Racecards
13:55 Cheltenham
Morson Group Handicap Chase (Class 1)
- 17 Runners
- Distance: 3m 3f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £50,000 added
- Winner: £28,505
- 2nd: £10,695
- 3rd: £5,355
- 4th: £2,670
- Form 21/2199-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey S Thomas
never travelling in rear, mistake and driven 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
- Form 38313-3
- Age 11
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in mid-division, headway to modest 7th after 4 out, went poor 5th after 2 out
- Form 2471P4-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened approaching next, tailed off
- Form 311-411
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey D C Costello
led after 4th, made rest, hit 16th, hit 3 out, clear next, blundered last, stayed on strongly
- Form 011F-S0
- Age 12
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey L P Aspell
went right at some fences, held up towards rear, struggling 14th, tailed off
- Form 113138-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer Mrs P Robeson
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
held up towards rear, blundered 3rd, headway 11th, chased leaders 13th, every chance when blundered 4 out, well beaten 5th when blundered badly 2 out, tailed off
- Form 1/7P21-0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer J Motherway
- Jockey Andrew J McNamara
in touch, disputing 3rd after 4 out, weakened before 2 out
- Form 91/007-3
- Age 10
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey A P McCoy
always in rear, never travelled, tailed off and never a factor
New Alco (FR)
242- Form 1P025/0-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
took keen hold, held up towards rear, hit 15th, some headway next, behind when pulled up before 3 out
- Form P1540F-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
mid-division, towards rear when mistakes 10th and next, ridden in mid-division 15th, no chance when blundered 3 out, tailed off
- Form 225F1-P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey J W Farrelly
prominent until weakened before 16th, soon behind, tailed off 4 out, pulled up soon after
- Form P2F123-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
in touch, mistake 14th, lost place after 16th, soon behind and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 0/43131-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
led until after 4th, always prominent, chased winner from 12th, ridden before 3 out, no impression from 2 out, weakened to 3rd flat
- Form 0/044-56
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
towards rear, mistake 13th, modest headway from after 4 out, never in contention, tailed off
- Form 11354-3
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders from 4 out, 4th when blundered 3 out, went 2nd soon after last, no chance with winner hung badly right flat
- Form PP5503-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
chased leaders until ridden not keen lost place and in rear 10th, blundered 12th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 16th
- Form 2/8P153-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
mid-division, ridden towards rear 15th, soon lost touch, tailed off
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
The quirky Junior should be a factor here if consenting to put his best foot forward but he's unpredictable and therefore an unappealing betting medium. Midnight Chase is far more reliable and arrives with a great record at the track but this brave front-runner may struggle to contain these now the handicapper has had his say and we'll instead side with OGEE. A Grade One winning hurdler, Renee Robeson's horse had plenty go against him when last seen at Aintree and is better judged on a fine third at the Festival. He may well have won that race had he not blundered two from home which makes a 5lb rise appear reasonable while his record when fresh - he's won on his last two seasonal returns - completes the case. Character Building looked like winning on his return at Aintree and is a threat to all in that sort of form along with Any Currency, who appears well treated and could improve for the headgear. Razor Royale is a course winner representing a yard who enjoy success at this meeting and isn't without each-way appeal along with Tricky Trickster, who looks set to pick up a decent pot at some point but perhaps with this run behind him.
Formwatch
Tricky Trickster (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Towards rear, hampered 20th, headway into mid-division 27th, no further progress, 9th of 40, 50l behind Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
From Dawn To Dusk 17-2 (11-4) Raced in rear, slow 7th, headway 14th, chased leader after 3 out, soon hard driven, weakened before last, 3rd of 13, 11l behind Massini's Maguire (11-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Razor Royale (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Close up, ridden after 5 out, weakened from 3 out, 4th of 30, 34l behind Merigo (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Midnight Chase 6-1 (11-0) Led, headed narrowly when hit 9th, led again 14th, ridden 2 out, 5 lengths clear last, stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct beating Lacdoudal (10-13) by 10l, 10 ran.
Eric's Charm (FR) 33-1 (11-6) Led, jumped right 2nd, headed 5th, lost place after 9th, 10th of 13, well behind Massini's Maguire (11-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Ogee 11-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders, badly hampered 11th, lost place, headway 2 out, weakened after last, 8th of 10, 10l behind Burton Port (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Bluesea Cracker (IRE) 11-2 (9-11) Mid-division best, 10th before straight, soon no extra under pressure, 12th of 14, 15l behind Sweet Shock (10-6) at Naas 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Oct.
Character Building (IRE) 6-1fav (11-11) Held up behind, hampered 3rd, headway 4 out, ridden to challenge between last 2, led soon after last, no extra when headed towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Alderburn (11-3) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Oct.
New Alco (FR) 20-1 (10-10) In rear, pecked 12th, never dangerous, 17th of 24, well behind Chief Dan George (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Ballyfitz 50-1 (10-9) Always behind, fell 22nd, in a race won by Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Gentle Ranger (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Led, jumped left 6th, headed approaching 13th, weakened after 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Etxalar (10-10) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct, 15 ran.
Giles Cross (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) In touch, mistake 2nd, led 14th until next, remained prominent until after 20th, weakened 4 out, 3rd of 17, well behind Synchronised (11-5) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) hvy in Mar.
Junior 5-2 (11-5) Led and disputed, led until after 3rd, led 4th until 6th, led 11th, made rest, over 2 lengths clear last, kept on well, won at Taunton 2m 7f nov chs (4) gs in Apr beating Recif De Thaix (11-7) by 3l, 6 ran.
Lead On (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Behind, under pressure when hit 11th, mistake next, weakened 4 out, 6th of 10, 25l behind Midnight Chase (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Any Currency (IRE) 5-2fav (10-12) Led until 3rd, prominent, reminders after 7th, switched right approaching last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Rif (10-12) at Towcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Zacharova (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division on inside, lost place 18th, towards rear when mistake next, headway under pressure when blundered 4 out, ridden and stayed on to chase leading pair 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Gentle Ranger (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Wind Instrument (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, led 17th, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Ouzbeck (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Qhilimar (FR) 12-1 (9-11) Mid-division, never dangerous, 13th of 27, well behind Always Waining (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Apr.