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Racecards

14:05 Cheltenham

Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (Class A)

  • 10 Runners
  • Distance: 2m
  • Going: Good to Soft
  • Surface: Turf
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 3m 58.00s
  • 10 Ran
1
Silk - WHITE, red hoop, red sleeves, white cap, red star
  • Form 23P111
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-11
  • Official Rating 111

keen, led 2nd, ridden when headed 3 out, weakened approaching last

2
Silk - Royal Blue, Yellow spots, striped sleeves, Blue cap, Yellow spots
  • Form 3-92121
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-11

never a factor

3
Silk - Dark green and white diamonds, white sleeves
3/1
  • Form 136P-12
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-9

prominent, ridden and weakened 3 out

4
Silk - EMERALD GREEN, WHITE stars, EMERALD GREEN cap, WHITE star
16/1
  • Form 830-221
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-9
  • Official Rating 120

mid-division, weakened 7th

5
Silk - Brown, Pink star, sleeves and cap
  • Form 546-162
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-5

tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders when pecked 3 out, chased leader when pecked again 2 out, 4 lengths down approaching last, rallied flat to lead final strides

6
Silk - Yellow, Maroon seams, sleeves and star on cap

Albuhera (IRE)

16 t CDD
9/2
  • Form 072/42-1
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-5

held up, headway to track leaders 7th, ridden 3 out, hit 2 out, soon held

7
Silk - Yellow, Purple epaulets, sleeves and star on cap

Dabus

13 b D
300/1
  • Form 89UP46
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-5
  • Official Rating 99

tracking leaders and keen, lost place from 6th, well behind when pulled up 2 out

8
Silk - Light blue and white stripes, checked sleeves
300/1
  • Form 6P0/06
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-5
  • Official Rating 69

in rear when mistake 2nd, lost touch from 4th, mistake next, soon tailed off

9
Silk - WHITE, ROYAL BLUE sash, WHITE sleeves, RED armlets, RED cap
3/1
  • Form 182024-
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-5

held up mid-division, headway 6th, hit next, led 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakening when headed last strides

10
Silk - Red, Emerald Green star and stars on sleeves, Red cap, Emerald Green stars
66/1
  • Form 305222
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 102

led and mistake when unseated rider 1st

In depth

Verdict

Chilling Place lost no caste in defeat to Racing Demon at Exeter and can make amends at the expense of Accordion Etoile, with Albuhera and Davenport Democrat in with a shout as well. Chilling Place was pitched in amongst the best over hurdles, but chasing was always going to be his game, and he did nothing wrong when getting the better of Cornish Sett on his debut over fences at Exeter in October. He was put in his place by Racing Demon on a return visit to Haldon, but time will probably tell that he came up against a smart one. His main rival today appears to be Accordion Etoile who won the Greatwood Hurdle last season and found only the more experienced Watson Lake too good on his chase bow at Limerick. A mistake two out did not help his cause that day, and it is hoped that he will jump better round here. He will need to if he is to trouble the selection. Albuhera beat Rebel Rhythm easily at Wetherby and must not be left out of calculations either, while Davenport Democrat made the most of a light weight to master Beechcourt at Cork and would not want the ground any softer than it is already. Chilling Place has a bright future and can cement his Arkle claims here.

Formwatch

Davenport Democrat (IRE) 9-2 (9-10) Chased leader in 2nd, closer order and led 5 out, soon clear, mistakes 2 out and last, strongly pressed run-in, kept on well under pressure, won at Cork 2m hcp chs 0-140 gs in Oct beating Beechcourt (10-1) by 1/2l, 12 ran.

Master Ofthe Chase (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, improved into 2nd travelling well 3 out, shaken up to lead approaching last, ran on well, easily, won at Roscommon 2m nov chs sft in Oct beating Kahuna (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.

Chilling Place (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (11-4) Soon led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Racing Demon (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov chs (C) gs.

Va Vavoom (IRE) 9-4fav (11-7) Made all, clear 6th, ridden approaching last, ran on well, won at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Oct beating Cosmocrat (11-12) by 6l, 7 ran.

Accordion Etoile (IRE) 9-4 (10-11) Tracked leaders, jumped slightly left 6 out, moderate 3rd approaching straight, closed and 2nd when bad mistake 2 out, no impression after, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Watson Lake (11-12) at Limerick 2m 1f chs gs in Oct.

Albuhera (IRE) 11-4 (11-6) Held up in touch, challenged on bit 4 out, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m beg chs (E) sft in Oct beating Rebel Rhythm (11-6) by 4l, 8 ran.

Dabus 100-1 (11-4) Virtually refused to race, always behind, 6th of 7, well behind Cerium (10-5) at Warwick 2m nov chs (C) gd in Oct.

Only For Gold 50-1 (11-6) Not jump well, lost touch after 4th, last of 6, well behind Avas Delight (11-6) at Hereford 2m nov chs (E) gf in Oct.

Tamarinbleu (FR) 4-1 (11-8) Held up, effort and ridden approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 4th of 9, 11l behind Rooster Booster (11-10) at Sandown 2m hdl (B) gd in Apr.

Mattys Joy (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Led, clear approaching straight, reduced lead and headed between last 2, rallied run-in, no extra close home, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Davenport Democrat (11-7) at Listowel 2m nov chs gs in Sept.