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Racecards

15:05 Cheltenham

Sporting Index Cross Country Chase (Class 2)

  • 14 Runners
  • Distance: 3m 7f
  • Going: Good
  • Surface: Turf
  • £35,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 8m 17.30s
  • Off Time: 15:06:57
  • 14 Ran
1
Silk - Beige, Red triple diamond, Royal Blue sleeves, Beige cap, Red diamond
  • Form 16/F111-
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-8
  • Official Rating 133

held up, went 9th at 16th, no chance from 5 out, tailed off

2
Silk - Emerald Green, Royal Blue chevrons on sleeves, Emerald Green cap, Royal Blue star
12/1
  • Form 11117-0
  • Age 12
  • Weight 11-8
  • Official Rating 132

held up, mistake 18th, headway 22nd, disputed 3rd last, soon switched left, one pace

3
Silk - Emerald Green, Yellow spots, Yellow and Emerald Green halved sleeves, Purple cap
13/8
  • Form 29F00-6
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-8
  • Official Rating 153

in touch, went 2nd 25th, every chance 5 out, outpaced when jumped slowly 2 out, stayed on flat

4
Silk - Emerald green, orange hoops, white cap
  • Form 96200-0
  • Age 13
  • Weight 11-8
  • Official Rating 135

chased leaders early, soon settled in mid-division, went 6th 12th, led 5 out, stayed on well, gamely

5
Silk - Maroon, white star and armlets, maroon cap, white star
22/1
  • Form 254225
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-5
  • Official Rating 116

chased leaders, disputed 3rd at the 9th, mistake 23rd, behind from 5 out, tailed off

6
Silk - Emerald green, orange hoops, white cap
  • Form 17233-6
  • Age 11
  • Weight 11-5
  • Official Rating 111

chased leader, led 23rd, headed 5 out, stayed on same pace from 3 out

7
Silk - Maroon, Beige hoop and armlets
  • Form 5U145-P
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-5
  • Official Rating 117

mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway 5 out, one pace from 2 out, no impression approaching last

8
Silk - Orange, Blue spots, Orange cap
13/2
  • Form F21/111
  • Age 11
  • Weight 11-5

held up in touch, slipped up after 4th

9
Silk - DARK GREEN, GREY stars on sleeves and cap
  • Form 25-2425
  • Age 13
  • Weight 11-2
  • Official Rating 88

prominent, mistake 7th, behind from 15th, tailed off from 24th

10
Silk - White, Black spots, Red and Black striped cap
100/1
  • Form 89575F
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-2
  • Official Rating 84

in rear until brought down after 4th

11
Silk - White, Red inverted triangle, White sleeves, Red spots, quartered cap
  • Form P7359-1
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-13
  • Official Rating 81

always behind, mistake 20th, tailed off 24th, pulled up before 27th

12
Silk - Yellow, Red hoops, spots on sleeves, hooped cap
  • Form 9P68-P2
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-10
  • Official Rating 82

behind, tailed off 19th, pulled up before 23rd

13
Silk - Black and White (halved), Red cap, White hoop
100/1
  • Form 133553/
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-10
  • Official Rating 97

led and soon clear, headed 23rd, weakening when jumped slowly 25th, blundered 27th, tailed off

14
Silk - ORANGE, dark blue braces, halved sleeves, orange cap, dark blue spots
  • Form 403-357
  • Age 11
  • Weight 10-10
  • Official Rating 99

chased leaders, challenged winner from 5 out, stayed on flat

In depth

Verdict

Proven form round this unique course is important, but we shall take French raider Plum'tee to beat the likes of obvious contenders Native Jack, Spot Thedifference, and Ivoire de Beaulieu. The veteran Spot Thedifference has of course been a standing dish over the course-and-distance, having prevailed no less than four times, including twice in this particular contest. However, he is now 13-years-old, and has not won since scoring here 12 months ago so is hard to fancy strongly. No doubt he will be set alight by the race again, indeed he chased home Native Jack when the latter was successful here at the Festival in March, but he is worth opposing. We intend to do so with Plum'tee who jumped well when landing the last of his three victories in France just over three weeks ago. That was a cross-country affair as well, and he could well be back here in March if successful. The other major contender is Ivoire de Beaulieu, bought by connections for just this type of event. He did not disappoint here in December, and was put away after scoring over hurdles at Sedgefield on Boxing Day. Off since, he will come on for the outing, but his stable is now back in form, so expect a big run. Royal Auclair went off the boil last season, but is a classy sort, and any support for East Lawyer should be noted. For the winner we return to Plum'tee.

Formwatch

Ivoire De Beaulieu (FR) 4-6fav (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, led 3 out, ridden out, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f nov hdl (E) sft in Dec beating Toni Alcala (10-9) by 3/4l, 9 ran.

Native Jack (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Always behind, tailed off, last of 19, well behind Finger Onthe Pulse (10-10) at Naas 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Oct.

Royal Auclair (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, effort 17th, one pace from 3 out, 6th of 11, 23l behind See You Sometime (10-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs (2) gf in Oct.

Spot Thedifference (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Always behind, trailing from 6th, tailed off, 21st of 25, well behind Clearwaterdreamer (10-11) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-109 sft in Oct.

Bravery (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Tracked leader in moderate 2nd, closed on leader when checked after 5 out, disputed lead 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, 5th of 6, 18l behind Loss Of Faith (10-13) at Cork 2m 5f chs gs in Sept.

Buailtes And Fadas (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Behind, went poor 6th 4 out, kept on without threatening under pressure, 6th of 8, 34l behind Zum See (10-8) at Cork 2m hcp chs 0-140 gs in Oct.

East Lawyer (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Tribal Venture (10-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct, 14 ran.

Plum'tee (FR) 9-10fav (11-1) won at Nancy 3m 1f amt chs gd in Oct beating Ketty De Vaut (10-10) by 4l, 5 ran.

Happy Hussar (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Chased leaders to 12th, soon behind, stayed on from last but no danger, 5th of 12, 26l behind Ardaghey (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct.

Innisfree (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Always behind, tailed off when fell 4 out in race won by Ballysheedy (9-11) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 gd in Sept, 14 ran.

Penalty Clause (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 5th, drew clear approaching 4 out, eased flat, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-88 (5) gf in Sept beating Auditor (10-1) by 11l, 9 ran.

Ol' Man River (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Chased leader, made most 7th to 4 out, ridden 3 out, pecked 3 out, rallied 2 out, hard ridden and ran on from last, just failed, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Fluff 'n' Puff (10-5) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.

Running Hot 25-1 (11-1) Jumped left throughout, led, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakening when hit 3 out, 3rd of 9, 31l behind Kittenkat (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gs in Mar '05.

Star Performance (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, outpaced before 3 out, kept on from next, 7th of 25, 16l behind Clearwaterdreamer (10-11) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-109 sft in Oct.