Racecards
13:55 Cheltenham
Sporting Index Cross Country Handicap Chase (Class B)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 3m 7f
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- Form 1410-91
- Age 12
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Mr J T McNamara
in rear and never going, ridden from 22nd, no impression
- Form 1P4P-52
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B P Harding
mid-division, weakened 25th
- Form 610-561
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Miss C Tizzard
held up, headway 18th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 2P2023
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey D F O'Regan
mid-division, fell 21st
- Form 044-456
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer T O'Leary
- Jockey A J Mcnamara
led and soon clear, headed 8 out, soon weakened and behind
- Form 2P9-7P3
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer M Todhunter
- Jockey A Dempsey
mid-division, closer order 22nd, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened after 3 out
- Form 17-5511
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey J Tizzard
in touch, ridden from 23rd, soon weakened
- Form 24-7740
- Age 10
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer Oliver McKiernan
- Jockey G Cotter
towards rear, hampered badly 21st, no further impression
- Form 267-P63
- Age 10
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Christian Williams
in rear, headway 23rd, soon ridden and weakened
- Form 21-19P7
- Age 7
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 127
held up rear, headway 6 out, soon ridden and stayed on but no trouble leading pair
- Form P-22227
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Ms N Carberry
always prominent, led 5 out, ridden 2 out, headed last and no extra
- Form 20-2723
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders, led 25th, ridden when headed 5 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 2-3211P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
never better than finishing position
- Form 3P57U4
- Age 12
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer Dr P Pritchard
- Jockey Dr P Pritchard
always towards rear
- Form 1-P3258
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Mrs K Walton
- Jockey M Bradburne
in touch, ridden and lost place 23rd, stayed on again moderately
- Form 14/16-F1
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey A O'keeffe
held up rear, smooth headway 6 out, tracked leader 3 out, ridden to lead last, ran on well
In depth
Verdict
Ivoire De Beaulieu was bought with this race in mind but the conditions for the contest have changed allowing Spot Thedifference to participate and Enda Bolger's 12-year-old is taken to record a fifth success over this unique course with Lord Jack and Inca Trail rated the main dangers. The selection may now be 7lbs higher than when landing the new handicap on this course at the festival in March but showed his liking for the track again at last month's Open meeting and it will come as no surprise if he can take advantage of the change in the ratings band for this contest. The Paul Nicholls-trained Comanche War Paint has shown improved form of late but has plenty to find with the selection on previous attempts round here; a comment that also applies to stablemate French Executive. Just In Debt ran up to his best in the Becher Chase last month and could be of interest on his debut round this course, while Koquelicot appeals as the type to do well at this type of event but has it to do from 4lbs out of the handicap. Lord Jack has every chance at the revised weights with the selection on their running here last month and has to be respected, while another of the Nicholls runners Inca Trail is potentially interesting judged by his latest success at Wincanton and is the sort of quirky type that could excel at this game. Spot Thedifference has an obvious chance though and is taken to land his fifth course success.
Formwatch
Spot Thedifference (IRE) 13-8fav (11-8) Always prominent, went 2nd 4 out, led last, kept on strongly flat, won at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (B) gd in Nov beating Lord Jack (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Lord Jack (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 14th, led 21st, headed last, one pace flat, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (B) gd in Nov.
Inca Trail (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway on bit 4 out, chased leader 3 out, shaken up and led after last, ran on well, won at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Nov beating Koquelicot (10-9) by 2l, 8 ran.
Oh My Lord (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up, headway from 16th, chased leaders 4 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (B) gd in Nov.
Il de Boitron (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway 5 out, 6th 3 out, kept on same pace, 6th of 18, 26l behind What A Native (9-12) at Thurles 3m hcp chs 0-116 gs in Nov.
Just In Debt (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Held up, headwday 14th, every chance last, led briefly elbow, not quicken final 50 yards, 3rd of 19, 1l behind Garvivonnian (10-4) at Aintree 3m 3f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Nov.
Comanche War Paint (IRE) 15-8fav (11-8) Prominent, left and lead 16th, ridden after 4 out, joined approaching 3 out, took command approaching last, driven out, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs beating Dante Citizen (11-0) by 5l, 5 ran.
Star Performance (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, no extra after 5 out, 10th of 15, well behind Frankie Dori (10-3) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-123 gs in Oct.
French Executive (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden, outpaced 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Lothian Falcon (10-0) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Nov.
Good Step (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Towards rear, moderate 9th 3 out, mistake next, kept on, 7th of 13, 13l behind Buailtes And Fadas (10-11) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp chs 0-116 gs in Nov.
Shady Lad (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Behind, trailing 7 out, stayed on same pace from 4 out, 7th of 16, 28l behind Brave Eagle (10-3) at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp chs 0-109 sft in Nov.
Koquelicot (FR) 5-2jt-fav (11-12) Held up in touch, chased leader 6th, not fluent 8th, hit 12th, driven and lost 2nd approaching 16th, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Moorlands Again (10-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft.
Catch The Perk (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, outpaced 5f out, soon behind and pulled up 4 out in race won by Mckelvey (11-12) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (C) sft in Nov, 6 ran.
Happy Hussar (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Held up, headway 4th, led 5th until approaching 6th, soon lost place and behind, pushed along from 3 out, went remote 4th last, 4th of 7, 26l behind Moorlands Again (10-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft.
Wildfield Rufo (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Always behind, 8th of 14, 39l behind Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (B) gd in Nov.
Ivoire De Beaulieu (FR) 9-10fav (10-6) won at Corlay 3m4f x-country chase gd in July beating Indigo (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.