Racecards
13:50 Cheltenham
Racing Post Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 127y
- Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £130,000 added
- Winner: £74,035
- 2nd: £27,781
- 3rd: £13,910
- 4th: £6,929
- Form 17/P144-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Charlie Deutsch
towards rear, mistake 11th and pushed along, hit 4 out, soon beaten
- Form 6/02P-31
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Ryan Mania
chased leaders, went 2nd after 13th, pressed leader before 2 out, hit 2 out, soon pushed along, ridden and switched left after last, no extra closing stages
- Form P12P-21
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey D A Jacob
handy, not fluent 8th, bad mistake 10th and dropped to mid-division, shaken up before 3 out and went 5th, ridden before 2 out, chased leaders before last, stayed on but no extra run-in
- Form 433/P-P3
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
front mid-division, went prominent 10th, ridden after 3 out, gradually weakened from 2 out
Zanza (IRE)
28- Form 1FP6-36
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
in rear, pushed along before 3 out, ridden in close 6th and not clear run before 2 out, stayed on well after last, never nearer
- Form 1323U-4
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
towards rear, pushed along early, pulled up quickly before 4th
- Form 113168
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey S Bowen
mid-division, dropped to rear 6th, reminders 7th, struggling from 4 out
- Form 11PF/U-7
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
prominent, ridden and weakened tamely 2 out
- Form 6344-2F
- Age 10
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
made all, pushed along and pressed before 2 out, ridden before last, jumped right final fence, stayed on strongly, gamely
- Form 30/P-350
- Age 8
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Brendan Powell
towards rear, headway into mid-division before 12th, ridden before 2 out, disputed 3rd 2 out, stayed on but no extra after last
Farinet (FR)
273- Form P4/3231-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
front mid-division, lost place and pushed along 13th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up
- Form P2435/3
- Age 8
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
in rear early, ridden in mid-division before 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 256P2U
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
towards rear mid-division, mistake 4 out, ridden and gradually faded from 2 out
- Form 7610-5F
- Age 8
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Non Runner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
MIDNIGHT SHADOW (NAP) was left clear by the fall of Coole Cody in the Paddy Power here last month and, despite a blunder at the last, held off the fast-finishing Protektorat, an easy winner since at Aintree, up the hill for his biggest success to date. Both third and fourth, Lalor and Dostal Phil, are better off at the weights but Sue Smith’s gelding loves it here and can complete a big-race double. Farinet is a likely improver this season while Fusil Raffles won the Grade 2 Charlie Hall at the end of October and will have no problems dropping back in distance. Silver Hallmark remains unexposed and has no Fiddlerontheroof to contend with today so can also get involved.
Formwatch
Cepage (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Prominent on outside, lost place 16th, well beaten 3 out, stayed on strongly from last, went 4th towards finish, 4th of 16, 10 1/4l behind Vintage Clouds (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Midnight Shadow 9-1 (11-5) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 3 out, left in clear lead next, stumbled badly last, idled run-in, always just doing enough, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov beating Protektorat (11-12) by 3/4l, 19 ran.
Fusil Raffles (FR) 10-3 (11-0) Towards rear, not and went third fluent 10th, hit 13th, pushed along before 4 out, left in lead 3 out, ridden and stayed on, all out, won at Wetherby 3m (1) gs in Oct beating Kitty's Light (11-0) by 4 1/4l, 7 ran.
Lalor (GER) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders out wide, 5th and plenty to do at the last, stayed on into 3rd run-in, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 19, 2 1/4l behind Midnight Shadow (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Zanza (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, towards rear and struggling 12th, mistake 4 out, stayed on well run-in, never nearer, 6th of 19, 5 1/2l behind Midnight Shadow (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Dostal Phil (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Towards rear of mid-division, headway last, stayed on well run-in, nearest finish, 4th of 19, 3 1/4l behind Midnight Shadow (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Francky Du Berlais (FR) 22-1 (11-11) Held up in mid-division, shaken up after 3 out, never on terms, well beaten 2 out, 8th of 13, dist behind Mac Tottie (11-1) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Siruh Du Lac (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Led until after 2nd, chased leader, not fluent 3rd, led 3 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 34 3/4l behind Bardenstown Lad (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct.
Coole Cody (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Chased leader, led 2nd, ridden and 1 length ahead when fell 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Deyrann de Carjac (FR) 50-1 (10-9) Never closer than mid-division, last pair and struggling 8th, tailed off, 11th of 19, 9 1/4l behind Midnight Shadow (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Farinet (FR) 13-2 (10-5) Stumbled badly 1st, chased leader until 5th, remained handy, went 2nd again at 13th, led before 3 out, pushed along and joined next, headed last, rallied gamely to lead again inside final 150 yards, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar beating Up The Straight (11-1) by 6 1/2l, 9 ran.
Beakstown (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-6) Mid-division, headway 12th, mistake 4 out, switched left before 3 out, driven after 2 out, 3rd and held last, 3rd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Linelee King (10-11) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Topofthecotswolds (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Unseated rider 1st in mid-division, at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Silver Hallmark 17-2 (11-8) In touch on outer, pushed along and outpaced 3 out, stayed on one pace thereafter, 4th of 6, 10 1/4l behind Fiddlerontheroof (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Oct.
Joke Dancer 9-1 (11-3) Prominent throughout, pressed leader before 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, not fluent and jumped right 3 out, weakened 2 out, fell, at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Nov.