Racecards
16:40 Cheltenham
Renault Masters Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £16,500 added
- Form P57320
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey A Dobbin
led until mistake and headed 5th, mistake and lost place next, behind when pulled up approaching 9th
- Form 3F3260
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey L P Aspell
tracked leader, left in lead and mistake 8th, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened quickly
- Form U11234
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up, headway on bit approaching 3 out, tracked leaders next, led last, hard held
- Form 869214
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
held up, ridden 6th and soon struggling in rear
- Form 213247
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
chased leaders, led 5th, stumbled on landing and fell 8th
- Form F9-114P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer Heather Dalton
- Jockey D C Costello
held up in touch, chased leaders 8th, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 11471
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up, reminders 4th, headway approaching 3 out, tracked leader 2 out, led before last, headed last, no chance with easy winner flat
- Form 3/214U-1
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey T Doyle
in touch, chased leaders 3 out, driven and outpaced after next, stayed on at same pace
- Form 008244
- Age 10
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey S P Jones
took keen hold tracking leaders, left 2nd at 8th, led after 3 out, headed after 2 out, soon outpaced
- Form 442456
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer S T Lewis
- Jockey L Treadwell
mistake 1st, soon ridden in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Present Glory gets the vote over Beau Michel, Abragante and Vicario. David Arbuthnot is better known as a Flat trainer, but the exploits of Oscar Park and Present Glory over timber this season mean that he cannot be underestimated as he mixes it with the likes of Paul Nicholls and David Pipe. With that in mind, we feel sure that Present Glory will run a big race today, judged on his winning performance at Ascot in March when he defied an absence of 414-days to score comfortably. Given another break since, he meets the fourth horse Abragante on 7lb worse terms but should have plenty of improvement in him as he bids to maintain that form over Pipe's charge. Vicario has been off since floundering in the heavy ground at Haydock in January, but he too looks a most progressive sort, and if anywhere near fit, can be involved in the finish as well. Dr Newland has worked wonders with other people's cast-offs this term, and it would be no surprise if the much travelled Xellance were to go well, but Present Glory has plenty going for him here and can follow up.
Formwatch
Hirvine (FR) 16-1 (10-5) Chased leader, mistake 2nd, left in lead 5th, headed after next, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened, 21st of 24, well behind Oscar Park (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Arrayou (FR) 33-1 (10-1) Always behind, 17th of 24, 37l behind Oscar Park (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Abragante (IRE) 11-4fav (11-7) Held up, steady headway 10th, ridden in close 3rd 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 11, 12l behind Present Glory (10-4) at Ascot 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Vicario 9-2fav (11-1) Held up, headway approaching 5th, went 2nd 3 out, every chance from 2 out until no extra flat, 4th of 9, 10l behind Huka Lodge (10-9) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Leading Contender (IRE) 15-2 (10-9) In touch, mistake 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after, 7th of 15, 23l behind Michael Muck (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Hi Humpfree 14-1 (11-1) Led until 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next pulled up 2 out in race won by Mckelvey (11-5) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar, 16 ran.
Beau Michel (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, reminder after 5th, ridden and headway after 7th, chased leader approaching 2 out, went left after last, ran on to lead final 100 yards, all out, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb beating Nathos.
Present Glory (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, soon hard pressed and ridden, stayed on, ridden out, won at Ascot 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar beating Mikado (11-6) by 2l, 11 ran.
Xellance (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 4th, one pace and no impression from 3 out, 4th of 15, 9l behind Herne Bay (11-2) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Jug Of Punch (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway under pressure approaching 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 10, 16l behind Delightful Cliche (11-0) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.