Racecards
14:00 Cheltenham
Endsleigh Insurance Novices' Handicap Chase (Class D) (Class D)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Form 32303P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey A O'keeffe
led 3rd to 12th, weakened approaching 4 out
- Form 34-3212
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, no impression when hit last, weakened run-in
- Form 2311F3
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
held up in rear, mistake 11th, never going well after, tailed off
- Form 2/5-P11P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer Mrs H Dalton
- Jockey R Johnson
led to 3rd, tracked leader, led again 12th until approaching 2 out, weakened rapidly soon after, pulled up before last
- Form 40PP03
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P Phelan
- Jockey M Bradburne
jumped right, always in rear, lost touch 12th, tailed off
Phildari (IRE)
150- Form 13PF32
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey T Doyle
jumped right at several fences, held up, headway 12th, weakened before 3 out
- Form 2P4401
- Age 10
- Weight 10-7
tracked leaders, pushed along from 10th, chased leader 13th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, driven and stayed on well run-in
- Form 053412
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey B Hitchcott
close up, blundered 13th, one pace and no chance when left poor 3rd last
In depth
Verdict
Motcomb Jam can make a bold bid here and is the pick ahead of Creative Time, Mark Equal and The Extra Man. Motcomb Jam looks to have been saved for an assault on some decent spring prizes and if his last run behind Talbot Lad at Newbury is anything to go by, then he should come back with a bang. The form of that Newbury effort was given a boost when the winner followed up off a seven-pound higher mark at Ludlow, and there is no reason why Charlie Mann's charge should not run a big race here. Mark Equal had his limitations exposed at Fontwell last week but may do better over this longer trip and is not to be ruled out. Creative Time finally came good at Stratford, having had leg problems in the past and if his jumping holds up, is another to consider. The Extra Man has already proved himself over the course and distance in the past but that was over hurdles, and he did have a hard race when outbattling Sossus Vlei over fences at Huntingdon recently. Marked Man looks a bit high in the weights and Phildari may need the run, so all in all, Motcomb Jam appears to be the percentage call with plenty going for him.