Racecards
15:20 Cheltenham
Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase (Class A) (Grade 3)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 3m 3f 110y
- Going: Good
- Form 1F12F-3
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey D Elsworth
chased leaders, mistake 7th, blundered and weakened 12th
- Form 31112P-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey S Durack
made most, driven clear on long run after last, headed and not pace of winner, run in
Stormez (FR)
203- Form 23306U-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
jumped badly in rear, some headway on outside when blundered 2 out, driven along and stayed on under pressure before last, ran on to lead run in
- Form P/541P-2
- Age 11
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Ms Bridget Nicholls
- Jockey B J Geraghty
in touch, headway to chase leaders from 10th, challenged 12th, one pace on long run after last
- Form 032F-63
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer F Doumen
- Jockey D Gallagher
not jumped well, mistake 10th, weakening when blundered 14th
Lords Best (IRE)
292- Form 431/51F-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mistake, always behind, blundered 7th, tailed off
Fasgo (IRE)
203- Form 1222P0-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-1
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up, challenged from 4 out, chased leader before 2 out, outpaced on long run soon after last
- Form F352P-3
- Age 9
- Weight 10-1
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
in touch, lost place and behind from after 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 21P/55-P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
in touch, under pressure and close up before last, one pace under pressure run in
- Form 1P2F-21
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey C Llewellyn
prominent, weakened and lost place before 12th, tailed off
- Form 01-5332
- Age 11
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer J Cann
- Jockey T J Malone
pushed along 7th, kept on under pressure from 14th, never going pace to reach leaders
In depth
Verdict
Royal & SunAlliance Chase runner-up Royal Emperor was well held when third in the Charlie Hall on his reappearance last month and faces no easy task under top weight so preference is for Merchants Friend, who gets the vote over Stormez. The last mentioned has been given a chance by the handicapper but is difficult to catch right these days and is reluctantly passed over. Lord Noelie can race off a fair mark only 2lbs higher than when scoring here last December, and should come on for his recent return at Chepstow. He makes more appeal than the Paul Nicholls-trained Fasgo, who makes his reappearance this afternoon. Second season chaser Ballycassidy faces no easy task on his first venture into a handicap over fences and a bigger threat may come from Philip Hobbs Exeter winner Dunster Castle. The vote though goes to Merchants Friend. Charlie Mann's gelding made a satisfactory return when third to a revitalised Gunther McBride at Kempton last month and can race off a 3lb lower mark today. The nine-year-old can race off the same rating as when an unlucky second to Maximize in last season's Kim Muir, the pair clear, and a reproduction of that effort may suffice.