Racecards
14:40 Cheltenham
David Johnson Memorial Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 20 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good-Good to Soft in places; Cross country: Good.
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Winner: £12,512
- 2nd: £3,696
- 3rd: £1,848
- 4th: £924
- Form 1/14141-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
mid-division, headway on inside 3 out, came towards stands side and chased leaders before last, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd near finish, no impression
- Form 463/12-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Michael Byrne
towards rear, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
- Form 1313-U1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
tracked leaders, lost place after 3 out, weakened next
- Form 1253-13
- Age 4
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
with leaders, lost place 4 out, soon behind
- Form 51315-3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, 6th and in touch when fell next
Top Gamble (IRE)
286- Form 211-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey C O'Farrell
led, hit 4 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened flat
Killala Quay
34- Form 15-11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey N D Fehily
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, hampered next, kept on same pace, never on terms
- Form 5281-23
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders when hampered next, switched inside and effort approaching last, chased leading pair flat, no impression when lost 3rd near finish
- Form 4U4545-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
with leaders, led after 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, no extra when lost place last
- Form 2/21-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D A Jacob
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, never on terms
- Form 3417P-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 128
held up behind, headway into mid-division 4th, joined leaders 4 out, went 2nd after next, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on well flat, edged left towards finish
- Form 1181-63
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer B Pauling
- Jockey David Bass
in touch on inside, lost place 6th, soon behind, no danger after
- Form 13652-8
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
always towards rear, tailed off 2 out
- Form 13/4418-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey D N Russell
towards rear, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous
- Form 1422-1
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey D Elsworth
held up behind, headway into mid-division when hampered 2 out, kept on same pace, never near leaders
- Form 4341-1
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, outpaced in 7th after 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms
- Form 1126-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
tracked leaders, 5th and driven when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
Watered Silk
48- Form 5711-9
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey L P Aspell
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
- Form 23236-1
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer R Woollacott
- Jockey T J O'Brien
tracked leaders, driven to chase leading pair after 2 out, went 2nd last, ridden and kept flat, held near finish
- Form 5P211-P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
mid-division on outside, lost place 3 out, soon behind
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
This is a very competitive handicap as several of these have already won races this term. God's Own made amends for an unlucky run at Chepstow when winning at Kempton earlier this month but now carries a penalty. Killala Quay steps out of novice company for the first time in pursuit of his hat-trick while Warden Hill also makes his first appearance in a handicap. Upswing tries his luck at a higher level, as does Angles Hill, but Thomas Crapper won a decent contest over track and trip last month and may have improved over the summer. Robin Dickin's charge was pulled up at Sandown in March, however, in a Listed race in which WHISPER finished fourth. The top weight went on to beat the useful Valdez here, with the pair clear of the third, and could eventually prove a cut above these. Top Gamble and Atlantic Roller are others with scope while Kaylif Aramis was a good third at Chepstow when finishing ahead of Hold Court. He makes more appeal than Handazan over this trip.
Formwatch
Whisper (FR) 9-4 (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th or 6th, challenged 2 out, ridden flat, led final 100 yards, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Apr beating Valdez (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Milborough (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Settled in rear, went 3rd after 2 out and 2nd when mistake last, kept on run-in but no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Ballycasey (11-5) at Thurles 2m 6f nov hdl hvy in Jan.
God's Own (IRE) 11-4 (10-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 4 out, led and jumped badly right 2 out, clear before last, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs beating Like Minded (10-0) by 6l, 6 ran.
Handazan (IRE) 7-4fav (10-12) Led, headed and pushed along 4th, reminder and led after next, headed 2 out, beaten last, weakened flat, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Sametegal (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Kaylif Aramis 7-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, every chance when mistake 2 out, went 2nd soon after last, outpaced to 3rd run-in, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Shammick Boy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Top Gamble (IRE) 2-1 (11-3) Made all, clear after 2 out, stayed on well, unchallenged, won at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Sidney Melbourne (11-3) by 6l, 13 ran.
Killala Quay 8-11fav (11-5) Took keen hold, held up, headway to track leaders 4th, went 2nd soon after 3 out, led before last, came clear flat, stayed on strongly, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Perfect Candidate (10-12) by 6l, 9 ran.
Uncle Jimmy (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Always prominent, every chance 3 out, stayed on flat, held by front pair, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Crowning Jewel (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Free To Dream (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 6th, 3rd entering straight but no impression in 4th when mistake 2 out, no extra, 5th of 17, 27l behind Brian Who (9-7) at Fairyhouse 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 in Apr.
Atlantic Roller (IRE) 11-8fav (10-12) Tracked leader, challenged 2 out, soon led, ridden clear flat, ran on well, won at Exeter 2m 5f nov hdl (3) sft in Nov '12 beating Gas Line Boy (11-4) by 7l, 8 ran.
Thomas Crapper 12-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway on outside from 7th, led and hit 3 out, hit 2 out, driven flat, held on, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Oct beating Silver Eagle (11-3) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Kellys Brow (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) In touch on outside, hampered 1st, closed 6th, went 2nd before next, not fluent 8th, 3rd and stayed on same pace after last, 3rd of 7, 5l behind In The Haven (10-9) at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chase (4) sft in May.
Hold Court (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Always behind, struggling before 4 out, never involved, 8th of 11, 20l behind Shammick Boy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Scarlet Fire (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on, 8th of 10, 29l behind Phoenix Returns (10-8) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Warden Hill (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Took keen hold and held up in mid-division, headway and swiched right approaching 2 out, chased leaders before last, strong run to lead final 110 yards, won going away, won at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Oct beating Carole's Destrier (10-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
Upswing (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, shaken up gentley to lead last, always well in command towards finish, won at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Oct beating Coverholder (11-1) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
One Conemara (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Mid-division, mistake 1st, not fluent and pecked next, headway before 5th, not fluent 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, no chance with winner when pressing for places after, weakened flat, 6th of 11, 28l behind Neltara (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Watered Silk 5-1 (11-0) Tracked clear pair, hit 4th, lost place 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Ahyaknowyerself (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Sep.
Angles Hill (IRE) 8-13fav (10-9) Took keen hold tracking leader, ridden before 2 out, challenged from 2 out, driven between last 2, led narrowly flat, edged left under pressure close home, just held on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep beating Quadrato (10-12) by shd, 4 ran.
Decimus (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Towards rear, hampered 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Deciding Moment (10-7) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct, 16 ran.