Racecards
15:20 Kelso
Cheltenham Countdown At timeform.com Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 51y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £16,000 added
- Winner: £9,487
- 2nd: £2,786
- 3rd: £1,393
- 4th: £696
- Form FFP31/1-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer James Moffatt
- Jockey B S Hughes
led until after 1st, led next, headed 3rd, not fluent 3 out, no chance with winner from 2 out, not fluent and lost 2nd last, no extra flat
- Form 11/30-7
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up, closed from 3rd, struggling in 3rd after 3 out, weakened into 4th next, tailed off
- Form 30/78-8P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer B Haslam
- Jockey R P McLernon
prominent, lost place before 5th, well beaten next, tailed off
- Form 3144/1-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer A C Whillans
- Jockey Craig Nichol
raced keenly on outside, led after 1st, headed next, led again 3rd, drew well clear from 2 out, easily
- Form 312F-45
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey R Patrick
tracked leaders, hind legs sprawled badly on landing 3rd, lost place and given reminder, plugged on from 2 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
- Form 6-35367
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer A C Whillans
- Jockey Callum Bewley
always in rear, well beaten from 3 out, tailed off
- Form 8634-31
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey R D Day
held up towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 4th
In depth
Verdict
MINELLA CHARMER hasn’t raced in more than a year but James Moffatt has booked the champion to ride his 10-year-old, who will handle conditions better than most and has gone well fresh in the past. The once-useful Countister seems to have lost the plot but Serious Ego came good in some style at Haydock, though has been raised 9lb. Vision Du Puy will have needed his run at Musselburgh and can reverse that form with Battle Of Wills but Corrieben Reiver has been hard to train and is having just his second run over timber today. Ebony Jewel was a disappointing favourite at Haydock last time.
Formwatch
Minella Charmer (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Made all, jumped left at times, strongly challenged from 2 out, blundered last, kept on well under pressure, won at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Fin And Game (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Vision Du Puy (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Held up off the pace in 5th, pushed along after 4 out, weakened before next where mistake, 7th of 8, 29 3/4l behind Tommy's Oscar (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Countister (FR) 40-1 (10-2) Held up in mid-division, lost place 3rd, last 5th, well behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Corrieben Reiver 10-1 (10-12) In touch, headway 4 out, jumped left and chased leader 2 out, ridden and stayed on strongly to lead towards finish, won at Ayr 2m (4) sft in Oct beating Witness Protection (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 16 ran.
Ebony Jewel (IRE) 2-1fav (11-3) Held up, awkward 3rd, pushed along briefly after 4 out, ridden before 3 out, lost touch when jumped right 2 out, jumped right last, no extra, 5th of 6, 33 3/4l behind Chti Balko (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Battle Of Wills (IRE) 200-1 (11-4) Restrained in rear, travelled strongly in rear 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on but no impression final furlong, 7th of 10, 6 1/4l behind Proschema (11-10) at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Feb.
Serious Ego (GER) 5-1 (11-4) Keen early, in rear, headway 3 out, every chance last, led flat, ridden out, won at Haydock 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Crackdeloust (10-10) by 7 1/2l, 10 ran.