Racecards
14:55 Cheltenham
Opus Energy Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Sharp Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good; Cross Country Firm-Good to Firm in plcs.
- Surface: Turf
- £21,500 added
- Winner: £12,244
- 2nd: £4,595
- 3rd: £2,300
- 4th: £1,146
- Form 112
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey A E Lynch
led, ridden after 2 out, headed approaching last where mistake, weakened flat
- Form 411103
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in last pair, outpaced 3 out, no impression, never in contention
- Form 1F1-011
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey R M Power
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged after last, driven ahead close home
- Form 232621
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer T Hogan
- Jockey J L Cullen
mid-division, hit 3rd, headway after 3 out, ridden after next, went 4th last, weakened flat
- Form 1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D A Jacob
held up in touch in mid-division, closed from 5th, mistake 3 out, challenged last, soon led, headed close home
- Form 0/3-161
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up in last pair, lost touch 3 out
- Form 2116-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
prominent, went 2nd 5th, hit 3 out, led approaching last, headed flat, no extra towards finish
Gumball
30- Form 3-25
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey D Elsworth
took keen hold, tracked leader after 1st until mistake 5th, awkward 3 out, soon lost place, tailed off
- Form 33268-2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd or 3 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened flat
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Steps To Freedom won a Grade 3 at Punchestown last month after scoring easily in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse on his hurdling debut. Jessica Harrington's gelding should make a bold bid to complete his hat-trick here, despite the double penalty. Prospect Wells was a decent stayer on the level and ran out a ready winner on his hurdles bow at Chepstow. He's got plenty of scope for further improvement and should make his presence felt here but Redera may find this too tough and Flycorn has a lot more on his plate than when justifying favouritism at Tipperary, though is still heading in the right direction. ERICHT is being pitched in at the deep end on his first start over timber but the fact that he was sent off favourite when sixth in last season's Champion Bumper here speaks volumes about his potential and Nicky Henderson's five-year-old gets the nod with recent Cork second Absolutlyfantastic arguably the pick of the remainder.
Formwatch
Absolutlyfantastic 7-2 (11-2) Prominent, 2nd for much, slight mistakes 3 out and 2 out, no impression and kept on same pace from before last, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Rebel Fitz (11-10) at Cork 2m nh nov hdl in Oct.
Redera (IRE) 11-8 (11-12) Held up in touch, lost place 4th, headway approaching 3 out, ridden before next, well held 3rd last, 3rd of 10, 17l behind Jet Master (10-12) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Sep.
Steps To Freedom (IRE) 11-8fav (10-11) Held up in last, mistake 2 out, good headway to challenge approaching last and slightly hampered, slight peck last, soon led, ridden and drifted right run-in, kept on well to assert close home, won at Punchestown 2m hdl Grd 3 (1) in Oct beating Sailors Warn (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Flycorn (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders, closed 3 out, 4th before straight, led approaching last, soon clear, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Tipperary 2m mdn hdl gs in Oct beating Walter De La Mare (11-1) by 4l, 20 ran.
Prospect Wells (FR) 11-4 (10-12) Held up in touch, took keen hold, hampered 4 out, led going well 2 out, quickened to assert flat, ran on well, won at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct beating Battlecat (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 16 ran.
Sublime Talent (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 5th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, challenging when mistake last, driven and edged left flat, kept on to force dead heat post, won at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Oct deadheating with Esporao (11-5), 9 ran.
Ericht (IRE) 5-1fav (11-5) Chased leaders, driven over 4f out, kept on under pressure final 2f, never able to challenge, 6th of 24, 16l behind Cheltenian (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Gumball 3-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division and keen early, soon tracked leaders, lost place from 4 out, headway before 3 out, ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 10, 12l behind Amtired (11-0) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Ohio Gold (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, challenged on bit 3 out, one pace from last, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Knock A Hand (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) hvy.