Racecards
16:00 Cheltenham
Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Grade 3 Handicap Chase) (Class 1)
- 23 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £90,000 added
- Winner: £51,255
- 2nd: £19,233
- 3rd: £9,630
- 4th: £4,797
- Form 03-3623
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 155
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up in mid-division, headway 9th, not fluent 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 37-U467
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
held up in mid-division, switched left before 3 out, nudged along before 2 out, stayed on flat, never nearer
- Form 32-71P3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
mid-division, headway 9th, ridden after 3 out, weakened last
- Form 595-426
- Age 12
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Peter Carberry
prominent, led 4th until before 6th, lost place 9th, blundered 11th, well beaten 3 out
- Form 903-283
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey N D Fehily
in touch, lost place before 8th, behind when blundered badly 3 out
- Form 151-151
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up, niggled along after 11th, headway on outside 2 out, ran on flat, went 4th close home
- Form 21773-F
- Age 11
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up, mistake 5th, in rear when mistake 10th, soon pulled up
- Form 3/2-U114
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey D A Jacob
led until blundered 2nd, rider lost reins and pulled up before next
- Form 2P-313P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey B J Cooper
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, hampered after next, led before 6th, ridden after 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, no extra final 150 yards
- Form 8P-F112
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey A P McCoy
chased leaders, jumped left 1st, ridden before 2 out, beaten when mistake last, weakened flat
- Form F1-4033
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey J J Burke
prominent, left in lead after 2nd, headed 4th, stayed handy, one pace 2 out, weakened flat
- Form 11U122
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
mid-division, closed after 5th, tracking leaders when not fluent 3 out, stayed on flat, unable to challenge
- Form 9520-57
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey B S Hughes
chased leaders, hampered after 2nd, ridden 3 out, lost place before next, weakened flat
- Form 79-7700
- Age 10
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey Conor Shoemark
prominent, with leader 7th, every chance 3 out, still close up next, one pace and no impression final 150 yards
Rawnaq (IRE)
25- Form 3-03141
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 141
prominent, ridden after 3 out, every chance when mistake last, soon lost 2nd, kept on same pace towards finish
- Form 27-2536
- Age 11
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
mid-division, closed after 5th, ridden and lost place before 3 out
- Form 1F7/157
- Age 9
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey David Bass
tracked leaders, mistake 10th, led 2 out, pressed flat, found extra and in command towards finish
- Form 40-57P3
- Age 10
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Keevil
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up, hampered 4 out, headway before 2 out, switched left between last 2, stayed on flat, not reach leaders
- Form 120313
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey R M Power
slowly into stride, took keen hold, held up in rear, still travelling well 3 out, shaken up before 2 out, no impression and soon weakened
- Form 123-41F
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey Tom Cannon
held up, ridden before 3 out, no progress
- Form 45-3531
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
not that fluent and sometimes jumped right, always behind
- Form 00PP-31
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
slowly into stride, held up, mid-division 13th, not fluent 4 out, closed next, went 2nd soon after last, soon every chance, no impression towards finish
- Form 641000
- Age 10
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer T Mullins
- Jockey D J Mullins
mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, no impression after
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
This is a race which tends to favour those nearer the bottom of the handicap so Nicky Henderson may be out of luck saddling three out of the top four in the weights, though Hunt Ball and Rajdhani Express are both former Festival winners. Buywise goes well here and Evan Williams has done his utmost to protect his handicap mark this season by campaigning him largely over fences. He should go well and Caid Du Berlais won the Paddy Power here in November, though is 8lb higher. Monetaire won over 2m1f at Newbury in November and has been rested since. He stays this longer trip and has been well backed ante-post but there has only been one single-figure odds winner of this since the turn of the century, though that was also trained by David Pipe. ATTAGLANCE is still a maiden over fences but has a first and a second to his name at The Festival and this is his time of year. He's still high enough in the weights but has dropped a little lately and it would be no surprise to see him in the firing-line again if getting the run of the race. Burn And Turn, second to Road To Riches in the Galway Plate last year, could be the pick of the Irish if the ground continues to dry out.
