Racecards
15:40 Cheltenham
British Stallion Studs / Pyments Quantity Surveyors E.B.F. 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Heavy (Soft in places; Cross Country: Soft, Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £12,000 added
- Winner: £7,507
- 2nd: £2,218
- 3rd: £1,109
- 4th: £554
- Form 1-21
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey D N Russell
bumped 1st, tracked leading pair, effort between last 2, led last, soon ridden, headed flat, no extra in 3rd final 100 yards
- Form 22-1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
not fluent 1st, tracked clear leader, disputed lead after 2nd, ridden and every chance before last, kept on same pace flat
- Form 1/14-21
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, tracked leaders on inside 2 out, effort and every chance betwen last 2, soon ridden, weakened flat
- Form 4/5-4249
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss C Dyson
- Jockey Gerald Quinn
held up in last pair, driven after 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
- Form 12-2
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
mid-division, smooth headway to track leaders 2 out, not clear run and switched left approaching last, ridden to lead flat, kept on
- Form F13-4
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
raced keenly, led and clear until hung right and joined on bend after 2nd, driven after 2 out, headed last, weakened flat
Royal Boy (FR)
628- Form 1/
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up mainly in 4th, tracked leaders on outside 2 out, came towards stands side rail and effort before last, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd final 100 yards, not reach winner
- Form 1205-25
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in last pair, headway and in touch 2 out, driven between last 2, one pace when switched inside before last, weakened flat
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
A very interesting finale can go to the unexposed MELODIC RENDEZVOUS, who may have come against a smart prospect when beaten on his hurdles bow at Exeter and gets 6lb here from the well-regarded Eduard and Southwell winner Imperial Leader. Valdez also has a penalty after getting off the mark at Huntingdon while this looks a big ask for ex-pointer Royal Boy following a lengthy absence. Mr Watson should improve on his fourth at Market Rasen, however, and Village Vic is probably better than he showed here last time though you'd expect a few of these to have more speed than Philip Hobbs' charge over this trip.
Formwatch
Eduard (IRE) 11-10fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating King Of The Wolds (10-12) by 18l, 16 ran.
Imperial Leader (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, headway to 3rd before 2 out, ridden to lead before went left and hit last, stayed on well, driven out, won at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Ballyalton (10-12) by 3l, 9 ran.
Valdez 4-5fav (10-12) In touch, headway to track leader 5th, led before 3 out, ridden and ran on flat, won at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Softsong (10-12) by 3l, 13 ran.
Dr Dreamy (IRE) 80-1 (10-11) Held up behind, headway after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, jumped badly left last, 9th of 12, well behind Gas Line Boy (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Melodic Rendezvous 6-5fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, effort approaching 3 out, switched outside approaching next, every chance when bumped and carried left last, not pace of winner and held flat, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Mr Mole (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Mr Watson (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) Took keen hold in touch, improved to track leaders 4th, ridden approaching last, found nil, plugged on, 4th of 8, 7l behind Barrakilla (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Royal Boy (FR) 7-4 (11-7) Rcd 2nd/3rd, ld 3out, jnd 2out, ld bef last, rallied best, won at Rathmorrissey 3m ire ptp gd in Mar '11 beating Balinroab (11-7) by 1l, 12 ran.
Village Vic (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Held up mid-division, took keen hold and tracked winner after 3rd, lost place 2 out, soon driven and outpaced, no impression approaching last, 5th of 9, 14l behind Coneygree (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nh nov hdl (1) sft in Nov.