Racecards
15:55 Cheltenham
Jet Uk Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Class A) (Grade 2)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good
Cerium (FR)
21- Form 2-1
- Age 3
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
clear leader from 2nd, led narrowly 2 out, taken to outside before last, stayed on well run in
- Form 111
- Age 3
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
Calomeria
14- Form 11
- Age 3
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey A Dobbin
prominent, jumped left 3rd, behind from 5th, no chance when hampered 2 out
Moon Catcher
15- Form 434211
- Age 3
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer D Brace
- Jockey C Llewellyn
in touch, pushed along after 3rd, mistake and weakened next
- Form 00
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey S Durack
always behind, struggling 5th, tailed off
- Form 65131
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs Lucinda Featherstone
- Jockey J P McNamara
led and soon well clear, came back to field 4th, headed 2 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last
- Form 4
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M Harris
- Jockey R Thornton
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, lost touch 5th, tailed off when pulled before 3 out
- Form 53
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs G Harvey
- Jockey B J Geraghty
raced keenly, held up, headway 4th, joined leaders 5th, chased winner from 2 out, switched left approaching last, no impression run in
- Form 12
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
held up in touch, good headway to track leaders from 4th, close up when blundered and fell 2 out
- Form 1
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up in rear, jumped left 1st and 2nd, no chance when mistake 5th, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
This is probably the best juvenile novices' hurdle to be run this season and what can only be a tentative vote goes to Cerium, who is preferred to Scarlet Mix and Fire Dragon. The selection beat a big field in decisive fashion on his Kempton debut and, while it is difficult to evaluate the strength of that form, the manner of victory suggests that there is plenty more to come from the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding. Moon Catcher has the benefit of experience but looks exposed in comparison to some of these and of greater interest is Salut Saint Cloud, who made an impression on his debut at Chepstow but disappointed when beaten on a softer surface behind Calomeria at Haydock subsequently. The last mentioned has now won two out of two over hurdles and is clearly better over timber than on the level. However, this represents a big step up in class for Ginger McCain's filly and she may have to settle for a minor role today. Jonjo O'Neill's Fire Dragon probably has not beaten much in winning races at Bangor, Newton Abbot and Stratford but is clearly going the right way and has more experience than Martin Pipe's Scarlet Mix, who was only lightly raced on the flat in France prior to making a winning debut for new connections at Warwick earlier this month. She has to be respected but we are happy to side with Cerium, who is taken to confirm the good impression that he made at Kempton.