Racecards
13:15 Cheltenham
Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 2)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 166y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £27,500 added
- Winner: £17,204
- 2nd: £5,082
- 3rd: £2,541
- 4th: £1,270
- Form P-2FU12
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey B J Cooper
led to 6th, in touch, pushed along in 3rd after 4 out, headway to lead after next, headed 2 out, one pace and held when not fluent last, just held on for modest 3rd near finish
- Form 3214-14
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey N D Fehily
not fluent in rear, reminders and struggling after 8th, lost touch 11th, tailed off when pulled up 13th
- Form 218-414
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
held up in touch, outpaced after 4 out, never on terms, weakened 2 out, tailed off
War Sound
10- Form 10/3223
- Age 9
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders, went prominent 5th, led next, not fluent 3 out, soon headed, well held from next, plugged on flat, just failed for modest 3rd near finish
- Form 26-3245
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey Thomas Bellamy
with leader to 6th, chased leaders, struggling 12th, behind when blundered 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
- Form 343-312
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
held up in touch, tracked leaders before 3 out, challenged next, led between last 2, ridden and edged left after last, held on under pressure flat
- Form 467-223
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
always prominent, challenged after 3 out, led narrowly next, headed between last 2, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, held towards finish
Verdict
Since sorting out his jumping, Sizing Tennessee has shown himself to be a useful novice. He finished 11 lengths ahead of BALLYANDY in a Grade 2 here at the start of the month and is a pound better off but Nigel Twiston-Davies’ seven-year-old only weakened at the last on his return from a lay-off and can reverse the placings. He has a cracking record here and was a high-class hurdler last season. War Sound is proving difficult to place but Mister Whitaker beat Solstice Star at Carlisle before finishing a good second at Kempton. Full Irish is better than he showed last month at Haydock but this looks a big ask for the mare Theatre Territory.
Formwatch
Sizing Tennessee (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Jumped right 1st, soon led, jumped right 7th, headed 8th, led before 3 out, headed last, given chance final 100 yards when winner idled, held close home, 2nd of 5, nk behind Yanworth (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) hvy in Jan.
Ballyandy 10-3 (11-0) Held up, mistake 3rd and 11th, headway 12th, one pace before 2 out, jumped left and mistake last, no extra, 4th of 5, 11 3/4l behind Yanworth (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) hvy in Jan.
Full Irish (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, mistake 7th, closed before 4 out, disputing 2nd when blundered 2 out, soon beaten, weakened and lost 3rd last, 4th of 9, 23 1/2l behind Captain Redbeard (11-3) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
War Sound 4-1 (10-13) Held up off the pace in 4th, jumped slowly and pushed along 9th, went modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 4, 12 1/4l behind Saint Calvados (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Solstice Star 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 32 1/2l behind Potters Story (10-13) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Mister Whitaker (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway 6 out, chased winner 3 out, effort approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Hell's Kitchen (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Theatre Territory (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) In touch, headway 10th, weakened 4 out, stayed on to go 3rd from 2 out, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Pearl Royale (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 4f (3) hvy in Dec.