Racecards
14:50 Aintree
William Hill Cheltenham NRMB From January 1st Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 200y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £15,609
- 2nd: £7,176
- 3rd: £3,588
- 4th: £1,794
- Form 11107-3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey J J Burke
tracked leaders, pressed leader 10th, led 3 out, ridden and went clear with one other after 2 out, stayed on well, always doing enough
- Form 1103-14
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer O Murphy
- Jockey Harry Skelton
prominent, mistake and unseated rider 1st
- Form 134P45-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Tom Cannon
in rear, in touch, not fluent 2nd, pushed along and no progress before 3 out, weakened 2 out, pulled up before last
- Form 1194-31
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Adam Wedge
close up behind leaders, pushed along before 4 out, kept on one pace until dropped away before 2 out
- Form 227-221
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey B S Hughes
prominent, pressed leader from 8th, tracked front pair 10th, pushed along before 3 out, went clear with winner after 2 out , kept on and every chance until no extra run-in
Heros (FR)
12- Form 225-411
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Charlie Deutsch
led, faced challenge from 10th, headed 3 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out
In depth
Verdict
This looks a competitive handicap but there is undoubtedly more to come from Ascot winner Supreme Gift and Tahmuras will have learned plenty from his third at Chepstow. Heros has won twice at Taunton but has been raised a further 6lb while Chasing Fire was well beaten off this mark at Ayr. GENERAL OFFICER made it third-time lucky upped in trip at Doncaster and he will handle this much softer surface. Harbour Lake lacks experience and a recent run but could still figure if taking to fences.
Formwatch
Tahmuras (FR) 4-5fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, reminders 6th, pushed along 5 out, ridden 3 out, never a factor, last of 3, 18 1/2l behind Colonel Harry (11-3) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Chasing Fire 6-5fav (11-8) Midfield, slow jump and dropped to rear 6th, jump right 8th, struggling before 3 out, kept on steadily, 4th of 8, 15 1/2l behind Marble Sands (11-10) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Harbour Lake (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along and outpaced approaching 3 out, late headway for 5th, 5th of 20, 7 1/2l behind Fennor Cross (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Supreme Gift (IRE) 17-2 (10-7) Held up disputing 3rd, went 2nd 11th, led next, came clear after 3 out, pushed along before next, 1 length ahead last, ridden clear run-in, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Samarrive (11-10) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
General Officer (IRE) 9-4cfav (12-0) Tracked leaders, chased leader omitted 3 out, led omitted 2 out, soon clear, comfortable(all fences in straight omitted plus water 9th), won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Dec beating William Of York (11-4) by 15l, 5 ran.
Heros (FR) 11-10fav (10-10) Made all, faced strong challenge from 3 out, not fluent last, ridden run-in, stayed on gamely, won at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Raffle Ticket (11-13) by hd, 7 ran.