Racecards
14:55 Cheltenham
Beards Jewellers Cup (A Showcase Handicap Chase) (Class B)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
Cenkos (FR)
177- Form 2342-16
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
made all, ran on well, ridden out
- Form 10313-3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey J Tizzard
tracked winner, ridden and effort approaching last, kept on
Wahiba Sands
10- Form 3553-F2
- Age 10
- Weight 10-6
chased winner until hit 4 out, soon ridden, 5th and beaten when brought down 2 out, remounted
Latalomne (USA)
118- Form 50F-425
- Age 9
- Weight 10-1
chased winner, effort approaching 2 out, soon ridden, weakened
Tysou (FR)
217- Form 1331F1-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M Foley
held up and keen in close 5th, still going well in close 4th when fell 2 out
In depth
Verdict
Paul Nicholls complicates matters by saddling three of the six runners, Cenkos, Kadarann and Le Roi Miguel but preference is for Latalomne, who deserves to win a decent prize here. Twice in the last two years, Brian Ellison's gelding has fallen two out when travelling well in Championship races at the Festival meeting and, granted a clear round, he has an obvious chance off a mark of 140 under ground conditions that suit. Topweight Cenkos has finished third in the last two runnings of the Queen Mother and has to be respected but the selection has a 19lb pull for nine lengths on their running at Warwick in May. Kadarann is strictly held by Wahiba Sands on running in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter earlier this month but is fancied to reverse form over this slightly shorter trip, while Nicholls other representative Le Roi Miguel looks to face a stiff task on his first start out of novice company. Tysou has to race from 4lbs out of the handicap and may be better on a flatter track so we are happy to stick with Latalomne, who is taken to gain a well-deserved big race success at Cheltenham.