Racecards
17:10 Cheltenham
54th Year Of The Mildmay Of Flete Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Class A)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good
- Form 022-145
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
mid-division, headway 12th, ridden and switched right approaching 2 out, kept on flat
Farmer Jack
11- Form 43-P010
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey A Thornton
mistakes, always towards rear, never dangerous
- Form 00-1612
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D O'Meara
held up and keen, headway 3rd, mistake 8th, ridden and lost place after 4 out, rallied approaching last, carried right and kept on flat
Barrow Drive
13- Form 336124
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer Anthony Mullins
- Jockey B J Geraghty
led to 2nd, chased leaders to 7th, soon weakened
- Form 1-6121P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer P Beaumont
- Jockey R Garritty
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 10th
Polar Red
30- Form 00-211U
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
midi-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, weakened flat
- Form 113410
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
prominent, hit 11th, soon lost place, no danger after
- Form 5-00P13
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
with leader, ridden to lead approaching 3 out, edged right, headed and no extra flat
- Form P-6111P
- Age 10
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
made most from 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakening when hit 2 out
Kelrev (FR)
11- Form 341220
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden and switched right approaching last, edged right and one pace flat
- Form 012-140
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
held up towards rear, behind when pulled up before 3 out
Byron Lamb
46- Form 121-24U
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
always towards rear, blundered 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 10th
- Form 210-P05
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
held up and keen, headway 7th, mistake 2 out, soon ridden, weakened flat
Tikram
24- Form 322141
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up in rear, ridden approaching 4 out, headway approaching last, led flat, ran on
- Form 1-11214
- Age 12
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer G Wareham
- Jockey L P Aspell
always towards rear, never dangerous
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Top weight Fondmort was a good winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup here earlier in the season but has a stiffer task on now giving lumps of weight away to his rivals and preference is for the novice Polar Red, who could proved to be well treated on his debut in this grade and he gets the verdict over stablemate Puntal. The last mentioned is also a novice but has been on the go for some time now and is more exposed than Polar Red. A decent hurdler at his best as when winning last year's Imperial Cup, the selection has only had three starts over fences, winning his first two at Chepstow before unseating his rider at Plumpton early on last time. While that is hardly an ideal preparation, Polar Red's previous form looked useful and he is potentially well treated. Tim Easterby's Turgeonev has the beating of both Kelrev and Farmer Jack on running behind Isio in Newbury's Vodafone Gold Cup earlier this month and has to be respected along with Henry Daly's Jakari, who has done little wrong this term. The Irish have a poor record in this contest and while Barrow Drive cannot be entirely dismissed, it will be a surprise if the trend is bucked with either him or Back On Top. Nicky Henderson's Mighty Strong has been given a break and, given his trainer's fine record at the meeting, is another worthy of a mention. However, he looks the clear second string behind Fondmort and more interesting is Peter Beaumont's Hunters Tweed, although backers would need to forgive him a disappointing effort in the Racing Post Chase last time. Several have claims but Martin Pipe has a strong hand and Polar Red is the choice of his trio to give the master of Nicholashayne his fifth winner in the last seven runnings of the race.