Racecards
15:50 Cheltenham
Western Daily Press Club Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Part Of The Rht Winter Series) (Class D)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Form 2/51221
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
in touch, hard ridden 3 out, kept on under pressure to challenge last, driven to lead run in, stayed on well
- Form 13
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
behind, headway 5th, challenged 3 out, chased leader approaching last, no extra run in
- Form 2-21250
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer M Hourigan
- Jockey J Culloty
behind, ridden and headway 5th, stayed on under pressure run in, never going pace to reach leaders
Analyze (FR)
18- Form 323
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey J Tizzard
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, weakened 3 out, eased before next
- Form 25500-0
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
in touch, challenged when hit 3 out, weakened quickly
- Form 313144
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer C Roche
- Jockey Mark Walsh
chased leaders until weakened approaching 2 out
Inchinnan
13- Form 043U/43
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer C Weedon
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
always behind, ridden and struggling 5th
- Form 453-022
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Eoin Doyle
- Jockey W Slattery
behind, ridden and effort when hit 3 out, weakened
- Form 20142U
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey B Hitchcott
behind, ridden along from 5th, kept on under pressure run in, never going pace to challenge
- Form 050-3R
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer E McNamara
- Jockey R Thornton
behind from 5th, tailed off
- Form 000/0-51
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer B Curley
- Jockey Paul Moloney
tracked leaders, led approaching 4th, clear from 2 out, mistake last, edged right and headed run in
- Form 12022
- Age 3
- Weight 10-6
led, until ridden and headed 4th, weakened quickly and soon behind
Almier (IRE)
21- Form 000-515
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer M Hourigan
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
in touch to 4th, well behind from next
- Form 1/04140-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Dr P Pritchard
- Jockey Dr P Pritchard
always in rear, lost touch 3rd, continued, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Despite the numbers this isn't that competitive and although he looks to have a stiff enough task giving weight away, a chance is taken with Gone Too Far. It must be every trainers nightmare losing a horse to Martin Pipe, only to see him improve it and this could be the case with the selection, who will be having his first outing for the champion trainer having won four races (two on the flat) for Michael Dods. It is interesting that he wears a visor here in preference to the blinkers he has worn to victory previously and even though he is 5lbs higher than when successful, the Pipe magic is taken to shine through. Zibeline is a bridle horse and even allowing for the fact that Ruby Walsh will give him plenty of confidence, he doesn't always produce. Irish Distinction has been running well enough of late to be of interest and is reunited with Jimmy McCarthy who has won on him three times and placed 2nd once from only four rides on the gelding. Analyze may do better now he steps into handicap company, but there is a suspicion he may need an easier track than this. A winner at up to 10-furlongs on the flat, he gave the impression over course and distance last time that this track found him out. Irish raiders Johnjoe's Express and Almier are difficult to weight up and can't be left out of calculations, neither can Plumpton winner Cristoforo, who is only 5lbs higher here, but with improvement expected from Gone Too Far he is taken to show his rivals a clean pair of heels.