Racecards
15:30 Cheltenham
Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 3m 2f 70y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £625,000 added
- Winner: £351,688
- 2nd: £132,500
- 3rd: £66,312
- 4th: £33,125
- Form 1R/11-21
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 175
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
mid-division, mistake 13th, not fluent 14th, headway 17th, led 4 out, hard pressed from 3 out, headed narrowly before last, led again just after last, stayed on well, held on
- Form 1F34-22
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 170
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey D A Jacob
prominent, led 4th, headed after 12th, led 13th until 14th, mistake 17th, soon ridden along, weakened after 3 out, well beaten when slightly hampered 2 out
- Form 215-P11
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 165
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up towards rear, headway approaching 18th, weakened before 2 out
- Form 1152-21
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 173
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
mid-division, closed when not fluent 3 out, soon pushed along, no impression, well held 2 out
- Form 13-1411
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 171
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Mark Walsh
held up in rear, mistake 2nd and 16th, headway when not much room and switched right after 3 out, stayed on, not trouble leaders
- Form 66-236P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 161
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
led 1st, not fluent 3rd, headed 4th, led after 12th, headed next, ridden from 15th, weakened after 4 out
- Form 1U1-142
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 175
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr P W Mullins
led until jumped right 1st, soon in mid-division, mistake 15th, towards rear when mistake 18th, some headway 2 out, no impression, edged left flat
- Form 221-11P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 173
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey R M Power
travelled well, in touch in mid-division on inside, closed 7th, challenged before 2 out, led narrowly before last, headed just after last, held and lost 2nd towards finish
- Form 214-P32
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 168
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
raced freely, chased leaders, led 14th, not fluent 16th, headed 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on flat
- Form 1/18-353
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 166
- Trainer P G Kelly
- Jockey D N Russell
held up towards rear, mistake 18th, closed after 3 out, 7th and staying on when fell 2 out
- Form 2-1141P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 164
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey B S Hughes
held up in rear on outside, headway 4 out, every chance 2 out, weakened final 150 yards
- Form 1/132-11
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 171
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
chased leaders, not much room 1st, closed on inside from 18th, unable to go with leaders briefly 2 out, not much room between last 2, switched right after last, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish, just held
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Last year’s winner AL BOUM PHOTO has had just one run since finishing second to Aintree winner Kemboy in the Punchestown Gold Cup last May, winning a Grade 3 at Tramore without being asked a serious question. He has clearly been laid out for a repeat and will take some stopping. Santini was having only his second start of the season and his first since wind surgery when outpointing last year’s third Bristol De Mai in the Cotswold Chase here in January, though he was receiving a couple of pounds from the grey. Last year’s RSA Chase runner-up has a solid Festival record, however, and should give a good account. Something was clearly amiss with Lostintranslation when pulled up in the King George as he’d looked the real deal when beating Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. Clan Des Obeaux won the King George for the second time but was only fifth in this last year and is 0-5 at Cheltenham, though was ahead of Delta Work at Down Royal earlier this season and Gordon Elliott’s Festival winner has won twice at the highest level since. He beat Kemboy and Presenting Percy last time and Monalee the time before.
Formwatch
Al Boum Photo (FR) 4-7fav (11-12) Disputed until headed before 2nd, close 3rd after, not fluent 3rd, 2nd from 8th, not fluent 11th, disputed from 12th, led 5 out, 3 length advantage after 2 out, kept on well under hands and heels run-in, comfortably, won at Tramore 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan beating Acapella Bourgeois (11-1) by 6l, 4 ran.
Bristol De Mai (FR) 9-4 (11-6) Led until pecked 3 out, led again next, headed flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Santini (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Chris's Dream (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Made all and kept wide, soon clear, jumped right, reduced advantage of 2 lengths at halfway, pushed along 2 out, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb beating Shattered Love (10-10) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Clan Des Obeaux (FR) 11-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 11th, challenged going well 3 out, led next, soon clear, very easily, won at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec beating Cyrname (11-10) by 21l, 5 ran.
Delta Work (FR) 5-2 (11-10) Held up in 6th, 5th 4 out, close 4th 2 out, ridden entering straight, improved to lead narrowly approaching last, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Feb beating Kemboy (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, mistake 9th, headway when mistake 10th, jumped right 11th and 12th, weakened 14th, tailed off 17th, pulled up before 4 out, at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Kemboy (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 1st, mistake 12th, slight mistake 13th and dropped to 3rd, improved to dispute lead 2 out, soon ridden, headed narrowly before last, slight mistake at last, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Delta Work (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Lostintranslation (IRE) 15-8 (11-10) Bit keen, tracked leaders, dropped to rear at 4th, rallied chasing leaders when mistake 13th, reached for 4 out, weakened and behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Monalee (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 3rd, joined from 8th, soon led again, joined after 2 out, headed approaching straight, soon back on terms, regained lead before last, narrowly headed and rider lost right iron closing stages, kept on well, 2nd of 8, hd behind Delta Work (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Presenting Percy 10-3 (11-10) Held up in rear, last and niggled briefly after 7th, good headway 3 out, improved to dispute lead on inner and slight mistake 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, 3rd at last, kept on same pace in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Delta Work (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Real Steel (FR) Evensfav (11-8) Mid-division, dropped to rear before 5th, detached before 4 out, no extra, well behind and pulled up before 3 out, at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb.
Santini 13-8fav (11-4) Prominent, mistake 4 out, led 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, led again flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan beating Bristol De Mai (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.