Racecards
15:10 Cheltenham
Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 56y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £50,000 added
- Winner: £28,475
- 2nd: £10,685
- 3rd: £5,350
- 4th: £2,665
- Form 144/P14-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 156
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
chased leaders, not clear run before last, soon switched left, went 3rd flat, stayed on, no impression on winner final 75 yards
- Form 1115-18
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway on outside 5th, not quicken before last, faded flat
- Form 1/11112-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey G Sheehan
chased leaders, not fluent, lost place after 2nd, outpaced from 2 out, well beaten last
Janika (FR)
25- Form 2224-14
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey James Bowen
chased leader, every chance 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on same pace flat
- Form 474-61F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey J J Burke
made all, hard pressed last, stayed on strongly and going away final 75 yards
- Form 2/312-25
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
raced keenly, held up in touch, effort to challenge last, stayed on, no impression on winner final 75 yards
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
EMITOM (NAP) proved himself to be a high-class novice last season over this trip. His only defeat came on his final start in a Grade 1 at Aintree in April when finding only Champ too good. It’s a bonus that he is getting weight from Quel Destin and the 10-year-old William Henry and he should have too much pace for the latter’s stablemate Janika, who is a chaser and was no great shakes over hurdles in France and hasn’t raced over the smaller obstacles in more than two years. Summerville Boy has also been chasing this term but is a Festival winner here, as is the mare Roksana.
Formwatch
William Henry (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, steady progress approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 15, 11 1/4l behind If The Cap Fits (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gd in Apr.
Quel Destin (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 2nd to 4th, with leader, driven and lost place after 2 out, no impression before last, 8th of 14, 15l behind Harambe (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Emitom (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway when mistake 3 out, went 2nd final 120 yards, edged left and stayed on, not trouble winner, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Champ (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Janika (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, lost place briefly after 3rd, driven and outpaced after 3 out, well held in 4th between last 2, 4th of 8, 9l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Summerville Boy (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Tracked leader, lost place but still in touch when fell 7th (water), at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Roksana (IRE) 5-2 (10-13) Raced wide, prominent, led 3 out, headed approaching next, weakened quickly, 5th of 6, 16 1/2l behind If The Cap Fits (11-6) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) sft in Nov.