Racecards
14:00 Cheltenham
Messier-Bugatti-Dowty Novices' Hurdle (Class 2)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £12,000 added
- Winner: £7,507
- 2nd: £2,218
- 3rd: £1,109
- 4th: £554
- Form 054117
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
- Form 211-421
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D A Jacob
pressed leader, led approaching 2 out, ridden 2 1/2 lengths clear when hit last, soon edged right, headed towards finish
- Form 3-2F21
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey D Elsworth
led into start, held up in last, not fluent 1st, mistakes 3 out and 2 out, headway under pressure to take 2nd last, stayed on well to lead towards finish
- Form 1-12100
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
set steady pace, headed approaching 2 out, no extra towards finish
- Form 21-2311
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, soon edged left, tailed off
- Form 7F-10
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up in touch towards rear, not fluent 4th, jumped slowly next, headway approaching 7th, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, 5th and weakening last
Regal Flow
31- Form 543
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Keevil
- Jockey James Best
tracked leaders, not always fluent, lost place before 3 out, tailed off
- Form 27-36P1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Mr H Derham
Nonrunner
Verdict
Paul Nicholls has saddled the winner of this three times in the last 10 years and there doesn't look to be much to choose between his two entries this year. BOLD CHIEF, successful on good ground at Warwick in February, probably has a little more scope than Wincanton scorer Polisky, however, and gets the vote to follow up here. Medinas looks a danger as he's on a hat-trick after wins at Hereford and Fontwell, though is upped in grade today. Captain Sunshine finally came good at Kempton last month but the second has let the form down since, while Big Easy, Jimbill and Master Of The Game all need to bounce back from modest efforts last time. Regal Flow is still a maiden and likely to remain so after this.
Formwatch
Big Easy (GER) 9-2 (11-0) Held up, some headway 2 out, never a factor, 7th of 16, 16l behind Bear's Affair (10-13) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Mar.
Bold Chief (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 6th, ridden before last, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gd in Feb beating Thomas Crapper (11-2) by 7l, 14 ran.
Captain Sunshine 4-9fav (11-1) Led into start, keen held up, headway to track leaders after 2nd, went 2nd 2 out, shaken up to lead approaching last, ridden and ran on, won at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Hindon Road (11-1) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Jimbill (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Tracked leader to 4 out, lost place 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 11th of 19, 15l behind Cinders And Ashes (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Medinas (FR) 11-8 (11-7) Close up on inside, headway to 3rd approaching 4 out, went 2nd approaching next, led approaching 2 out, ridden and edged right flat, soon asserted, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Kuilsriver (11-1) by 3l, 8 ran.
Master Of The Game (IRE) 11-4fav (11-2) Mid-division when not fluent 1st, mistake 5th, headway on outside 7th, went 2nd after 2 out until approaching last, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 26l behind Barbatos (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Regal Flow 100-1 (10-7) Behind, headway 3 out, chased leaders 3 out, soon ridden, hampered and left in 3rd at last, stayed on strongly close home, 3rd of 15, 2 3/4l behind Swing Bowler (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Polisky (FR) 1-4fav (11-1) Tracked leader, led 6th, not fluent 6th, drew clear 3 out, very easily, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Mar beating Imperial Vic (10-8) by 16l, 4 ran.