Racecards
15:20 Cheltenham
Food Brokers 40th Anniversary Handicap Chase (Class D)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft
Halexy (FR)
25- Form 4144/P-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey A P McCoy
close up, went 2nd 10th, challenged and led soon after 2 out, drew clear approaching last, stayed on strongly flat
- Form 1-31126
- Age 9
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer L Wells
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
behind, mistake 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
- Form 5330P-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
hard ridden from 4 out, 5th and well beaten when fell last
- Form 101-432
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey L Vickers
always behind, tailed off from 4 out
- Form 30-0P11
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer W Codd
- Jockey Mr W F Codd
in touch until ridden and behind from 10th, tailed off
- Form 00F64/1-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
led, soon clear, not fluent (water), challenged from 3 out, blundered badly 2 out, soon headed, not recover
- Form 26-652U
- Age 10
- Weight 10-3
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey N D Fehily
in rear, tailed off when blundered 3 out, fell next
- Form 24046-3
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
prominent until lost place 8th, tailed off when blundered and fell 2 out
- Form 211223
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
behind, hard driven and kept on under pressure from 3 out, never dangerous
- Form 20-5042
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer J R Cornwall
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
chased leader, hard ridden 2 out, pecked last, kept on same pace flat
Advance East
228- Form 4123F/1-
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
in touch, behind from 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
- Form 610U30/
- Age 13
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Dr P Pritchard
- Jockey Dr P Pritchard
behind when blundered and fell 6th
In depth
Verdict
Halexy has clearly been difficult to keep sound but defied an 18-month absence when a comfortable winner at Chepstow last month. The Venetia Williams-trained gelding put in an impressive round of jumping and there should be further improvement to come but a 13lb rise may prevent a follow up against useful opposition. No Forecast is another who returns from a lengthy spell on the sidelines and is 10lb higher than last term's Newbury success while Irish raider Tenshookmen also appears to have plenty of weight. The TEAMtalk vote goes to Un Jour A Vassy who has slipped down to a winning mark and will be sharper for an encouraging return when runner-up here last month.