Racecards
14:20 Cheltenham
Sporting Index Chase (A Cross Country Chase ) (Class B)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 3m 7f
- Going: Good
- Form 21242-6
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 20th, weakened after 2 out
Famfoni (FR)
233- Form 341/PPP-
- Age 11
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey R Thornton
hampered and lost place 4th, headway 22nd, chased leaders next, weakened approaching last
- Form 6/61021-
- Age 12
- Weight 11-8
pulled hard, held up, always behind
- Form 135-4P1
- Age 9
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey K Mercer
held up in mid-division, headway going well 28th, not much room on inside bend approaching 2 out, weakened before last
- Form PFP-0PR
- Age 11
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey A O'keeffe
held up in rear, good headway 20th, chased leaders 4 out, stayed on under pressure flat
- Form 2255-10
- Age 11
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Mr J T McNamara
held up in mid-division, steady headway from 19th, effort 28th, left 2nd 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, led final 100 yards
- Form P5U/30-P
- Age 12
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 27th
Belski
13- Form 31P1P-5
- Age 11
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
led 3rd to 11th, led 16th until jumped slowly and headed 18th, soon weakened
- Form 521055
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Oliver McKiernan
- Jockey G Cotter
held up, steady headway to chase leaders 25th, left in lead as leader took wrong course 2 out, clear last, idled flat, headed final 100 yards, kept on
- Form 326P-3U
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Mrs Susan Nock
- Jockey S Stronge
held up in mid-division, mistake 11th, weakened and lost place after 23rd
Blazing Batman
191- Form 33520-5
- Age 11
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Dr P Pritchard
- Jockey Dr P Pritchard
prominent, just in touch when blundered and lost place 15th, tailed off
- Form 31-4416
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Mrs G Harvey
- Jockey T Doyle
in touch, mistake and hampered 26th, lost place next
- Form 1-11111
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
led to 3rd, stayed tracking leaders, led and pecked 23rd, going strongly when rider steered wrong course approaching 2 out
Kyrton (CZE)
33- Form F-5F6
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer Pavel Slozil
- Jockey Pavel Slozil
behind most of way, tailed off when pulled up before 24th
- Form 3000F6
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
tracked leader from 3rd, hit 9th, led 11th, mistake 20th, headed 23rd, soon lost place
- Form 3PP23-0
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
prominent when fell 4th
In depth
Verdict
This race is given added interest by the participation of dual Velka Pardubicka winner Registana, who obviously has to be respected along with fellow Czech raider Kyrton but preference is for Spot Thedifference. The selection won the La Touche Cup at the Punchestown Festival and should be spot on for this after a recent reappearance at Naas. Famfoni won this event 12 months ago but this year's renewal looks tougher for Kim Bailey's gelding, who may need the outing on his reappearance anyway. With Ferdy Murphy's string in such good form Haut de Gamme and Luzcadou have to be respected although a bigger threat may come from another Irish challenger Go Roger Go. Eddie O'Grady's gelding is race fit following two starts this term and has claims if taking to this unique course. Comanche War Paint is interesting representing the stable of Paul Nicholls but Spot Thedifference, who is being aimed at the cross country race at the Cheltenham Festival, is taken to make a winning debut on the course.