Racecards
15:20 Cheltenham
Stanjames.com Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £17,000 added
Saticon
26- Form 3P3-549
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, weakened approaching next
- Form 2/11422-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up in last, took keen hold, jumped slowly 1st, headway 3 out, pecked 2 out, 4th and no impression last
- Form 0U3158
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up, headway 4th, driven 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 47-1471
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
tracked leaders, mistake 7th, blundered badly next, not recover and pulled up
- Form 134412
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
mostly with winner until after 2 out, weakened after last
- Form 225104
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Giles Hawkins
held up towards rear, hampered 2nd, effort on outside approaching 2 out, no impression approaching last
- Form 0-2322U
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
made virtually all, driven flat, stayed on well to draw clear final 100 yards
- Form F34742
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey D A Jacob
blundered and unseated rider 2nd
Pontop (IRE)
32- Form 5-53242
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer G A Charlton
- Jockey Jan Faltejsek
held up in touch, lost place 6th, rallied after 2 out, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd flat, no impression on winner
- Form 114453
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
mid-division, took keen hold, headway 7th, chased winner approaching last, no impression when demoted to 3rd final 100 yards
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
A competitive heat where GOOD OLD THYME is given the vote, while Babysitter, Keki Buku and Lord Ragnar are among the dangers. The last-named won a hands and heels race at Newbury last time, which was not as strong as this race, but he stays this far and acts on good ground. Barry Geraghty's presence in the saddle should be a plus, though he has been beaten on the gelding on each of his five rides thus far. Wetherby winner Babysitter is open to further improvement and stays at least this far. He was runner-up in a Grade 3 at Sandown last time, which is very smart form, and he is feared, although also untried on good ground. Keki Buku would appear to want softer ground than this to be at his best, while he also has to prove his stamina, while these conditions will suit Saticon, who stays and has some very solid form on his CV, hence top weight. Our Bomber Harris has to prove himself on a sound surface, but this trip suits and given connections he has to be a leading player, though preference is for Good Old Thyme. Dr Robert Newland's six-year-old has conditions to suit and is proven over the trip. On a line through Sir Harry Ormesher he has leading claims today and from a fair mark he can score.
Formwatch
Saticon 33-1 (11-6) Mid-division, chased leaders after 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 9th of 24, 17l behind Pause And Clause (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Our Bomber Harris 9-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 4th, mistake 7th, headway approaching 2 out, chasing winner and 3 lengths down, ridden when mistake last, no impression after, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Bensalem (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Apr '09.
Keki Buku (FR) 33-1 (10-1) Prominent main group, outpaced 3 out, ridden next, stayed on approaching last, no impression, 8th of 28, 11l behind Thousand Stars (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Lord Ragnar (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up in rear in well grouped field, headway 7th, led when not fluent last, stayed on well to assert flat, won at Newbury 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (0-120) (3) sft in Mar beating Beau Lake (10-9) by 3l, 11 ran.
Babysitter (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, challenged 6th, led after 3 out, headed last, ridden and rallied to lead again narrowly flat, headed near finish, 2nd of 18, shd behind Red Harbour (10-11) at Sandown 2m 4f Grade 3 nov hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Tilt 66-1 (10-5) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders 2 out, kept on, no impression, 4th of 23, 12l behind Qaspal (10-3) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs in Mar.
Good Old Thyme (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led approaching 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, blundered last, no extra flat, 4th of 8, 7l behind Majaales (11-5) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy.
Quartz de Thaix (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, reminders after 6th, in 5th when stumbled badly on landing and unseated rider 11th, in a race won by Pickamus (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar, 8 ran.
The Real Deal (IRE) 10-3 (10-11) Led main group well behind winner until 3rd, went 2nd again after 8th, closed to within 7 lenghts 3 out, 3 lenghts down last, edged left flat, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Marodima (11-6) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Pontop (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, chased winner and hit 2 out, no impression flat, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Ramsden Boy (10-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Paint The Clouds 10-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden to chase leader after 3 out until before 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 11, 23l behind Lush Life (11-6) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (3) gd in Mar.