Racecards
16:40 Cheltenham
Toby Balding National Hunt Chase (Listed Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Class 1)
- 17 Runners
- Distance: 4m
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £85,000 added
- Winner: £50,966
- 2nd: £15,920
- 3rd: £7,956
- 4th: £3,978
- Form 52-3242
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey Harry Bannister
held up, mid-division when mistake 13th, closed before 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden and one pace before last (usual 2 out), weakened flat
- Form 43515F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Ms K Walsh
held up in mid-division, lost place 6th, mistake 3 out (usual 4 out), headway when hit next, went 2nd bypassing omitted last, stayed on, unable to reach winner
- Form 2220-75
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Mr J J Codd
held up in rear, headway 3 out (usual 4 out), led bypassing omitted last, edged left towards finish, stayed on, driven out
Cogry
31- Form 8F-F121
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Mr S Clements
held up in mid-division, not fluent 13th, headway next, ridden after 2 out (usual 3 out), weakened from bypassed last
- Form 31-1U42
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey Mr D G Lavery
slightly reluctant to race and involved in a bit of scrimmaging leaving start, in touch, close up 3 out (normal 4 out), every chance next, weakened bypassing omitted last
- Form 121-144
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Mr B O'Neill
tracked leaders on outside, led 3rd until 8th, stayed prominent, mistake 17th, weakened 3 out (usual 4 out), mistake next, pulled up before last (usual 2 out)
- Form 171515
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey Miss A Stirling
prominent, led before 13th, headed next, every chance after 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened before last (usual 2 out)
- Form 21-11F2
- Age 10
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr P W Mullins
handy, took keen hold, challenged 13th, led 16th, headed last (usual 2 out), no extra final 100 yards
- Form 0313P5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey C Gethings
prominent, led 8th, headed before 13th, led again 14th, headed 16th, ridden 19th, outpaced when mistake 2 out (usual 3 out), weakened before next
- Form 7111F4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Mr T Hamilton
in touch in mid-division, lost place 10th, mistake when struggling 13th, ridden after 16th, no impression when mistake and unseated rider 2 out (usual 3 out)
- Form 14F-411
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
mid-division, headway after 20th, mistake 2 out (usual 3 out), pressing leaders next, weakened after omitted last
- Form 2541U5
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer M Hourigan
- Jockey Mr Derek O'Connor
led until 3rd, stayed handy, mistake 9th, hit 18th, led last (usual 2 out), headed bypassing omitted last, one pace final 100 yards
- Form 723F13
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer M S Sandra Hughes
- Jockey Mr J J King
held up towards rear, mistake 8th, not fluent 11th, some headway 16th, blundered next, struggling after 20th, blundered when behind 2 out (usual 3 out), unseated rider after mistake next
- Form 1-61PP1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey Ms N Carberry
tracked leaders, lost place 5th, mistake when effort 3 out (usual 4 out), outpaced after next, well held before last (usual 2 out)
- Form 31-2442
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Mr William Biddick
prominent, lost place 8th, headway after 14th, lost place again next, behind when pulled up last (usual 2 out)
- Form 1-11R24
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 129
led into start, reluctant, planted and left many lengths, latched onto back of group before 6th, fell heavily next
Top Totti
38- Form 60-2134
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Miss J C Williams
mid-division on outside, lost place 6th, mistake 9th, mistakes when in rear 18th and 19th, tailed off after 3 out (usual 4 out)
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
It's interesting that Gordon Elliott runs Cause Of Causes in this as he also had entries in a number of the big handicaps this week. Crack amateur Jamie Codd rides the seven-year-old, who was second in the Kim Muir a year ago. Cogry, who beat Doing Fine at Warwick last month, looks a real stayer and has won two out of three since falling on his chasing bow behind the mare Top Totti at Uttoxeter. He shouldn't be far away with a clear round while last year's Albert Bartlett winner Very Wood bounced back to form at Navan last month when winning a Grade 2. He beat The Job Is Right at Galway in the autumn, though the latter is slightly better off at the weights now. SEGO SUCCESS (NAP) got the better of subsequent Sky Bet Chase winner If In Doubt at Wetherby in November and followed up in a Listed contest at Warwick. Trainer Alan King knows what's required to win this race and his charge will get every assistance from the saddle from Gold Cup-winning jockey Sam Waley-Cohen so gets the nod.
