Racecards
17:30 Cheltenham
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1)
- 24 Runners
- Distance: 2m 62y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £105,000 added
- Winner: £59,798
- 2nd: £22,438
- 3rd: £11,235
- 4th: £5,596
- Form 91-PP1P
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, every chance 2 out, one pace last, weakened flat
- Form 3-3P443
- Age 9
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey N D Fehily
mid-division, hit 4th, reminder after 8th, mistake 4 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 34324P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey B J Cooper
always behind, weakened 3 out, eased flat, tailed off
- Form 37-2080
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey R M Power
prominent early, held up mid-division on inside, tracked leaders after 3 out, switched outside to challenge next, led last, ridden and stayed on well flat
- Form 61246F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey T Scudamore
mid-division, hit 5 out, outpaced after 3 out, never on terms
- Form 12-2113
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, outpaced on outside before 2 out, soon ridden, no impression before last
- Form 54-8621
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer Miss P Robson
- Jockey Henry Brooke
not fluent, always behind
- Form 834343
- Age 10
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey L Treadwell
tracked leaders, disputed lead before 3 out, every chance next, lost place between last 2, well held after
- Form 0/1320-3
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer A Fleming
- Jockey D F O'Regan
pressed leader, lost place 3 out, weakened next
- Form 2-94565
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer A L T Moore
- Jockey D N Russell
mid-division, tracked leaders after 4 out, effort and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace, ridden and no impression in 4th flat
- Form 2F-U241
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey D A Jacob
prominent, challenged on inside 2 out, soon led narrowly, headed last, ridden and kept on flat, held final 100 yards
- Form 115064
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey D E Mullins
mid-division, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 40294F
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey T J O'Brien
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, behind from next
- Form 313341
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey J McGrath
tracked leaders, challenged and every chance 2 out, ridden and one pace after last, stayed on to press for 2nd inside final 100 yards, no impression with winner
- Form 10U983
- Age 10
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer B I Case
- Jockey Kielan Woods
prominent, led 2nd, hard pressed 3 out, headed after next, ridden and lost place after last, kept on same pace
- Form 522322
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer Barry J Murphy
- Jockey M P Fogarty
mid-division, blundered 4 out, outpaced after next, never reached leaders
- Form F-P6242
- Age 11
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
behind, outpaced 3 out, ridden and stayed on into mid-division from last, never pace to trouble leaders
- Form 827302
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P Nolan
- Jockey Paul Townend
slowly away, blundered 2nd, always behind, pulled up before 3 out
- Form P6/1338-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Jamie Bargary
towards rear, outpaced 3 out, ridden after next, late headway when not fluent last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, not pace to get on terms
- Form 651B67
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey H Cobden
tracked leaders, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden and lost place, well held after
- Form 35-99P3
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer C N Kellett
- Jockey B S Hughes
went prominent on outside 4th, ridden when lost place after 3 out, weakened from next
- Form 657126
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P Henderson
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
led to 2nd, blundered and dropped to mid-division 3rd, lost place and behind from 7th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up after next
- Form 3FP32F
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey P J Brennan
mid-division, close up 7th, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
- Form 376U52
- Age 10
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey W T Kennedy
in touch, effort 3 out, ridden and lost place before next, soon weakened
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Solar Impulse beat Dandridge and Rock The World in this last year and is better off at the weights with both, though has changed stables since. It was be no surprise if Jessica Harrington’s charge proved the pick of that trio today as he looks to have been laid out for the race. Former champion chaser Dodging Bullets has only run in one handicap previously but has been looking a shadow of his former self. We prefer stablemate LE PREZIEN, who is a lot less exposed but has already won around here and has been taking on some top-class novices. Alan Fleming’s Velvet Maker is also worth a second look as he had a pipe-opener over hurdles last month, though was only 12th in this last year. Theinval will enjoy the drying ground and has had a nice break since winning at Plumpton in December while the mare Solita is also largely unexposed over fences and Paul Townend rode her to victory at Fairyhouse a year ago.