Formwatch
Hunt Ball (IRE) 6-4 (11-0) Raced wide, led, not fluent 1st, not fluent and headed 12th, chased winner, hit 3 out, soon lost 2nd and weakened, last of 3, 26l behind Balder Succes (11-5) at Kempton 2m 4f lst chs (1) sft in Jan.
Rajdhani Express 20-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, mid-division 6th, headway chasing leaders travelling well before 3 out, faded next, tired when blundered last,, 7th of 14, 33l behind Rocky Creek (11-11) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Feb.
Caid Du Berlais (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway 10th, close 3rd 2 out, one pace last, stayed on final 100 yards, just failed to get 2nd, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Splash of Ginge (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
French Opera 8-1 (11-12) Well off the pace in rear, never in the race, 6th of 8, 39l behind Brick Red (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Edgardo Sol (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Jumped left, held up, mistake 11th, headway when hit 4 out, went 2nd behind clear leader after 3 out, no impression, stayed on, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Niceonefrankie (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Buywise (IRE) 1-7fav (11-11) Tracked leader until after 5th, went 2nd after 4 out, led 3 out, clear next, not fluent last, heavily eased flat, won at Ffos Las 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Berea Venture (11-4) by 5l, 4 ran.
Dare Me (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st and 12th, headway when hampered 3 out, 4 lengths 3rd and staying on when fell last, in a race won by Annacotty (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Kings Lad (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 5, 28l behind Vibrato Valtat (11-7) at Warwick 2m nov chs G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Make A Track (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Prominent early, slow 2nd, soon chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden and no impression 4 out, weakened and pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Djakadam (11-10) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp chs hvy in Jan, 17 ran.
Un Ace (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Chased leader until not fluent 12th, left 2nd 4 out, challenged 2 out, awkward landing last, no impression final 100 yards, 2nd of 3, 1 1/2l behind Champagne West (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gs in Dec.
Aupcharlie (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd at 11th, not fluent 3 out, dropped to 4th and pushed along, driven into 3rd 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 6, 24l behind Roi Du Mee (11-9) at Tramore 2m 6f lst chs (1) sft in Jan.
Hollow Penny 12-1 (11-4) Chased clear leading pair, outpaced when mistake 11th, plugged on into poor 2nd at the last, never any chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Irish Saint (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Attaglance 9-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, lost place 2nd, pushed along 8th, behind when not fluent 11th, 7th of 12, 46l behind Niceonefrankie (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Champion Court (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, some headway 13th, never on terms and well beaten before 3 out, 10th of 13, 36l behind Splash of Ginge (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
Rawnaq (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Tracked leader in 2nd, jumped left 3rd, improved to lead 3 out, soon ridden, strongly pressed next, headed approaching last, rallied to dispute lead at last, stayed on well to regain lead inside final furlong, won at Navan 2m 1f nov chs G2 (1) in Feb beating Gilgamboa (11-10) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
De Boitron (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, lost place 4 out, soon ridden, weakened from next, 6th of 7, 20l behind Royal Regatta (11-7) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Jan.
Darna 12-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway before 8th, tracking leaders after 3 out, lost place before next, 7th of 13, 20l behind Splash of Ginge (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
Bally Legend 25-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, reminders 10th, headway before 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 14, 9l behind Rocky Creek (11-11) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Feb.
Burn And Turn (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Ran 3rd, pushed along and no extra after 3 out, eased, last of 3, well behind Don Cossack (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f chs G2 (1) in Nov.
No Buts 13-2 (11-3) Prominent, not fluent 8th, ridden 12th, losing place when fell 4 out, in a race won by Niceonefrankie (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
Filbert (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) In rear, awkward 4th, headway 10th, challenged 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Jan beating Tango De Juilley (11-7) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Monetaire (FR) 2-1fav (10-9) Chased leaders, 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, in command last, driven and kept on run-in, won at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov beating Solar Impulse (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Klepht (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 11th, ridden and no extra after 4 out, weakened, 14th of 26, well behind Living Next Door (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcap ch hvy in Dec.
Bobcatbilly (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, led before 3 out, stayed on flat, driven out, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Feb beating Wings Of Smoke (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.