Racecards
13:40 Cheltenham
Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase (listed) (Class 1)
- 20 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £90,000 added
- Form 121213
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Mr N Scholfield
towards rear, hampered 8th, blundered 10th, ridden and headway 4 out, one pace approaching last
- Form 513/U11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
towards rear, mistake 1st, hampered and unseated rider 8th
- Form 2U-1241
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
in touch, took closer order 8th, ridden to chase leaders approaching 2 out, every chance last, all out towards finish
- Form 190/7-21
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 136
in touch, ridden 3 out, pecked 2 out, held when mistake last
- Form R1P114
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey S Thomas
towards rear, mistake 3rd, reminders 7th, behind from 3 out, pulled up 2 out
- Form 141166
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer E Sheehy
- Jockey Ms K Walsh
towards rear, some headway 3 out, never dangerous
- Form 15P/221
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders, led 4th, ridden when headed 3 out, soon weakened
- Form F41411
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form UF-3F22
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer T J Taaffe
- Jockey B J Geraghty
in touch, took closer order 9th, led 3 out, ridden 2 out, all out near finish
Fleet Street
33- Form 100-130
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
held up, hampered 5th, effort and headway 4 out, kept on, not reached leaders
- Form 9-22213
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey J E Moore
in touch when fell 5th
- Form 26-1154
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up, hampered 8th, behind from 3 out
- Form 02-F211
- Age 10
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
tracked leaders, stumbled after 9th, ridden 3 out, weakening when mistake last
- Form 413521
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
in touch, hampered 8th, behind from next, soon tailed off
- Form 43/4-112
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey L Treadwell
led, hit 3rd, headed 4th, in touch when fell 8th
- Form 20-1114
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey A P McCoy
mid-division, weakened 10th, pulled up before 3 out
Possol (FR)
34- Form 123322
- Age 5
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey M Bradburne
held up, hampered 5th, ridden and headway 4 out, kept on to chase leaders last, not reached leading pair
- Form 111403
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey D N Russell
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
- Form 3P-1433
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
mid-division, reminders 7th, headway 4 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out
- Form 112913
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer C R Egerton
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
mid-division, hampered 8th and lost place, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Dear Villez has the form to win this and can give his rival a real run for their money at the expense of Ambobo and Arturio. The selection made mince meat of his rivals when beating Dusky Warbler by a healthy ten lengths last time out. That form looks solid and although this strong wind might just dry out the ground slightly he seems to handle most surfaces although a decent cut would work in his favour. He looks the stable pick on jockey bookings and for that reason he is respected. Stable second string Arturio was well fancied to score on his latest run at Wincanton but was a disappointing fourth to Stripe Me Blue. On that evidence he will not be good enough but the stable still think a bit of him so any market moves should be noted. Ambobo won a poor Beginners chase at Navan last time out but had good form in France a couple of years ago and was good enough to run at the Festival in the past. He could do no more than win his latest race and as he is still unexposed as a chaser so is worth noting in the market. But for the winner we return to Dear Villez.
Formwatch
Big Buck's (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Held up, jumped slowly 5th and 7th, went 3rd approaching 4 out, ridden after 3 out, edged left approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace last, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Kruguyrova (10-9) at Warwick 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Dear Villez (FR) 8-11fav (11-6) Jumped well, made all, hung left from last, ridden out, won at Newbury 2m 6f nov chs (3) sft in Dec beating Dusky Warbler (11-6) by 10l, 5 ran.
Barbers Shop 5-4fav (11-0) Always prominent, led 4th, not fluent and headed briefly 7th, drew well clear from 4 out, very easily, won at Kempton 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Feb beating Russian Around (11-0) by 17l, 8 ran.
Ambobo (USA) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, improved to close 2nd after 2 out, challenged approaching last, edged ahead run-in, kept on well, won at Naas 2m 3f beg chs sft in Feb beating Macs Mandalus (11-12) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Arturio (FR) Evensfav (11-2) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, effort next, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 7l behind Stripe Me Blue (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Merry Cowboy (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Always behind, slight mistake 1st, trailing from 3 out, 6th of 9, 29l behind Maralan (11-4) at Navan 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Gold Medallist 10-11fav (10-12) Made all, stayed on, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd in Feb beating Rustarix (10-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
The Hairy Lemon 9-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along and headway approaching 3 out, hard ridden to lead after last, battled gamely, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb beating Randwick Roar (11-1) by a hd, 6 ran.
Finger Onthe Pulse (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leader, mistake 2nd, led from next, mistake 5 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on without troubling winner, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Glencove Marina (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m 5f nov chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Fleet Street 50-1 (10-8) Mid-division until weakened after 5th, 16th of 24, 28l behind Wingman (10-0) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Mr Strachan (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Jumped slightly right, chased winner, ridden approaching 4 out, no chance with winner from 2 out, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 5, 19l behind Ornais (11-8) at Newbury 3m nov chs (2) gs in Feb.
Nudge And Nurdle (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up, mistake 1st and 11th, jumped right next and 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 24l behind Lead On (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Gods Token 1-4fav (11-4) Made all, mistake 1st, and 3 out when challenged, ridden clear last, won at Hereford 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd beating Beesneez (10-12) by 16l, 4 ran.
Templer (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, driven after 4 out, led after next, ridden out, won at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd beating Strawberry (10-7) by 3l, 5 ran.
Something Wells (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on, soon held by winner, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Arturio (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Boomshakalaka (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance after 3 out, faded approaching last, hung right flat, 4th of 10, 19l behind Arturio (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Possol (FR) 10-1 (10-11) Tracked winner, led 12th, soon quickened pace, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, kept on, held from next, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Mister Quasimodo (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f Grad Ch (2) gs in Feb.
Lord Ryeford (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (11-10) Tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed after last, no extra, 3rd of 19, 8l behind Lordsbridge (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Feb.
Pauillac (FR) 5-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, headway 7th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, 3rd of 5, 17l behind Templer (11-3) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd.
The Entomologist (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Boomshakalaka (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.