Racecards
13:55 Cheltenham
Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Future Champions Novices' Chase (Class B)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Form 0/05P-01
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
prominent, every chance when fell 3 out
- Form 212-51
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
in touch, headway approaching 8th, ridden after 3 out, kept on well approaching last
- Form 4411-15
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J Jefferson
- Jockey V T Keane
held up in touch, reminders after 6th, mistake 10th, beaten when not fluent 4 out, well behind when hampered next, moderate headway from 2 out
- Form 6500-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey R Johnson
held up towards rear, reminder 11th, behind next, hampered 3 out, styg on well approaching last, finished well, not reached leaders
- Form 1012U0
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
headway 5th, ridden approaching 11th, weakened approaching last
- Form 2UP1-23
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey C O'Dwyer
held up, not fluent 8th, steady headway 12th, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened flat
- Form 123-03F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey S Durack
held up, mistake 2nd, weakened 13th, behind when hampered 3 out
Longshanks
14- Form 1-4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey J P McNamara
in touch, ridden and mistake 4 out, weakening when hampered next
Pontius
9- Form 3-53FF3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
prominent, mistake 13th, well in touch when brought down 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Supreme Catch is the obvious TEAMtalk selection and cannot be opposed. Henrietta Knight's gelding showed signs of ability over hurdles last season but stepped up on previous efforts when opening his account over fences at Huntingdon last month when beating Another Raleagh by 25 lengths in a big field. That was a useful performance by the five-year-old who should prove to be too good for his rivals here. Malcolm Jefferson's The Manse Brae had his limitations exposed at Southwell behind Camp Nou and a bigger danger to the selection could be Toulouse-Lautrec from the in-form Tom George stable. Charlie Swan's African Waters undoubtedly warrants respect but needs to improve to trouble the judge, while Duke of Buckingham is entitled to do so having only had four runs so far in his career. Longshanks is an interesting chasing debutante from Kim Bailey's stable but will need to be pretty special to beat the Knight horse.