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Racecards

13:00 Fontwell Park

Follow chancelloroftheformchecker.co.uk At Cheltenham Beginners' Chase (Class 4)

  • 5 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 4f
  • Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £5,000 added
  • Winner: £3,252
  • 2nd: £955
  • 3rd: £478
  • 4th: £238
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 14.00s
  • Off Time: 13:00:14
  • 5 Ran
1
Silk - RED, WHITE cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap
  • Form 1112/4
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-0

jumped well, pressed leader, led 4th, made rest, increased tempo before 3 out, in command from 2 out, stayed on well flat

2
Silk - Maroon and Dark Green diabolo, chevrons on sleeves, Maroon and Pink quartered cap
  • Form 47/817P-
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-0

behind, slow 1st, went modest 4th 9th, outpaced from 10th, stayed on from last, went remote 3rd close home, tailed off

3
Silk - Red, Dark Blue seams, Dark Blue sleeves, Red stars, Red cap, Dark Blue star
  • Form PPP/7U5-
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-0

chased leading pair, went right 8th, outpaced when hit 10th, no chance with leading duo after, lost remote 3rd close home

4
Silk - White, Red triple diamond, diamonds on sleeves and cap
  • Form P-34U45
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 108

jumped left, led until 4th, chased winner until slow 6th, weakened next, tailed off 10th, pulled up before next

5
Silk - Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
  • Form 45/4P6-3
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 135

not always fluent, tracked leading trio, went 2nd 6th, mistake 11th, going well enough before 3 out, ridden found no extra and held from 2 out

In depth

Verdict

The days when Straw Bear was beating the likes of Harchibald in the Christmas Hurdle are long gone but he's still only ten and was having his first start for over a year when third behind Quantitativeeasing over 2m6f here three weeks ago. He could still have some improvement over fences in him though the potential of DEFINITY may prove too much here. Paul Nicholls charge, a point-to-point and dual novice hurdle winner, was returning from an even longer break when blowing up over three miles at Exeter last month and that should have done him the world of good. Chase debutant L'Homme De Nuit looks the one to take advantage if the principals don't come up to scratch.

Formwatch

Definity (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up in touch and keen, ridden and weakened 2 out mistake last, 4th of 8, 16l behind Wymott (11-7) at Exeter 3m nov chs (4) gs in Dec.

L'Homme de Nuit (GER) 16-1 (11-9) Raced wide, mid-division, lost place 6th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Maraafeq (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.

Paddy The Yank (IRE) 16-1 (12-3) Hdwy 8; wknd app 3 out, 5th of 14, 19l behind Blejan Eyhre (11-7) at Woodford 3m ptp gd in Apr.

Prince du Beury (FR) 9-2 (11-11) Held up towards rear, slightly hampered 2nd, ridden and weakened after 4 out, 5th of 7, 11l behind La Pantera Rosa (11-4) at Doncaster 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.

Straw Bear (USA) 12-1 (11-0) Took keen hold and not always fluent, held up 4th, 3rd from 4 out, not fluent next, no impression on front duo from 2 out, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Quantitativeeasing (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (4) hvy.