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Racecards

13:15 Cheltenham

mallardjewellers.com Novices' Chase (Class 2)

  • 3 Runners
  • Distance: 3m 80y
  • Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
  • Surface: Turf
  • £25,000 added
  • Winner: £15,640
  • 2nd: £4,620
  • 3rd: £2,310
  • 4th: £1,155
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 6m 42.10s
  • Off Time: 13:16:05
  • 3 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Black Corton (FR)

4/1

    1
    Silk - MAROON and LIGHT BLUE diabolo, LIGHT BLUE sleeves, quartered cap

    Ballyoptic (IRE)

    11 D
    10/11
    • Form F4P5-51
    • Age 7
    • Weight 11-8
    • Official Rating 155

    led, blundered 10th, joined after 4 out, headed before 2 out, ridden between last 2, 1 length down when blundered last, not pace of winner flat

    2
    Silk - Dark blue, royal blue stars, dark blue and red halved sleeves, red cap

    Black Corton (FR)

    22 t CD
    4/1
    • Form 121111
    • Age 6
    • Weight 11-8
    • Official Rating 150

    tracked leader, challenged after 4 out, not fluent next, led before 2 out, 1 length advantage last, ridden clear flat, stayed on well

    3
    Silk - Orange, Black triple diamond, chevrons on sleeves

    West Approach

    28
    7/4
    • Form 5U3PP-1
    • Age 7
    • Weight 11-5

    not fluent 1st, tracked rival pair, jumped slowly on occasions, driven and outpaced after 3 out, no chance with clear pair from next, tailed off

    Previous results

    2016
    Silk -

    Thistlecrack

    1/7
    • Age 8
    • Weight 11-5

    2015
    Silk -

    Vicente (FR)

    16/1
    • Age 6
    • Weight 11-8

    2014
    Silk -

    Kings Palace (IRE)

    11/8
    • Age 6
    • Weight 11-0

    In depth

    Verdict

    Colin Tizzard won this with Thistlecrack last year and is represented by the latter’s half-brother WEST APPROACH. A smart hurdler, he made a winning start over fences at Ffos Las last month and looks to have the edge over Ballyoptic on these terms. The Twiston-Davies charge also made a winning chase debut when successful at Exeter though is penalised 8lb for that along with Black Corton. Paul Nicholls’ charge is the most experienced over fences having won five of seven attempts including last month’s victory over course and distance but is facing a tougher task in this.

    Formwatch

    Ballyoptic (IRE) 7-4 (11-1) Made virtually all, not fluent 5 out, drew clear before 2 out, pushed out, readliy, won at Exeter 3m (2) sft in Nov beating Elegant Escape (11-1) by 13l, 5 ran.

    Black Corton (FR) 5-2 (11-8) Pressed leader, mistake 8th, led 15th, hard pressed 3 out, headed narrowly when left 5 lengths clear next, driven out, kept on, won at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct beating Fagan (11-5) by 10l, 5 ran.

    West Approach 7-4 (11-5) Led until 6th, remained prominent, led again 4 out, drew clear after 2 out, comfortably, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f (3) sft in Oct beating Jameson (11-5) by 9l, 6 ran.