Racecards
17:30 Cheltenham
Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) (Class 1)
- 19 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 78y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £70,000 added
- Winner: £39,865
- 2nd: £14,959
- 3rd: £7,490
- 4th: £3,731
- Form 129-111
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey W T Kennedy
in touch, pressed leader from 4th, hit and lost place 4 out, soon pushed along, weakened from next
- Form 3U-2223
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer T M Walsh
- Jockey Mark Walsh
mid-division, close up on outside after 7th, ridden after 3 out, one pace and no impression before next, weakened flat
- Form P/45-21F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Jack Kennedy
mid-division, blundered badly and lost place 4 out, not recover and pulled up before next
- Form 071113
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey T Scudamore
tracked leaders, blundered and lost place 7th, towards rear when hampered and brought down 9th
- Form 131114
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey B J Geraghty
mid-division, lost place 8th, behind from 11th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before next
- Form 0-11250
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey D Robinson
mistake 3rd, always in rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
- Form 427-311
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey N D Fehily
prominent, pressed leader after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, one pace before last, well held in 4th flat
- Form U18-1U1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey J McGrath
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, driven to challenge between last 2, ridden after last, led flat, stayed on under pressure when hard pressed inside final 100 yards, headed post
- Form 24-2522
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon outpaced and beaten, pulled up before next
- Form 220-1U1
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
pressed leader, led 3rd, ridden when hard pressed after 2 out, headed flat, kept on until no extra in 3rd inside final 100 yards
- Form 41F224
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey J J Burke
mid-division, tracked leaders 7th, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened last
- Form 8/323P-4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
tracked leaders, driven and effort after 3 out, ridden after next, one pace when blundered and pecked last, well held flat
- Form 2-21244
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Thomas Bellamy
mid-division, driven after 3 out, ridden and kept on under pressure from last, never troubled leaders
- Form 25-82D1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
chased leaders to 3rd, mid-division, fell 9th
- Form 043-313
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up behind, fell 6th
Markov (IRE)
24- Form 343-11F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 138
mistake 1st, soon towards rear on outside, lost touch and pulled up after 7th
- Form 235F10
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Jamie Bargary
led to 3rd, tracked leaders, blundered 5 out, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 163123
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up towards rear, slightly hampered 9th, outpaced after 3 out, ridden after next, plugged on flat, never theatened leaders
- Form 43-3121
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey B S Hughes
held up in touch in mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden to chase front pair approaching last, stayed on strongly to challenge inside final 100 yards, led post
- Form 225-112
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Non Runner
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Chasers carrying the JP McManus colours have a good record in this. Two are decked out in the famous green and gold today and Any Second Now is interesting running in his first handicap as he’s been unlucky to come up twice against Footpad in novice events this season and finished second in the other two. Demi Sang looks held on their latest run together in the Arkle at Leopardstown, though it may not pay to take that form too literally. De Plotting Shed, another Irish raider running in his first handicap, has been popular since the weights were published but connections seem to be struggling to determine his best trip. BARNEY DWAN seems to be finally getting his act together over the larger obstacles and races off the same mark as when second in last year’s Pertemps Final over hurdles here. The going won’t be a problem and he might be the one to beat if the fences don’t get in the way and he has some luck in-running. Rather Be looks a better bet than stablemate Divine Spear but appears to have his fair share of weight compared to the likes of Kayf Adventure and course winner Mister Whitaker. Testify would need another career-best to make the frame but Ballyhill is likely to picking off rivals in the closing stages and shouldn’t be ignored.
Formwatch
Testify (IRE) 8-15fav (11-0) Led, headed after 2nd, tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden and clear after 2 out, kept on well, ridden out, won at Haydock 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan beating Lake View Lad (11-0) by 7l, 3 ran.
Any Second Now (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Soon well off paced in 4th, disputed 3rd and no impression when left in that position at last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 24l behind Footpad (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Feb.
Tycoon Prince (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) Soon well off pace in 3rd, joined for that position and no impression when fell last, at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Feb.
Le Rocher (FR) 3-1jfav (11-8) Left in lead 1st, headed 6th, tracked leader, challenged 4 out, led again next, 1 length advantage when blundered badly and headed 2 out, no impression with clear pair after, 3rd of 6, 14 1/2l behind Allysson Monterg (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) hvy in Feb.
Demi Sang (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Bad mistake 1st, in rear and soon well off pace, never a factor, 4th of 5, dist behind Footpad (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Feb.
Conrad Hastings (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division early, moderate 11th from 8th, bad mistake 2 out and no extra, 12th of 20, dist behind Patricks Park (9-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp sft in Feb.
Barney Dwan (IRE) 10-11fav (11-4) Tracked leader, challenged 5th, led 7th, headed after next, led again 9th, not fluent 10th, headed 12th, pressed leader when left clear 4 out, stayed on, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f (3) gs in Feb beating Alzammaar (11-4) by 5l, 5 ran.
Rather Be (IRE) 2-7fav (11-3) Jumped right at times, made all, clear 3 out, canter, won at Fakenham 2m (3) sft in Feb beating Positively Dylan (11-8) by 17l, 5 ran.
De Plotting Shed (IRE) 10-11fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, some headway approaching straight, progress to dispute 2 out, headed early run-in, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Montalbano (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m hvy in Jan.
Rocklander (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Mostly jumped well, made all, clear after 12th until hit next, pushed along 3 out, ridden and in command last, kept on gamely run-in, ridden out, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Duke Des Champs (11-3) by 3 1/4l, 4 ran.
Western Miller (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Led until not fluent 8th, chased winner until pushed along before 4 out, mistake next, ridden and no impression when weakened into 4th 2 out, 4th of 5, dist behind Willoughby Court (11-1) at Newbury 2m 4f (1) gs in Dec.
Ibis Du Rheu (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden before hit 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, dist behind Indy Five (10-3) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Jameson 6-1 (11-5) Awkward 1st, tracked leading pair, pushed along before 4 out, ridden when weakened 2 out, lost modest 3rd run-in, last of 4, 19 1/4l behind Saint Calvados (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Report To Base (IRE) 4-11fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 4 out, clear after 2 out, comfortably, won at Hereford 2m (4) sft in Jan beating Shear Rock (11-2) by 10l, 6 ran.
Livelovelaugh (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-2) Led, disputed from before 9th, led 6 out, pressed 3 out, ridden and joined entering straight, headed 2 out, no extra in 4th before last, left 3rd last, 3rd of 5, 18 1/2l behind Moulin A Vent (11-2) at Naas 3m (1) Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Markov (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, fell 6 out, at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Ballyhill (FR) 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway on outside 11th, mistake 4 out, outpaced when pecked next, soon weakened, tailed off, 10th of 14, dist behind Frodon (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Kayf Adventure 4-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out until 2 out, one pace last, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Cobra De Mai (11-1) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Mister Whitaker (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, tracked leaders before 3 out, challenged next, led between last 2, ridden and edged left after last, held on under pressure flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Theatre Territory (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Divine Spear (IRE) 1-3fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Delegate (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f (4) gs in Feb.