Racecards
11:30 Cheltenham
British EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 179y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,256
- 2nd: £1,848
- 3rd: £924
- 4th: £462
- Form F-11
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up, closed when not fluent 3 out, went 2nd after final bend, led last, driven flat, headed towards finish
- Form 25-12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
tracked leaders, mistake 5th, sprawled on landing and unseated rider
- Form 22/4-721
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
raced keenly, led until after 1st, pressed leader, led 2nd, headed after 3 out, led before 2 out, headed final bend, soon edged left and held, 3rd and no extra last
- Form 28-6
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
not always fluent in rear, niggled along after 3 out, went 4th after 2 out, no impression, stumbled flat
- Form U7-6242
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 117
led after 1st, not fluent and headed 5th, led after 3 out, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
- Form F/1-2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up in touch, led final bend, headed last, stayed on well, led again towards finish
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Second to a well-regarded novice at Lingfield with a subsequent winner back in third, Make Me A Believer should be winning over hurdles sooner rather than later. Any News was impressive when making a winning start over timber at Bangor but Lord Baddesley failed to land the odds on a return visit to Fontwell having won there earlier. It took LUCKY ONE six attempts to get off the mark but the drop back to a stiff 2m at Southwell last time did the trick and his proven stamina could also be an advantage around here.
Formwatch
Any News (IRE) 13-8 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, clear approaching last, comfortable, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Nov beating Easy As That (11-0) by 10l, 4 ran.
Lord Baddesley (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Tracked leader, untidy at 6th, pressed leader 3 out, every chance 2 out, second at last, kept on until no extra run-in, 2nd of 4, 3 3/4l behind Furkash (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) hvy in Nov.
Lucky One (FR) 5-6fav (11-0) Disputed lead early, prominent 4th, headway to lead going best 2 out, extended advantage before last, won hard-held, won at Southwell 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec beating Fletch (11-0) by 14l, 13 ran.
Butte Montana (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th or 7th, shaken up after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, dist behind Real Stone (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Oct.
Caddyhill (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Jumped right throughout, led, headed briefly 4th, led soon after, headed when blundered 2 out, ridden to lead before last, headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Get Your Own (10-12) at Southwell 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Make Me A Believer (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Prominent, close up 2nd, chased leader 3 out, close up 2 out, kept on but no chance with winner from last, 2nd of 16, 4 1/2l behind Bear Ghylls (11-2) at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Oct.