Racecards
17:20 Cheltenham
Pertemps Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Class A)
- 24 Runners
- Distance: 3m 1f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
Tucacas (FR)
75- Form 012-61P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Mr Gordon Elliott
in rear, some headway 9th, weakened quickly before next
- Form 3-11211
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey D Elsworth
chased leader 3rd, led 8th, narrow lead when blundered last, kept on gamely flat, headed final strides
Moss Harvey
31- Form P-11534
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer J Jefferson
- Jockey G Lee
mid-division, weakened 9th, tailed off when pulled up before last
- Form 0-21112
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer R Phillips
- Jockey R Johnson
mid-division, weakened 9th, tailed off when blundered 3 out
- Form 140351
- Age 10
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey S Durack
led to 8th, weakened and mistake next
- Form 5034P5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey N Williamson
raced wide in mid-division, mistake 1st, never near to challenge
- Form 452424
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer M F Morris
- Jockey D J Casey
prominent, ridden from 8th, weakened next, no chance when hampered last
- Form 11-P062
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up, headway after 4 out, soon chased leaders, driven and one paced before last
- Form 5163-03
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
in touch until weakened after 3 out
- Form 14010-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up in touch, prominent 4th, chased leaders throughout, ridden to challenge last, hard ridden flat, led final strides
- Form 352125
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
in rear, reminder 7th, good headway to chase leader 4 out, weakened next
Miss Fara (FR)
110- Form P5060-P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Mr J E Moore
always in rear
Farinel
23- Form 2P-3600
- Age 7
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer A L T Moore
- Jockey C O'Dwyer
never better than mid-division
- Form 034200
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
prominent, mistake 6th, hard ridden and weakened before 3 out
Creon
104- Form 0061-01
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey C F Swan
held up behind, ridden and headway 3 out, no further headway
- Form P-13134
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
keen hold, close up, mistake 3 out and soon weakened
Guard Duty
31- Form 00-50F3
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
held up in rear, stayed on under pressure approaching last, never near to challenge
- Form 1P10-24
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Paul Carberry
held up towards rear, effort to chase leaders 3 out, one pace and held when blundered last
- Form P-42260
- Age 7
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer R Buckler
- Jockey R Thornton
held up, headway from 4th, disputing 4th and held when fell last
- Form 311234
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey L Cooper
prominent, weakened and behind from 3 out
- Form 1-61526
- Age 5
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey D N Russell
behind, under pressure from 3 out, kept on flat, no impression on first 2
- Form 23-2300
- Age 7
- Weight 10-5
in touch, chased leaders 9th, weakened 3 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Martin Pipe saddles seven of the 24 runners in the finale on day one and will be hopeful that one of them can deliver the goods in yet another wide-open affair. The one most likely to is Ravenswood, who showed that he was coming back to form when a close second to Slooghy at Newbury on his first outing since Boxing Day. A back-to-back winner at Aintree and Ayr last spring, the son of Warning was dropped no less than 12lb by the handicapper after flopping at Chepstow on his return, but has not had the ground to suit until recently. Unfortunately, he was put up 9lbs for that Newbury run, and strictly at the weights, has it to do with Irish raider Farinel who reoppose on 6lb better terms than when second to Pipe's charge at Aintree. The likely strong pace will suit Arthur Moore's inmate who ran well in the Chepstow qualifier in November, and has since had a couple of outings over fences, while his last run was over a trip too short. His owner J P McManus landed a gamble in this race with Danny Connors in 1991, and has another string to his bow in Creon, the mount of Charlie Swan. Jonjo O'Neill's horse is hard to catch on the right day, but has tons of ability. O'Neill's challenge is supplemented by Ballylusky and Inching Closer, and it is the latter who makes most appeal, appearing to be on the upgrade when scoring on his return at Haydock last month. An 8lb rise is not too harsh as he looks to be ahead of the handicapper still. Royal Emperor has been a model of consistency, but Sue Smith's seven-year-old is there to be shot down with his front-running tactics, and may find conditions on the fast side. In a real enigma, the equally consistent and game Chopneyev should not be underestimated, providing he can handle the faster conditions. Hailing from the in-form yard of Richard Philips, he has done nothing but improve, and his second to Korelo as Sandown was made to look even better when Pipe's runner took the Imperial Cup at the weekend. In the hardest race of the day to solve, we return to Farinel as the choice, with the proviso that you back him each-way.