Racecards
14:05 Cheltenham
Letheby And Christopher Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 20 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £15,000 added
- Form 423/86-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer M Halford
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
ridden with supreme confidence, raced wide, held up well in rear, smooth headway on bit to track leaders 2 out, went 2nd between last 2, led last, ridden out
- Form 14
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 115
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 0-13513
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer T Hogan
- Jockey N D Fehily
raced wide, chased leaders, led 4th, clear when mistake 3 out, headed well before last, not pace of front pair
- Form 80-2313
- Age 4
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer T G McCourt
- Jockey N P Madden
always in rear, tailed off when fell last
- Form 446145
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer J G M O'Shea
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
led until 4th, weakened quickly
- Form 4423-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 110
mid-division, weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last
- Form 1U4199
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey Tony Evans
behind, plugged on under pressure appproaching 2 out
- Form 3-42221
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer A McGuinness
- Jockey J M Maguire
took keen hold, close up until 5th, tailed off when pulled up approaching last
- Form 3764-12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Mr P Callaghan
chased leaders until weakened 5th
- Form 51
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer P L Gilligan
- Jockey A Dobbin
held up, brief effort 4th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before last
- Form 3-7324
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer L Corcoran
- Jockey J E Moore
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, weakened before 2 out
- Form 80-26
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer John Joseph Murphy
- Jockey E F Power
tracked leader until mistake 5th, weakened before 2 out
- Form 18
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey R Thornton
always behind
- Form 0/4-2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey D R Dennis
chased leaders, ridden 3 out and soon weakened
- Form 0088-3
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
mid-division, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out
- Form 562
- Age 4
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Mrs L Williamson
- Jockey T Scudamore
behind, plugged on under pressure from 2 out
- Form 2909-25
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer Mrs A J Hamilton-Fairley
- Jockey P Hide
stumbled on landing and fell 1st
- Form 422183
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey G Lee
mid-division, lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up before out
Barman (USA)
21- Form 4/740
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer E McNamara
- Jockey B C Byrnes
behind, headway 5th, chased leader 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 3P685-1
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
held up in mid-division, led well before last, ridden and headed last, no chance with easy winner run-in
In depth
Verdict
Tipperary All Star was good value for his win at Punchestown at the beginning of the month but the six-year-old faces no easy task giving weight away all round and may find at least one too good with preference for Bonchester Bridge, who gets the vote ahead of Eleazar. The selection clearly appreciated the drop back to this trip when winning at Huntingdon last time under today's jockey and has every chance off just a 7lb higher mark today from his light weight. Quai Du Roi is better than she showed at Fairyhouse last time and cannot be ruled out along with another Irish raider Classic Croco, who should be well suited by the underfoot conditions. Norborne Bandit comes here fit from the flat but would need to improve on recent hurdles form and a bigger threat may come from recent Haydock winner Eleazar. Bonchester Bridge looks well treated judged by his Huntingdon win though and he is preferred.
Formwatch
Tipperary All Star (FR) 9-2fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, improved into 7th after 2 out, smooth headway to lead last, quickened clear, very easily, won at Punchestown 2m hcp hdle sft beating Steel Band (11-6) by 5l, 22 ran.
Freeloader (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, soon weakened, last of 4, 11l behind Self Defense (11-8) at Kempton 2m hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Classic Croco (GER) 8-1 (11-12) Prominent, 2nd from 3rd to 4 out, 3rd under pressure and no extra before next, 3rd of 6, 23l behind Davenport Democrat (11-12) at Roscommon 2m nov hdl gs in Sept.
Quai Du Roi (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, 11th 4 out, 6th under pressure 3 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Restoration (10-11) at Tralee 2m 4yo hcp hdl gs in Aug.
Go Free 14-1 (11-4) Led until ridden and headed soon after 2 out, weakened between last 2, 5th of 15, 17l behind Dhehdaah (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct.
Eleazar (GER) 5-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Haydock 2m nov hdl (4) gd beating Cordier (10-12) by 2l, 19 ran.
Creinch 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, mistake in ridden 3rd, soon lost place, well behind 4 out, 9th of 15, 38l behind Dhehdaah (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 4-5fav (11-2) Always prominent, led after 2nd, headed approaching 4 out, led again 3 out, ridden clear from 2 out, mistake last, easily, won at Tipperary 2m nov hdl gf in Aug beating Real Overdrive (11-8) by 7l, 4 ran.
Theatre Diva (IRE) 6-4 (11-2) Chased leaders, led 3 out, edged right after 2 out, soon headed, one pace, 2nd of 15, 10l behind Apollo Lady (10-10) at Worcester 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Almanshood (USA) 18-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, led 3rd, mistake 6th, hit next, soon in command, stayed on, won at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct beating Basic Fact (11-0) by 7l, 14 ran.
Mr Maxim 33-1 (10-11) Mid-divison, headway to chase leaders 3 out, mistake 2 out and weakened before last, 4th of 18, 19l behind Roll Along (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Oct.
Royal Rhythm (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Always prominent, ridden to challenge 2 out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from before last, 6th of 20, 4l behind Roisin's Prince (11-7) at Cork 2m mdn hdl gs in Oct.
Little Jimbob 7-2fav (11-12) Keen, close up, chased leader 6th, faded before 2 out, 8th of 11, 20l behind Blushing Prince (10-6) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
The Real Deal (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on flat but no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 9l behind Enlightenment (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Reflector (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Led to 3rd, stayed prominent, every chance when hit 2 out, soon ridden, weakened last, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Albertas Run (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Sandy's Legend (USA) 16-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 5th, chased winner approaching 2 out, not quicken, 2nd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Bleak House (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Hatch A Plan (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden and hit 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 20l behind Nesnaas (10-10) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Rust En Vrede 12-1 (11-0) In touch, mistake 3rd, hit 2 out, disputed lead last, no extra near finish, 3rd of 17, 2l behind Robbie Can Can (11-9) at Towcester 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Oct.
Barman (USA) 8-1 (10-7) Towards rear, some slight mistakes, 12th approaching 3 out, ridden and kept on without threatening, last of 15, well behind Killeroran Kash (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-109 sft in Oct.
Bonchester Bridge 3-1 (10-1) In touch, chased leader 3 out, hit and led 2 out, ridden and ran on, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf beating Nesnaas (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.