Racecards
13:45 Cheltenham
Sporting Index Shield Account Handicap Chase (A Cross Country Chase) (Class C)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 3m 7f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Form 4B10-22
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey R Thornton
tracked leaders, left clear 21st, blundered 25th, outpaced 2 out, rallied under pressure no chance with first two
- Form 22165U
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
behind, headway 16th, went 2nd 3 out, beaten when blundered last
- Form 11-1223
- Age 11
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Rune Haugen
- Jockey W Marston
made most to 20th, 2nd and ridden when blundered and fell next
Lucky Clover
28- Form P-P4040
- Age 10
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey A Thornton
chased leader, led 20th, headed after 2 out, 4th and beaten when blundered last
- Form P40P-P2
- Age 10
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey D N Russell
held up, steady headway from 4 out, led last, stayed on strongly flat
- Form 640604
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Mr J T McNamara
held up, steady headway from 4 out, driven to lead after 2 out, blundered and headed approaching last, no extra flat
- Form 653-0F5
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey N Williamson
not keen, behind, tailed off from 15th, pulled up after next
- Form 442/443
- Age 10
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Rune Haugen
- Jockey L P Aspell
always outpaced, blundered 8th
- Form 45-602P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Capt J George
- Jockey J M Maguire
prominent early, tailed off when pulled up before 27th
In depth
Verdict
These Cross-Country events at Cheltenham have caught the imagination and another good field has assembled for this valuable contest, including last year's sixth Browjoshy. The race is being run as a handicap for the first time this year. The 2001 Warwickshire Gold Cup winner is dropping in the weights but his recent runs have not been too encouraging. Norway is represented by Trinitro, a very good third in a similar event (over course and distance on 15 November) when The Quads (three-quarters-of-a-length ahead of him, now 1lb worse off but blinkered for the first time today) was second, Eoins Pride fourth (a neck behind the Norwegian runner and meeting on the same terms today plus he has had a breathing operation since his last run), Ceanannas Mor (who travelled well for a long way) in fifth, half-a-length away (and meeting Trinitro on the same terms), Lucky Clover (a course and distance winner), seventh (a further five lengths away and now just 1lb better off with the Norwegian raider) and General Claremont, who unseated rider at the second fence. Clearly, Trinitro has chances at the weights although the second, fourth and fifth cannot be discounted by any means. Tim Easterby's Scotton Green, certainly well handicapped on his best form, could well run well at the bottom of the handicap, while the two at the top of the weights, Storm Damage (blinkered today) and General Claremont, are there for a reason. The former makes a quick reappearance after finishing a very good second to Gunner Welburn at Chepstow on Saturday, which is solid form, while the latter - the choice of Ruby Walsh from Paul Nicholls pair - has won from a mark of 119 (now 121). In what looks a fairly tight event, Eoins Pride, after a breathing operation, can step up on his Cheltenham run and gets the TEAMtalk vote over General Claremont.
Formwatch
Magic Dancer (IRE) 3lb ow