Racecards
14:00 Cheltenham
Royal & Sunalliance Novices' Hurdle (Class A)
- 19 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Form 0-1U122
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
finished 18th placed 17th, in touch driven after 6th, soon weakened
- Form 16-2111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A Dobbin
finished 2nd placed last, tracked leaders, led 6, mistake 3 out, edged left before next, headed before last, kept on same pace flat
- Form 113
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
finished 11th placed 10th, led to 6th, weakened before 3 out
- Form 323231
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
finished 5th, placed 4th, held up, headway and mistake 3 out, kept on from last
- Form 16-1112
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
tracked leaders, ridden to lead, mistake last, driven out
- Form 112321
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
finished 9th placed 8th, held up, mistake 4th, never nearer
- Form 11-111
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey W Marston
finished 4th, placed 3rd, not fluent 3rd, held up, steady headway and mistake 6th every chance when not much room and hampered 2 out, ridden and 1 paced before last
- Form 26-2312
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer M Grassick
- Jockey Paul Carberry
finished 17th placed 16th, held up, some headway 7th, mistake and weakened 3 out
- Form 321/212
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey C F Swan
finished 15th placed 14th, chased leader, hit 3 out and weakened
- Form 161213
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer Ms F Crowley
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
finished 7th placed 6th, in mid-division, hit 4 out, kept on under pressure from 2 out, nearest finish
- Form 1/11-131
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer E O'Grady
- Jockey N Williamson
finished 3rd placed 2nd, held up, steady headway 6th, tracked leaders and going well before 2 out, ridden and outpaced before last, stayed on under pressure flat
Puntal (FR)
19- Form F12201
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
finished 16th placed 15th, prominent, behind from 5th
- Form 1-P23
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
finished 14th placed 13th, held up, headway 6th, weakened next
- Form 52111
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Gus Brown
finished 12th placed 11th, prominent until weakened 3 out
Sh Boom
10- Form 61-1121
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey L Cooper
finished 6th placed 5th, held up in mid-division, mistake 6th, kept on from 3 out, not pace to challenge
- Form 1-111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey P Flynn
finished 8th placed 7th, held up, nearest finish
Texas Ranger
18- Form 105430
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
finished 10th placed 9th, held up, mistake 4 out, struggling from next
- Form F13066
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
finished 13th placed 12th always behind
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
A highly competitive renewal with a number of leading contenders but statistics point to the favourite with seven of the last 11 runnings going to the market leader. With that in mind, Pizarro looks the horse to concentrate on having dominated the ante-post lists following an impressive campaign over hurdles since landing the Festival bumper from Rhinestone Cowboy twelve months ago. Edward O'Grady's charge has taken well to hurdling with wide-margin wins over two-and-a-half miles at Down Royal and Navan either side of his sole career defeat when subsequently found to have suffered a throat problem. The son of Broken Hearted faces by far his stiffest test to date but looks up to the challenge on a track that clearly suits and gets the vote. Coolnagorna comes here on a four-timer and looked particularly impressive when hacking up over this trip in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury. However, there is a strong suspicion that Jonjo O'Neill's charge ideally prefers more testing conditions to show his best. Hardy Eustace and Puntal both look sure to appreciate the step up to this trip while Lord Sam, who remains unbeaten from five career starts, and Foreman, who put up a high-class performance at Kempton last time, are others to consider in a fascinating opener.