Racecards
15:00 Cheltenham
Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 3m 6f 37y
- Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £35,000 added
- Winner: £18,210
- 2nd: £8,372
- 3rd: £4,186
- 4th: £2,093
- Form 64U2-05
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 161
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
always rear-division, never involved, tailed off
- Form 0C6-P89
- Age 11
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Ben Bromley
towards rear, bit closer in mid-division 12th, towards rear when unseated rider 27th
- Form 117151
- Age 7
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey S Bowen
chased leader until 4th, chased leaders, went 2nd again 13th until 16th, chased leaders, weakened 2 out
- Form 1PF14-2
- Age 9
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Mark Walsh
always rear-division, tailed off when mistake 20th
- Form F-5P059
- Age 9
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey J S McGarvey
waited with towards rear, headway chasing leaders 29th, slipped home turn, no extra in 4th from 2 out
- Form P8F7-04
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Darragh O'Keeffe
soon towards rear, headway chasing leaders 20th, stayed on same pace in 3rd run-in
- Form 4711-12
- Age 11
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P J Rothwell
- Jockey Mr B J Walsh
chased leaders, mistake 25th, pushed along after 29th, losing place when slipped home turn
- Form 44236-3
- Age 8
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer R Bandey
- Jockey Harry Bannister
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 30th, went 2nd before 2 out, strong challenge run-in, led post
- Form 3226P-5
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Peter Maher
- Jockey J J Slevin
in mid-division until jumped slowly 1st, towards rear when unseated rider 7th
- Form 7PP-76P
- Age 11
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Christian Williams
- Jockey Jack Tudor
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until 13th, 2nd again 16th, led 20th, ridden and strongly pressed run-in, headed post
- Form 2/2PS2-7
- Age 14
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer Peter Maher
- Jockey Sean O'Keeffe
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 10th, pushed along and losing place when squeezed out home turn
Fox Pro (FR)
28- Form 2P2P27
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Mrs J Williams
- Jockey Chester Williams
led until 20th, chased leader until before 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 20P6-P9
- Age 12
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer J P Dempsey
- Jockey L P Dempsey
always in rear, tailed off
- Form 945P1-8
- Age 11
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer R O'Sullivan
- Jockey Adam Wedge
held up off the pace and always towards rear, tailed off
- Form 007466
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer E M O'Sullivan
- Jockey Charlie Deutsch
towards rear, pushed along after 28th, never involved, tailed off
- Form 0P-2PPU
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey Thomas Bellamy
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Midnight Maestro finished ahead of Blast Of Koeman, Super Citizen, Ballyboker Bridge, Call It Magic and Mr Diablo when second on the Bank course at Punchestown last month but it’s a similar contest over the track and trip four weeks ago that should hold the key. Back On The Lash was the winner that day, just holding off Singing Banjo with DIESEL D’ALLIER and Plan Of Attack close up in third and fourth and Balko Des Flos, Potters Corner, Fox Pro and Alpha Des Obeaux unplaced. Richard Bandey’s French import has yet to run a bad race over these fences and is just the pick of the weights today.
Formwatch
Balko Des Flos (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway before 27th (aintree), chased leaders 5 out, pushed along before 2 out, no extra approaching last, 5th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Back On The Lash (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 22-1 (10-7) Chased leader, 5th halfway, niggled along after 13th, 4th after 18th, lost place before 4 out, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 11, dist behind Smoking Gun (10-4) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp gd in Nov.
Back On The Lash 4-1fav (10-3) Chased leaders, lost place 27th, rallied 3 out, headway to challenge before last, ridden to lead flat, stayed on gamely, won at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Singing Banjo (10-0) by nk, 13 ran.
Midnight Maestro 7-1 (12-2) Mid-division early, 8th approaching 6th, slight mistake 10th, mistake 20th, soon headway, led after 2 out, headed last, no extra and one pace closing stages, 2nd of 15, 7l behind Shady Operator (12-2) at Punchestown 3m Good - Yielding in Nov.
Mortal (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) In rear, mistake 12th, ridden in 10th 3 out, no impression, 9th of 16, 34 1/2l behind Run Wild Fred (11-6) at Navan 3m hcp gd in Nov.
Plan Of Attack (IRE) 9-2 (10-3) Jumped slow 1st, midfield, dropped towards rear 7th, slow next, not fluent 21st, headway to chase leaders when bumped 27th (aintree), pushed along 3 out, kept on from 2 out, 4th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Back On The Lash (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Singing Banjo (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, hampered by loose horse before 21st, headway to challenge before last, ridden flat, stayed on to challenge winner final 100yds, always held by winner, 2nd of 13, nk behind Back On The Lash (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Diesel D'Allier (FR) 17-2 (10-2) Midfield, slow 8th, headway to chase leaders 18th, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, headed flat, kept on one pace, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Back On The Lash (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Blast Of Koeman (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Waited with, 10th approaching 6th, not fluent 14th and headway, closed on inner from 20th, slightly slow 7 out, one pace approaching last where not fluent, 5th of 15, 18 3/4l behind Shady Operator (12-2) at Punchestown 3m Good - Yielding in Nov.
Potters Corner (IRE) 28-1 (11-6) Mid-division, mistake 12th and dropped to rear, ridden after 13th, struggling and pulled up after 5 out, at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Ballyboker Bridge (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Soon led, steadied on bend approaching 16th and briefly headed, led again 17th, not fluent 2 out, soon headed, no extra and slight mistake last, 7th of 15, 25 1/4l behind Shady Operator (12-2) at Punchestown 3m Good - Yielding in Nov.
Fox Pro (FR) 18-1 (10-0) Mid-division, slow 8th, in touch when blundered 27th (aintree), soon weakened, 7th of 13, 15 1/4l behind Back On The Lash (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Mr Diablo (IRE) 66-1 (11-6) Close up, slight mistake 1st, 3rd approaching 6th, slight mistake 14th, led briefly approaching 16th, headed next, no extra from 2 out, 9th of 15, 27 1/4l behind Shady Operator (12-2) at Punchestown 3m Good - Yielding in Nov.
Call It Magic (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Soon tracked leaders, 5th approaching 6th, bumped with rival 4 out, one pace approaching last, 8th of 15, 27l behind Shady Operator (12-2) at Punchestown 3m Good - Yielding in Nov.
Super Citizen 12-1 (11-11) Mid-division early, 9th approaching 6th, slightly slow next, slight mistake 20th, slightly slow 6 out, kept on same pace without threatening from 2 out, 6th of 15, 24 1/4l behind Shady Operator (12-2) at Punchestown 3m Good - Yielding in Nov.
Talkischeap (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway when unseated rider 18th, at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.