-division, closer after the 4th, headway to press leader after 3 out, ridden and disputed lead 2 out, every chance last, kept on gamely run-in and just held on, won at Kelso 2m hcp (2) gs in Mar beating Night Edition (10-5) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Raced wide, held up tracking leaders in 5th, closer in 4th at 9th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 7, 17 1/4l behind Deise Aba (11-7) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Paddy's Poem 15-2 (11-12) Chased leader until before 5th, chased leaders, went 2nd again home turn, led 3 out, stayed on strongly, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Saint De Reve (11-2) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Sully D'Oc Aa (FR) 7-2fav (10-6) Chased leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, sprawled on landing and headed last, kept on flat, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Clondaw Castle (11-8) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Champagne Court (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 5th, led and not fluent 13th, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Espoir De Teillee (11-3) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
The Unit (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, blundered 1st, headway 4 out, went 2nd briefly flat, no impression on winner, kept on, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Espoir De Teillee (11-3) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Maypole Class (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Mid-division, not fluent 6th, struggling before not fluent 9th, soon well behind, pulled up before 4 out, at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Dead Right 11-1 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, headway 3 out, switched left before 2 out, went 2nd last, led flat, stayed on, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Before Midnight (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Eamon An Cnoic (IRE) 5-6fav (10-11) Led, edged right 2nd, ridden and headed before not fluent last, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Grumpy Charley (11-12) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Laskalin (FR) (11-4) 3rd of 7, 1l behind Autorisation (11-2) at Pau 2m 7f hvy in Feb.
Smarty Wild 7-2jfav (10-8) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway on outside 9th, awkward 10th, ridden after 4 out, kept on one pace from 3 out, 5th of 12, 6 1/2l behind Two For Gold (11-6) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.