Racecards
16:00 Cheltenham
Valda Energy Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3)
- 18 Runners
- Distance: 2m 87y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places )
- Surface: Turf
- £16,400 added
- Winner: £8,169
- 2nd: £3,764
- 3rd: £1,881
- 4th: £942
- Form 221122
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
towards rear, headway and ridden before last, no extra final 100yds
- Form 6652-11
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
prominent, lost place and weakened quickly approaching 2 out, rallied briefly after last
- Form R40613
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer J J Hanlon
- Jockey J S McGarvey
mid-division, headway to chase leaders when not fluent 2 out, faded before last
- Form 34321
- Age 4
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer Peter Fahey
- Jockey K C Sexton
midfield, pushed along 3 out, made no impression from 2 out
- Form 22-1132
- Age 4
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey Max Kendrick
towards rear, mistake 5th, ridden after 2 out, kept on well flat, went second final strides
- Form 352111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
led, mistake 4th, ridden approaching last, mistake and headed last, weakened flat
- Form 4123F-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey Paul O'Brien
close up, ridden and every chance before last, no extra final 100yds
- Form 262-232
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey S Bowen
midfield, lost place 5th, pushed along before 2 out, stayed on well from last, nearest finish
- Form 223F2-2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching last, weakened final 100yds
- Form 65-3821
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer K Woollacott
- Jockey J J Burke
prominent, nudged along before 2 out, ridden before last, soon beaten
- Form 240-012
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer P J Rothwell
- Jockey J P O'Sullivan
mid-division, smooth headway going well 2 out, led last, soon ridden, stayed on well flat
- Form 0327-31
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer J G M O'Shea
- Jockey B S Hughes
towards rear, headway going well approaching last, ridden after last, kept on flat
- Form 45-2322
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer I Jardine
- Jockey N F Houlihan
midfield, pushed along 2 out, ridden after last, kept on well, lost second final strides
- Form U154-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, ridden last, ran on flat
- Form 3-74411
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 109
mid-division, niggled along before 2 out, ridden last, no extra final 100yds
- Form 441235/
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer S Durack
- Jockey Darragh O'Keeffe
midfield, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, pushed along 2 out, kept on one pace from last
- Form 244-2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer R J Smith
- Jockey Fergus Gillard
raced keenly, chased leaders, took closer order 4th, close up 3 out, lost place and weakened quickly 2 out
- Form 0533-90
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey Peter Carberry
mid-division, nudged along before 2 out, ridden before last, plugged on one pace flat
- Form 5-3121
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
NonRunner
- Form 142-343
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer Mrs R Ford
- Jockey Thomas Bellamy
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Samba Dancer is on a roll, completing a hat-trick here last month under Liam Harrison. Fergal O’Brien’s hand is strengthened by the inclusion of Castel Gandolfo, Byzantine Empire and City Derby with Paddy Brennan on the latter. Vocal Duke seems to on an upward curve and is on a hat-trick while neither Brorson nor Sashenka would be winning out of turn. Howdyalikemenow has won minor contests at Stratford and Fakenham since joining Evan Williams but Peter Fahey’s Listowel scorer SKIPPIN COURT has more scope and looks better treated so gets the nod.
Formwatch
Percy's Word 8-13fav (11-12) Led until before 3rd, chased leader, not fluent 2 out, challenging when bumped 2 out, driven and every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Any Givin Sunday (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Howdyalikemenow (IRE) 2-7fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led soon after 2nd, ridden and headed bend approaching last, rallied to lead again soon after last, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m (4) gd in Oct beating Auditoria (10-4) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Longacre Square (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, slight mistake in 8th at 5th, not fluent and pushed along next, ridden in 6th after 2 out, headway to 2nd at last, no impression in 3rd 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Mars Harper (12-0) at Downpatrick 2m 3f sft in Oct.
Skippin Court (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Led or disputed, headed 3rd, 2nd halfway, pushed along to press leader 2 out, soon ridden and led narrowly, pressed at last, stayed on well run-in, won at Listowel 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Sep beating Rodaniche (11-9) by 1 3/4l, 18 ran.
Castel Gandolfo (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, closed when not fluent 5th, challenged 3 out, led narrowly last, ridden and headed flat, held close home, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Wasdell Dundalk (11-5) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Samba Dancer (FR) 10-3 (10-8) Led until 1st, tracked leaders, switched right after 2 out, led just before last, hung left flat, driven out, held on, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Straw Fan Jack (11-12) by hd, 12 ran.
Maninsane (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked clear leader, closed to lead 2 out, ridden clear, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Oct beating Foillan (11-4) by 11l, 9 ran.
Brorson (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Pressed leader, led 2 out, headed flat, rallied towards finish, held but stayed on, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Top Bandit (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn (3) gd in Oct.
Sashenka (GER) 9-4fav (11-10) Raced keenly, chased leader until before 3rd, not fluent 5th, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Peltwell (11-5) at Hereford 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Urabamba (IRE) 8-13fav (11-6) Close up and disputed, led 5th, pressed briefly 4 out, ridden to assert approaching 2 out, kept on strongly from before last, comfortably, won at Wexford 2m mdn gd in Aug beating Shamiyan (12-0) by 6 1/2l, 11 ran.
Mc Alpine (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Towards rear, 8th before 7th, improved to 6th before 4 out, headway 2 out, progress to 2nd before last, challenged leader run-in, ridden and kept on same pace closing stages, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Barnacullia (11-9) at Wexford 2m hvy in Oct.
Just The Man (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Waited with in rear, not much room bend after 4 out, good headway on heels of leaders 3 out, led went right and hi last, stayed on strongly, ridden out, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Karakoram (10-0) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Kavanaghs Cross (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked front pair, pressed leaders and pushed along final flight, sustained duel with winner after last, ridden and held towards finish, 2nd of 7, nk behind Hart Of Steel (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
City Derby (IRE) 13-8 (11-4) Chased leader, led before 2 out, soon joined, ridden and stayed on well to assert flat, won at Perth 2m mdn (4) sft in May beating Khanmurjan (11-4) by 3l, 6 ran.
Vocal Duke (IRE) 5-4fav (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd soon after 3 out, led turning in, soon clear, ridden out, eased close home, won at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Vision Clear (10-13) by 6l, 7 ran.
The Swagman (USA) 12-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Mount Olympus (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 6f stks (4) gd in Oct.
Kalyptra (FR) 11-4 (10-12) Raced keenly in clear lead, reduced lead 3 out, joined before 2 out, pushed along and headed narrowly last, ridden and not pace of winner closing stages, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Mon Frere (11-5) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gd in Oct.
Belgoprince (FR) 14-1 (9-12) Mid-division, progress towards outer 3f out, challenged 2 1/2f out, ridden to lead narrowly 2f out and edged left, asserted 1f out, kept on strongly final furlong, won at Navan 1m 6f hcp Yielding in Oct beating Broken Ice (10-1) by 3 1/4l, 23 ran.
Byzantine Empire 6-4fav (11-3) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, led 4th, hung right on paddock bend soon after and headed, led again 5th, kicked clear 2 out, stayed on, won at Southwell 2m (4) gd in Jul beating Splinter (10-10) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Flamenco De Kerser (FR) 18-1 (12-0) Keen in rear, not fluent 1st, headway after 3 out, chased winner next, ridden and kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Borak (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Sep.