Formwatch
Eastlake (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Always behind, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Dodging Bullets 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced in 4th before 4 out, stayed on into 3rd before last, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 4, 18l behind Altior (11-5) at Newbury 2m (1) sft in Feb.
The Game Changer (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Settled 4th, 3rd 4 out, no impression in 4th 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cork 2m 1f (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Rock The World (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up, mistake 3rd, closed before 7th, lost palace before 4 out, soon behind, 11th of 14, dist behind Fox Norton (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Quite By Chance 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, challenged 8th, led narrowly 9th until pushed along before 3 out, lost 2nd 3 out, ridden and beaten before next, fell last, at Kempton 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Jan.
Le Prezien (FR) 3-1 (11-3) Never that fluent, raced wide and waited with in touch, not fluent 2nd and 4th, jumped slowly 7th, hit 13th, steady headway on wide outside into 3rd approaching 3 out, ridden and not quicken before last, 3rd of 5, 6 1/4l behind Top Notch (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) sft in Feb.
Upsilon Bleu (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan beating Double W's (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Bright New Dawn (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Held up in touch in rear, mistake 7th, pushed along before 4 out, soon outpaced, plugged on from 2 out, 3rd last, no impression, 3rd of 6, 7l behind San Benedeto (11-12) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Velvet Maker (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Led, still travelling smoothly straight until headed approaching last where not much room and not fluent, soon no extra and one pace, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Grand Partner (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Feb.
Dandridge 6-1 (10-0) Raced in 4th early, slight mistakes 5th and next, 7th and pushed along approaching straight, headway at last, kept on without threatening run-in, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Grand Partner (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Feb.
Gardefort (FR) 5-2fav (11-3) Held up in rear, headway 7th, 2nd after 4 out, not fluent next, led last, stayed on, won at Wincanton 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Astre De La Cour (10-13) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Mr Fiftyone (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up, in mid-division, ridden 9th, stayed on from 2 out, went 4th flat, no impression, 4th of 14, 26l behind Fox Norton (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Sizing Platinum (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Soon led, not fluent 5 out, fell next, at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Theinval (FR) Evens (11-4) Tracked leader, challenged 8th, shaken up before 2 out, led last, edged left, ran on, readily, won at Plumpton 2m 1f (3) gs in Dec beating Theo's Charm (10-13) by 2l, 3 ran.
Croco Bay (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up, not always fluent, hampered 3rd, closed next, outpaced 4 out, mistake 3 out, went 3rd but weakened next, 3rd of 7, 18 1/4l behind Gardefort (11-3) at Wincanton 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Pairofbrowneyes (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Held up behind leaders, moderate 4th halfway, ridden in moderate 3rd and no impression entering straight, stayed on into 2nd before last, closed on winner after last, no extra run-in and kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Alisier D'irlande (11-5) at Naas 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
Bold Henry 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 5 out, 2nd 3 out, every chance last, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Sew On Target (10-6) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Solita (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, travelled well to lead 2 out, slight mistake last and headed run-in, no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Slowmotion (10-2) at Naas 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
Calipto (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Held up, headway chasing leaders 12th, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 11, 11 1/2l behind Junction Fourteen (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Ultragold (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leader until 3rd, chased leaders, weakened 3 out, last of 7, 14 3/4l behind Grey Gold (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Solar Impulse (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 3rd of 5, 15l behind San Benedeto (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Un Beau Roman (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 8, 35 1/4l behind Upsilon Bleu (11-12) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Mick Thonic (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Prominent, led before 5th, not fluent and headed 8th, lost place when not fluent 3 out, tired when slowed into last markedly and fell, at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Witness In Court (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, outpaced after 5 out, rallied next, chased winner 2 out, kept on well, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 8l behind San Benedeto (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gd in Feb.