Racecards
15:35 Cheltenham
Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Hyde Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £17,085
- 2nd: £6,411
- 3rd: £3,210
- 4th: £1,599
- Form 1-1121F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
held up in last pair in touch, tracked leaders 3 out, ridden and one pace before last, no impression
- Form 2213-11
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up in last pair in touch, headway on outside after 4 out, chased winner after 2 out, switched left approaching last, soon challenged, ridden and kept on flat, held near finish
- Form P/175-11
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey N D Fehily
led narrowly, headed 4 out, ridden and lost place after 2 out, weakened last
- Form 2151
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
in touch on outside, reminders after 5th, lost place 4 out, soon behind
- Form 4F22-12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey Ian Popham
tracked leaders, led 4 out, hard pressed last, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat
Port Melon (IRE)
203- Form 11-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D A Jacob
tracked leaders, headway when not fluent 2 out, effort and every chance between last 2, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair flat
- Form 1465-4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
tracked leaders on inside, close up when pecked 3 out, ridden and outpaced after next, weakened before last
- Form 5357-11
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
with leader, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon lost place, weakened next
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Indevan was beaten when falling in a Grade 3 at Cork last time and this looks a better race. Timesremembered won a Grade 2 over 2m4f at Chepstow and looks a nice prospect. But Emma Lavelle's charge will need to settle better if he's to stay the longer trip here while this may be too competitive for the four-year-old Rally, though he won easily at Wetherby. We'll take a chance on PORT MELON, who was a very highly-regarded pointer. Paul Nicholls isn't one to tilt at windmills with his novices so this one must have been showing plenty of speed at home and he's getting 4lb from the four previous winners. Hat-trick seekers Drop Out Joe and Toubeera have more on their plate now while Creepy was no match for Kings Palace here last time. Pure Science made mistakes behind Saint Roque on his hurdling debut and may need more time.
Formwatch
Indevan 13-8fav (11-6) Settled 4th, 3rd before 5 out where slight mistake and pushed along, ridden and no extra before 3 out where fell, in a race won by Lots Of Memories (11-0) at Cork 3m nov hdl Grd 3 (1) sft, 6 ran.
Timesremembered (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Took keen hold tracking leader, went 2nd 3rd, led before 4 out, clear 3 out, kept on strongly, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Oct beating Potters Cross (11-0) by 6l, 7 ran.
Drop Out Joe 11-10fav (11-5) Always prominent, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Desgrey (10-12) by 6l, 7 ran.
Rally 4-1 (10-12) With leaders, led after 4 out, clear before last, eased and idled towards finish, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs beating Vivaldi Collonges (10-12) by 2l, 10 ran.
Creepy (IRE) 10-3fav (11-3) Held up, took keen hold, closed when not fluent 3rd, chased winner when not fluent 3 out or 2 out, well held before last, one pace, 2nd of 10, 18l behind Kings Palace (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Port Melon (IRE) 4-5 (11-7) Stdy hdwy 8; led on bit aft 2 out; easy, won at Berkeley 3m ptp gs in Apr beating Skating Home (12-0) by 6l, 11 ran.
Pure Science (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Not fluent, prominent, every chance when mistake 3 out, outpaced from next, no extra last, 4th of 6, 15l behind Saint Roque (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Toubeera 9-4 (10-12) Made virtually all, pushed clear approaching 3 out, stayed on well, unchallenged after, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in May beating Letsby Avenue (10-12) by 23l, 7 ran.