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14:45 Cheltenham

15 Times Champion Trainer Tiger Developments Novices' Chase (Class 3)

  • 6 Runners
  • Distance: 2m
  • Going: Good
  • Surface: Turf
  • £12,500 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 3.10s
  • Off Time: 14:47:47
  • 6 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Backstage (FR)

6/1

    2
    Silk -

    Carthys Cross (IRE)

    20/1

      1
      Silk - Dark Green, Yellow cross belts, diabolo on sleeves

      Pirate Flagship (FR)

      10 t DC
      10/11
      • Form 12401-1
      • Age 7
      • Weight 11-10

      chased winner to 4th, lost place next, well behind when driven along and no impression before 4 out

      2
      Silk - Dark Green, Light Green sleeves and cap

      Carthys Cross (IRE)

      142 BFD
      20/1
      • Form 323P-24
      • Age 7
      • Weight 11-4
      • Official Rating 117

      prominent, chased winner before 3 out, no impression next, weakened flat, just held on for 2nd

      3
      Silk - Orange, Red seams, Orange cap, Red stars

      Livingonaknifedge (IRE)

      192 D
      18/1
      • Form 612217-
      • Age 7
      • Weight 11-4

      prominent, chased winner 4th to before 3 out, disputing 3rd when blundered 2 out, kept on under pressure flat

      4
      Silk - ROYAL BLUE, EMERALD GREEN sleeves, WHITE cap, EMERALD GREEN spots

      Marcel (FR)

      221 CDD
      2/1
      • Form 933260-
      • Age 6
      • Weight 11-4
      • Official Rating 128

      mistake 2nd, chased leaders, mistake 7th, disputing 3rd when blundered and fell 2 out

      5
      Silk - Yellow and Purple diabolo, Yellow cap, Purple star

      Predicament

      23 D
      100/1
      • Form F82355
      • Age 7
      • Weight 11-4
      • Official Rating 101

      mistake 2nd, always behind, lost touch 5th, well tailed off when blundered 3 out

      6
      Silk - Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap

      Backstage (FR)

      105
      6/1
      • Form 003-643
      • Age 4
      • Weight 10-5
      • Official Rating 113

      made all, hit 3 out, in command next, soon clear, eased flat

      In depth

      Verdict

      Pirate Flagship gets the vote here ahead of Carthys Cross and Marcel. A useful hurdler, rated 126 at best, Pirate Flagship made a very pleasing chasing debut when scoring at Kempton and that, really, makes him the one to beat today. A prolific winning hurdler, Marcel was, overall, disappointing last season but, with his stable having won this twice in the last five years, he is not ruled out of a good run. Having obtained a rating of nearly 120 in his chasing efforts to date, Carthys Cross is entitled to respect, while French import Backstage gets the allowances and might go well with that help, and Livingonaknifeedge showed promise over hurdles, but this is a tough ask first time up over fences. All of which returns us to the selection, Pirate Flagship.

      Formwatch

      Pirate Flagship (FR) 4-5fav (11-6) Tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, pecked 6th, led 8th, ridden after 3 out, kept on, driven out, won at Kempton 2m beg chs (3) gd beating Enhancer (11-6) by 1l, 5 ran.

      Carthys Cross (IRE) 2-1jt-fav (10-12) In touch, chased winner 12th, ridden, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 8, 16l behind Arrayou (10-10) at Southwell 2m 5f beg chs (4) gd in Jun.

      Livingonaknifedge (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 16, 27l behind Cloudy Lane (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.

      Marcel (FR) 33-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway and mistake 5th, ridden after 10th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 13th of 23, 29l behind Greenhope (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.

      Predicament 16-1 (11-7) Always behind, 5th of 10, 35l behind Tora Bora (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs.

      Backstage (FR) (10-3) Chased leaders, stayed on, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Safen (10-4) at Clairefontaine 2m 2f chs in Jul.