Racecards
12:15 Cheltenham
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Listed) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 56y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £25,000 added
- Winner: £14,238
- 2nd: £5,342
- 3rd: £2,675
- 4th: £1,332
- Form 241-31
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer O Murphy
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
chased leaders, went 2nd before 4th until 2 out, weakened before not fluent last
- Form 21-11
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 128
made virtually all, not fluent 7th, joined off final bend, landed awkwardly last, asserting after last, stayed on well
- Form 1-31
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
chased winner until before 4th, slow next, not fluent 6th, went 2nd again 2 out, disputing lead off final bend, no impression final 100 yards, kept on
- Form 7400-63
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer A E Jones
- Jockey Harry Bannister
always in rear, well beaten from after 2 out
- Form 410-15
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey James Bowen
held up towards rear on outside, pushed along after 3 out, closed 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 6F1-121
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
chased leaders on inside, raced keenly, not fluent 2 out, weakened before last, went 4th flat
- Form 134-211
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up, closed 2 out, 3rd and outpaced before last, well held flat
In depth
Verdict
GET A TONIC shouldn’t be far away in this with her mares’ allowance. Her latest victory at Uttoxeter has been franked and the going will hold no fears for Harry Skelton’s mount. Only half-a-length separated Doctor Ken and Pull Again Green at Ascot and the latter has won since while I Am Maximus easily landed the odds at Newbury and has nothing to fear from Jack's A Legend on that run – he may have more scope than stable companion Mot A Mot. Hillcrest could be anything having won his last three but this is easily his toughest task to date.
Formwatch
Doctor Ken (FR) 4-7fav (11-4) Led, headed 4 out, led again next, ridden when pressed approaching last, ran on, won at Ascot 2m 3f mdn (3) gd in Nov beating Pull Again Green (11-4) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Hillcrest (IRE) 11-10 (11-5) Made all, never pressed, comfortable, won at Wetherby 2m 5f (4) gs in Dec beating Grand Du Nord (10-12) by 20l, 6 ran.
I Am Maximus (FR) 2-5fav (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, led going well before next, briefly pressed after the last, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in, won at Newbury 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec beating Raymond Tusk (11-4) by 6l, 13 ran.
Jack's A Legend 33-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders approaching 2 out, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 13, 8 1/4l behind I Am Maximus (11-4) at Newbury 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Mot A Mot (FR) 13-8fav (11-4) Chased leaders, bumped and mistake 2nd, not fluent 3rd or 4th, ridden 3 out, beaten 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 18, 14 1/2l behind Hermes Boy (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gs in Dec.
Pull Again Green (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Jumped slowly 1st, raced keenly, in touch in mid-division on inside, steady headway on inside 3 out, chasing leaders went 2nd before the last, challenged last, soon led and stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m 5f (4) gs in Dec beating Wonderwall (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Get A Tonic (IRE) 6-5fav (10-12) In touch, headway chasing leaders 4 out, led before 2 out, ridden and hung badly left before last, briefly pressed last, stayed on well, run-in, eased close home, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec beating Nothin To Ask (10-12) by 3 1/4l, 11 ran.