Racecards
14:55 Cheltenham
Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class B)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 3m 1f 110y
- Going: Good
- Form 50133-0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
jumped right and never going in rear
- Form 224P-11
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey A P McCoy
always in touch, headway after 7th, led approaching 9th, ridden after 2 out, blundered last, all out
- Form 100-443
- Age 10
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey J Culloty
led, reminders after 7th, headed approaching 9th, soon beaten
- Form 33P-R11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey B J Crowley
in touch, headway 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
Creon
13- Form 61/016-3
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey T J Phelan
in touch, mistake 5th, headway 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
- Form 21/105-1
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey Dave Crosse
in touch, ridden 9th, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on approaching last, not trouble leaders
- Form 30-11
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer P Haslam
- Jockey R Thornton
held up, good headway 9th, chased winner approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
- Form 3121-2U
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
chased leaders, led briefly approaching 9th, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out
- Form 50122-1
- Age 5
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer Mrs S Williams
- Jockey C Llewellyn
chased leaders until 8th, weakened after 4 out
- Form 000P-00
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Mr T J Malone
held up, headway after 4 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, rallied well under pressure flat, stayed on
Gebora (FR)
15- Form U24461
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey J P Elliott
held up, some headway 4 out, soon ridden, weakened
- Form 52P100
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Dr P Pritchard
- Jockey Dr P Pritchard
chased leaders until 7th, soon behind
In depth
Verdict
A wide open renewal can go to Creon, with many dangers including Battle Warning, Miss Cool, His Nibs, and Positive Profile to name but four. Jonjo O'Neill did have Sh Boom earmarked for this race but the fact that he runs Creon instead suggests that he is fit and ready after his comeback third over fences at Towcester a fortnight ago. Granted he is not as well treated over timber as fences but was good enough to finish sixth to stablemate Inching Closer in the Pertemps Final at the Festival in March. Any money for him would increase our faith in the eight-year-old, who is invariably well backed when he does win. Tom Phelan has been in the saddle for three of his six career victories, and can claim a valuable five pounds. Battle Warning defied nearly a stone rise in the weights when battling home at Ascot to supplement earlier Aintree gains, and he will not go down without a fight here. Tony McCoy rides him rather than Miss Cool who has had a rest since scoring in novice chase company at Newton Abbot in July. His Nibs is on a roll, having gained back-to-back successes at Lingfield and Market Rasen. He did not take to fences but has appreciated a step up in trip and is another that can figure in proceedings. Positive Profile is yet another with claims, having doubled up at Kelso and Doncaster since finishing ninth in the Cesarewitch. He will stay and makes some appeal as a place prospect. It is a hard one to call, but Creon gets a tentative vote.