Racecards
15:05 Cheltenham
Unibet International Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 179y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £140,000 added
- Winner: £78,778
- 2nd: £29,680
- 3rd: £14,854
- 4th: £7,420
- Form 569213-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up, closed after 2nd, led approaching last, mistake and bumped at last, soon headed, held when switched left towards finish
- Form 1/49-312
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up, headway 3 out, outpaced before last, no impression after
- Form P/811-14
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
chased leaders, lost place 5th, soon closed back up, outpaced 2 out, well held when jumped left last
- Form 6/F2111-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey H Cobden
led, ridden and headed approaching last, weakened flat
- Form 111-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
chased leader, raced freely, challenged last, soon headed and ridden, weakened towards finish
- Form 4133-64
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up on outside, slow 3 out and 2 out, headway home bend, unable to quicken when not much room last, edged left flat, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish, just held
- Form 321/73-2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 160
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey James Bowen
held up behind leaders, closed from 2 out, challenging when bumped last, led flat, edged right, driven out
- Form 1120-13
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer Mrs J Williams
- Jockey Lizzie Kelly
held up in rear, outpaced 2 out, stayed on flat, going on towards finish, went close home
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Nigel Twiston-Davies won this three times with The New One but this is a cracking renewal and Ballyandy’s career has rather stalled in recent years. Monsieur Lecoq and Gumball are stepping up from handicap company while the trip looks on the short side for the returning Ch'tibello, Call Me Lord and Le Patriote but Big Blue is a fascinating runner as he won three of four hurdle starts in Australia and developed into a decent stayer on the Flat Down Under. Pentland Hills was last season’s leading juvenile hurdler, landing a Grade 1 at Aintree after winning the Triumph Hurdle here in March. There is still untapped potential but this will be a test of his credentials as ELIXIR DE NUTZ did nothing but improve last season. Colin Tizzard by-passed The Festival and Aintree with him in the spring but is confident of a bold showing from his slick-jumping front-runner today given he won at the same meeting last year.
Formwatch
Ch'tibello (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Held up on inside, disputing 3rd from 5th, challenged briefly 2 out, switched right before last and looked held, switched right flat and closed, threatened briefly, 3rd and held final 100 yards, kept on, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Supasundae (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Gumball (FR) 9-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 3 out (usual 4 out), upsides 2 out, every chance when not fluent last, ridden and stayed on well towards stands side rail flat, just held, 2nd of 14, nk behind Harambe (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Le Patriote (FR) 11-1 (11-4) Held up in rear but in touch, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, never able to challenge, 4th of 6, 16l behind If The Cap Fits (11-6) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) sft in Nov.
Elixir De Nutz (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Mostly jumped slickly, made all, hit 5th, ridden between last 2, driven and stayed on strongly run-in, unchallenged, won at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Jan beating Grand Sancy (11-7) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Pentland Hills (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Mid-division on inside, took keen hold, headway going well before 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, led flat, went 1/2 length ahead, pushed out towards finish to hold on, won at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr beating Fakir D'Oudairies (11-0) by nk, 9 ran.
Ballyandy 11-8fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out to go 3rd, ridden and no extra from last, 4th of 7, 9 3/4l behind The Worlds End (11-0) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Call Me Lord (FR) 6-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, smooth progress 4 out, led before 2 out, headed last, soon rallied, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind If The Cap Fits (11-6) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) sft in Nov.
Monsieur Lecoq (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Raced keenly, prominent, led 4th, ridden when narrowly headed turning in, regained lead last, kept on, headed and dropped to 3rd final strides, 3rd of 14, 1/2l behind Harambe (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Big Blue 22-1 (9-5) 3rd of 13, 2l behind Shared Ambition (8-13) at Flemington 1m 6f hcp gd in Nov.