Skip to content

Racecards

17:05 Cheltenham

Ian Williams Owners Novices' Chase (Class 2)

  • 8 Runners
  • Distance: 3m 110y
  • Going: Good to Soft
  • Surface: Turf
  • £20,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 6m 36.70s
  • Off Time: 17:07:19
  • 8 Ran
1
Silk -
1/2

    2
    Silk -
    4/1

      1
      Silk - Pink, Light Blue seams and sleeves, Grey cap

      Openide

      24 C
      4/1
      • Form 60-1211
      • Age 5
      • Weight 11-6

      led until after 1st, always close up after, driven along 4 out, slightly bumped 3 out, chased winner soon after 2 out, no impression when jump left last

      2
      Silk - White, Mauve stars
      • Form 13232P
      • Age 9
      • Weight 11-5
      • Official Rating 120

      held up, headway 9th, hampered 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out

      3
      Silk - MAROON and LIGHT BLUE diabolo, LIGHT BLUE sleeves, quartered cap

      Ballyfitz

      348 D
      9/1
      • Form F44/11-
      • Age 6
      • Weight 11-0

      chased leaders, hit 6th and lost place, badly hampered 9th, blundered 14th, 5th and no impression when blundered and unseated rider 4 out

      4
      Silk - Yellow, black chevrons, striped cap
      • Form F231-34
      • Age 9
      • Weight 11-0

      in touch, mistakes 2nd and 9th, lost touch from next, tailed off when pulled up before 14th

      5
      Silk - Black, Grey seams, armlets and cap
      14/1
      • Form 2/341-21
      • Age 6
      • Weight 11-0

      prominent, hit 1st and 2nd, soon chasing winner, mistakes 4th (water) lost 2nd 8th, close 3rd when fell next

      6
      Silk - Purple, Grey hooped sleeves

      Gungadu

      201 D
      1/2
      • Form 312127-
      • Age 6
      • Weight 11-0

      jumped right, made virtually all, well in command after 2 out, stayed on strongly, easily

      7
      Silk - WHITE, BLACK disc, striped sleeves
      33/1
      • Form F535-54
      • Age 7
      • Weight 11-0
      • Official Rating 110

      held up, progress to go 3rd when mistake 9th, chased winner from 13th, ridden 4 out, jumped right 3 out, weakened approaching last

      8
      Silk - Chocolate, light blue sleeves and cap
      100/1
      • Form 644230-
      • Age 6
      • Weight 10-7
      • Official Rating 91

      always behind, tailed off when hit 12th

      In depth

      Verdict

      Gungadu can get the better of Openide and Steppes of Gold in a good quality contest. Openide has been a revelation since being switched to fences, routing his field in two starts over fences. Modest on the Flat, he popped across to Tipperary for his latest success and looks a danger to all. A winner at Southwell in May, Steppes of Gold chased home the useful Knowhere at Bangor recently but was pulled up in better company at Aintree last time. That was an uncharacteristic disappointment for this normally consistent type and it would not be a surprise to see him go well back amongst his fellow novices. Gungadu was a very useful hurdler last season, running in some good contests and although found out in the highest class, he may turn out to be a top performer now he takes on the bigger obstacles. Gungadu can prove too classy for his rivals.

      Formwatch

      Openide 5-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, improved into 3rd 3 out, challenged after 2 out, led last, ran on strongly, won at Tipperary 2m 4f nov chs Grd 3 (1) gs beating Rights Of Man (11-2) by 5l, 9 ran.

      Steppes of Gold (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, hampered 9th, well behind when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Butler's Cabin (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd, 6 ran.

      Ballyfitz 13-2 (10-11) Led, ridden, headed 3 out, rallied to lead again approaching last, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gs in Nov beating New Alco (11-4) by 1l, 17 ran.

      Clockers Corner (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Behind, headway 8th, weakened after 10th, behind when jumped left 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Knowhere (11-6) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs.

      Curragh View (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Led until mistake and headed 3 out, soon ridden, stayed challenging until led near finish, won at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Massimo (10-9) by a nk, 14 ran.

      Gungadu 10-1 (11-4) Led, headed approaching 2nd, tracked leader, weakened approaching 4 out, 7th of 11, well behind Black Jack Ketchum (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Apr.

      Moonlit Harbour 12-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 14th, ridden 3 out, stayed on one pace, 4th of 8, 8l behind Best Profile (10-12) at Stratford 2m 7f nov chs (3) gd.

      Lago d'Oro 200-1 (11-0) Always behind, mistake 18th, 13th of 22, 44l behind Hot Weld (11-11) at Cheltenham 4m 1f nov amt chs (2) gd in Mar.