Racecards
13:15 Cheltenham
Fairlight Books Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 19 Runners
- Distance: 2m 87y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £12,000 added
- Winner: £7,507
- 2nd: £2,218
- 3rd: £1,109
- 4th: £554
- Form 53-212
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey T J O'Brien
mid-division, outpaced 2 out, never on terms, weakened flat
- Form 122231
- Age 5
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey W T Kennedy
with leader, hit 4 out, lost place after 2 out, soon ridden, weakened last
- Form 2233-52
- Age 4
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer O Greenall & J Guerriero
- Jockey Mr Robert Hawker
mid-division on inside, headway 2 out, soon chased leaders, ridden and every chance before last, kept on same pace flat
- Form 3-12
- Age 4
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up towards rear of mid-division when lost action and eased approaching 3rd, pulled up soon after
- Form 41117
- Age 4
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, led before next, headed narrowly last, soon ridden, no extra in 3rd flat
- Form 3222-31
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up behind, hit 3 out, some headway under pressure between last 2, never near leaders
- Form 102316
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Keith Donoghue
towards rear, outpaced 2 out, never near leaders
- Form 10/8522-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey Lucy Gardner
tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression
- Form 97222-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer R Dobbin
- Jockey Craig Nichol
in touch, driven and lost place after 2 out, soon outpaced, ridden and kept on under pressure from last, never on terms
- Form 9/132-2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
held up in touch, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders before last, went 2nd and kept on flat, no impression with winner
- Form 227/
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer C N Kellett
- Jockey Dave Crosse
mid-division on outside, mistake 4 out, soon behind, tailed off
- Form 0U-44
- Age 4
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer P Phelan
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
always towards rear, mistake 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
- Form 329-721
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 113
held up towards rear, smooth headway 3 out, close up next, came towards stands side rail and led narrowly when not fluent last, ridden clear flat, stayed on well
- Form 6442-67
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Killian Moore
made most to before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
- Form 322/50-0
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Mrs S Leech
- Jockey C Gethings
always behind, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
- Form 61334/3
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
in rear, headway 3 out, outpaced after next, never near leaders, weakened flat
- Form 1123
- Age 3
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer S Durack
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
chased leaders, outpaced 2 out, weakened from last
- Form 814315
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer Mrs S Leech
- Jockey James Best
tracked leaders, hit 4 out, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, no impression after
- Form 75-P321
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey Robert Williams
mid-division, chased leaders 2 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, never on terms
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
An impossible-looking handicap in which most have some sort of chance. Oxwich Bay ran a blinder under a big weight at Warwick on his reappearance and could easily go one better. Man Look produced a career-best to score at Bangor but that was over 2m4f. Magic Dancer escapes a penalty for last week’s win under Richard Patrick at Kempton while neither Or De Vassy nor Slanelough were winning out of turn last time. Plato's Kode is a useful juvenile and Banditry is proving consistent, as is Zalvados. COUNTER SHY beat Banditry at Worcester in September and then only found one too good under a penalty at Uttoxeter. He’s only had two hurdle starts so there should be more to come.
Formwatch
Banditry (IRE) 5-4fav (11-13) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, chased winner from last, kept on and well held, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Peruvien Bleu (12-0) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Man Look 12-1 (11-8) Made all, ridden before 2 out, pressed last, stayed on well to assert flat, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Cave Top (11-9) by 3 1/4l, 9 ran.
Zalvados (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, not much room on inside before 2 out, soon led, mistake and headed last, held flat, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Whatmore (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) gd in Oct.
Counter Shy (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Mid-division, tracked leaders 4 out, effort between last 2, ridden and ran on after last, soon every chance, held towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Midnight Shadow (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m (4) sft in Oct.
Champagne City 7-1 (10-12) Badly hampered 1st, always in rear, never able to recover, 7th of 10, 35l behind Silver Streak (10-11) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Or De Vassy (FR) 9-4fav (10-12) In touch, went 3rd before 2 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct beating Nicely Indeed (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Canny Tom (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, progress 2 out, 3rd after last, ridden in 5th entering straight, closer on outer early straight, no extra inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 6th of 9, 8l behind Hard Bought (10-3) at Galway 2m 2f hcp hvy in Oct.
Coeur Blimey (IRE) 6-4fav (11-5) Raced wide, in mid-division, headway tracking leaders approaching 4th, close 3rd and every chance 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and 1 length down before last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Air Horse One (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Slanelough (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) In touch, headway after 3 out, challenged last, led run-in, kept on strongly, won at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) sft in Oct beating Bal De Rio (10-12) by 4l, 12 ran.
Oxwich Bay (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, challenged when hit next, led narrowly between last 2, ridden and headed when edged right flat, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind One For Billy (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Argent Knight 25-1 (9-4) Tracked leader until after halfway, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Arty Campbell (9-0) at Chepstow 2m hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Pivotal Flame (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, one pace, 4th of 13, 9 1/4l behind Highway One O One (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Magic Dancer 3-1fav (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, 2nd before next, led and hit 2 out, edged right between last 2, went left last, edged left and ridden clear run-in, won at Kempton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Jumping Jack (10-4) by 2l, 9 ran.
Spiritual Man (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Mid-division, outpaced 2 out, no impression after, 7th of 11, 20 1/4l behind One For Billy (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Stuccodor (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up, always behind, 10th of 14, 37 1/4l behind Bobble Emerald (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
War On The Rocks (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, driven in 5th after 2 out, kept on into 3rd close home, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 12, 7 1/2l behind Arty Campbell (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Plato's Kode (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Towards rear, headway before 2 out to chase leaders, kept on after last, 3rd of 12, 3 1/4l behind American Craftsman (10-12) at Wetherby 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Samson 10-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 14, 21l behind Trans Express (10-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Arty Campbell (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, smooth headway on inner into mid-division soon after 3 out, 2nd on bit between last 2, led last, quickened clear run-in, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Gibbes Bay (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.