Racecards
15:45 Cheltenham
Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class A )
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good
- Form 2/403-41
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey D R Dennis
in touch, headway approaching 6th, ridden to lead after 2 out, clear last, ran on
- Form 211320
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey W Marston
prominent, keen, led 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, one pace flat
Donald (POL)
44- Form 510310
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
behind, brief effort 8th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before
- Form P1-114
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
mid-division, lost place 7th, ridden after 9th, soon weakened
Jiver (IRE)
21- Form 04-511
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
led, not fluent 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened quickly
- Form P4-00PP
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer S T Lewis
- Jockey P C O'Neill
always behind
- Form 41U-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey J M Maguire
in touch, headway approaching 3 out, outpaced after next, rallied last, one pace flat
Jackson (FR)
23- Form U11-U23
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
held up, headway 10th, outpaced after 3 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on to go 2nd post
Senor Sedona
27- Form 22-5
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey James Davies
held up, headway 10th, weakened after next
- Form 11330-2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P A Pritchard
- Jockey M Bradburne
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Football Crazy is a tough sort who is selected to get back to winning ways ahead of the likes of Brewster, Icy Prospect and Jiver to name but three. Football Crazy won plenty of times on the Flat, and since being sent timber topping has not disappointed connections, scoring on six occasions, with his last victory coming here at Cheltenham. That was in the Centaur Novices' Hurdle in October when Peter Bowen's charge had to do it the hard way from the front. In doing so he displayed abundant stamina, and that will stand him in good stead here as he bids to get back to winning ways after floundering in the soft going at Haydock last week. He holds Icy Prospect on that earlier running here, but Brewster, a course winner last time, may give him something to think about. However, he appears to be a little high in the handicap for what he has achieved, and a career over fences beckons. Jiver is very lightly raced but has already gained a couple of wins with usual pilot Tom Scudamore on board. We expect him to try and force the pace, and if he does, that will allow Football Crazy to tag along before making his move round the home turn. That is the scenario, so let us hope that Football Crazy has read the script!