Formwatch
Ballyculla (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Led, hit 14th, driven and headed before last, finished tired but kept on for 2nd, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Salmanazar (11-1) at Exeter 3m nov chs (3) sft in Feb.
Broadway Buffalo (IRE) 6-1fav (11-4) In rear, fell 16th, in a race won by Lie Forrit (11-6) at Haydock 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Feb, 12 ran.
Cause Of Causes (USA) 10-1 (11-3) Held up, mainly 4th, bad mistake 6th, ridden in rear and no impression 3 out, last of 5, 14l behind Dedigout (11-8) at Gowran Park 3m hdl G2 (1) in Jan.
Cogry 6-5fav (11-6) Tracked leader, led before and blundered 15th, soon headed, led again 4 out, clear before last, ridden run-in, all out near finish, just held on, won at Warwick 3m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Feb beating Doing Fine (11-6) by nk, 5 ran.
Doing Fine (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led after 15th, headed next, every chance 2 out, ran on gamely run-in, just held close home, 2nd of 5, nk behind Cogry (11-6) at Warwick 3m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Feb.
I Need Gold (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Led, headed before 15th, soon outpaced, plugged on from 2 out, 4th of 5, 12l behind Cogry (11-6) at Warwick 3m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Feb.
Perfect Candidate (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 12th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 12, 10l behind Generous Ransom (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) sft in Jan.
Perfect Gentleman (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Detached in rear early, closer after 5th, no impression in 6th after 3 out but kept on well straight to take moderate 2nd close home, 2nd of 7, 24l behind Gilgamboa (11-4) at Limerick 2m 3f nov chs Grade 2 (1) in Dec.
Return Spring (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, pushed along 6 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 7, 35l behind Ned Stark (11-4) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Royal Palladium (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Not fluent and led 2nd, headed next, prominent, outpaced after 14th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 5, 10l behind Desert Joe (10-8) at Leicester 2m 7f nov hcap ch (3) gs in Feb.
Sego Success (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 6th, not fluent 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, led before last, driven out, won at Warwick 3m lst nov chs (1) sft in Jan beating Grand Vision (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
The Job Is Right 25-1 (11-6) Prominent, ridden in 2nd entering straight, dropped to 5th 3 out, soon no impression, left moderate 5th at last, 5th of 8, 10l behind Dedigout (11-8) at Navan 2m 5f hdl G2 (1) in Feb.
Thunder And Roses (IRE) 10-3 (11-3) Prominent, slight mistake 2nd, dropped to 3rd at 6th, slight mistake 10th, moderate 3rd and ridden 5 out, dropped to remote 4th 3 out, no impression, regained moderate 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 21l behind Very Wood (11-3) at Navan 3m nov chs G2 (1) in Feb.
Very Wood (FR) 13-2 (11-3) Prominent, disputed lead from 7th, headed 9th, improved to lead after 3 out, soon ridden clear, kept on well run-in, won at Navan 3m nov chs G2 (1) in Feb beating Noble Emperor (11-3) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Vivaldi Collonges (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Raced wide, chased winner, hit 14th and pushed along, left with chance as winner dived badly 3 out, upsides and every chance 2 out, ridden before last and held, flattered by proximity to winner, last of 2, 1l behind Kings Palace (11-8) at Newbury 3m nov chs (3) sft in Feb.
Theatre Queen (IRE) 15-2 (10-2) Led into start, reluctant to race and lost about 30 lengths, about 5 lengths off group from 5th, blundered 12th, faltered against rails before 4 out, stayed on, went 4th last, never any hope, 4th of 12, 18l behind Wayward Prince (10-2) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Feb.
Top Totti 15-2 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, weakened from next, 4th of 7, 32l behind Ned Stark (11-4) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs G2 (1) sft in Jan.