Racecards
15:30 Cheltenham
Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 213y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £351,334 added
- Winner: £197,696
- 2nd: £74,483
- 3rd: £37,277
- 4th: £18,621
- Form 23-2342
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey Keith Donoghue
wore hood to post, off the pace in 4th, closer in 3rd before 3 out until on long run before next, struggling for pace when not much room on inside after 2 out, soon weakened and pulled up before the last
- Form 41/111-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer C Byrnes
- Jockey Philip Byrnes
held up off the pace towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, pushed along turning in, weakened quickly before the last
- Form 2P-1222
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Rex Dingle
tracked leader 1st, hit 8th, closer before 2 out, led before the last, went left last, hung right and stayed on gamely run-in, headed towards finish, just held on for 2nd
- Form F212-44
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 162
- Trainer G P Cromwell
- Jockey D E Mullins
soon led and mostly clear, reduced lead before 2 out, strongly pressed when went left and hit 2 out, hung left and headed before the last, lost 2nd at the last, hung left and weakened run-in
- Form 33-3121
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 156
- Trainer G Leenders
- Jockey Johnny Charron
held up well off the pace in rear, never involved
- Form 561351
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer H Merienne
- Jockey Felix de Giles
held up off the pace towards rear, behind after 3 out, lost touch and tailed off when pulled up after 2 out
- Form 226-R11
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey J J Slevin
led briefly, off the pace in 3rd, mistake and lost place 6th, rallied out wide 4 out, pushed along in 4th after 3 out, ridden out wide then switched left before the last, weakened run-in
- Form 145-122
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 162
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
held up off the pace in 6th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
- Form 13-5213
- Age 11
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 160
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up off the pace towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, never involved
- Form 1-455P4
- Age 11
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Mark Walsh
held up off the pace in 5th, closer in 3rd at 6th, pushed along in 5th after 3 out, challenged on inside turning in, ridden disputing 2nd at the last, outright 2nd and stayed on dourly run-in, led towards finish
- Form 119-611
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 163
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
held up off the pace towards rear, smooth headway out wide tracking leaders before 2 out, disputing 2nd and carried left at the last, slightly hampered and switched right run-in, rallied and almost snatched 2nd
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Paisley Park, the winner in 2019, has placed in the last two renewals and won the Long Walk for a third time in December but he never looked like getting to Gold Tweet and Dashel Drasher in the Cleeve here later and has always been a bit of a character. Klassical Dream finished ahead of Ashdale Bob and Sire Du Berlais when runner-up to Teahupoo on his reappearance in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse and it would be no surprise if he turned the tables on the winner here. But he was only fifth in this last year when FLOORING PORTER recorded back-to-back victories with another relentless front-running performance. Gavin Cromwell has geared his charge’s campaign around a hat-trick bid and, though he’s twice been beaten by Home By The Lee recently, he is unlikely to let supporters down back on familiar territory. Blazing Khal has won all four starts over hurdles but this is the acid test against battle-hardened stayers and Henri Le Farceur may find a few of these too quick for him.
Formwatch
Ashdale Bob (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, 4th halfway, improve to dispute between horses 2 out, travelled best entering straight, ridden into narrow lead before last, joined again last, headed run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Home By The Lee (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Blazing Khal (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Towards rear, good headway into 3rd 2 out, soon pushed along and disputed lead, ridden and led after last, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Navan 2m 5f (1) Good - Yielding in Feb beating Meet And Greet (11-3) by 3l, 8 ran.
Dashel Drasher 3-1 (11-2) Led until 7th, led next, ridden and joined last, soon headed, no impression on winner final 200 yards, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Gold Tweet (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Flooring Porter (IRE) 2-1 (11-10) Led, slight mistake 4th, headed after 3 out, disputed again 2 out, ridden entering straight, headed before last, no extra in 3rd run-in, rider eased up last 50 yards, caught for 3rd close home, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Home By The Lee (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Gold Tweet (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, took keen hold, closed 8th, went 2nd going strongly 2 out, challenged last, soon led, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan beating Dashel Drasher (11-2) by 3l, 7 ran.
Henri Le Farceur (FR) (10-6) won at Auteuil 2m 5f Grp 2 (1) hvy in Dec beating Anouma Freedom (10-5) by 9l, 6 ran.
Home By The Lee (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to lead after 3 out, joined 2 out, ridden entering straight, narrowly headed before last, disputed again last, led run-in, kept on well closing stages, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec beating Ashdale Bob (11-10) by 3l, 11 ran.
Klassical Dream (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Towards rear, 5th after 5th, improved to 2nd 2 out, led narrowly before last, ridden and kept on run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Teahupoo (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Paisley Park (IRE) 13-8fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, closed on outside before 8th, went 3rd but outpaced before last, no impression, well held flat, 3rd of 7, 9 1/2l behind Gold Tweet (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Sire Du Berlais (FR) 28-1 (11-12) Pushed along at start, raced prominently, ridden entering straight, dropped to 7th 3 out, moderate 7th next, headway into 4th at last, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 10l behind Blazing Khal (11-8) at Navan 2m 5f (1) Good - Yielding in Feb.
Teahupoo (FR) 4-11fav (11-12) Held up, 5th halfway, closer 4 out, disputed before next, led before 2 out, pushed out to go clear before last, impressively, won at Gowran Park 3m (1) Soft - Heavy in Jan beating Summerville Boy (11-3) by 15l, 6 ran.