Racecards
15:15 Cheltenham
Citipost Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 56y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Winner: £10,892
- 2nd: £5,018
- 3rd: £2,508
- 4th: £1,256
- Form P3-121P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer S Hosie
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
prominent, led 2nd, headed next, prominent, weakened before 2 out
- Form 15-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer B Brookhouse
- Jockey J M Quinlan
tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, every chance when not fluent 2 out, weakened before last
Chasing Fire
36- Form 11-1110
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer O Murphy
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up rear of mid-division, not fluent 6th, niggled along briefly after next, closed 3 out, went 2nd last until flat, no extra towards finish
- Form F5-1631
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Kielan Woods
mid-division, headway before 2 out, every chance after final bend, edged right before last, held from last, kept on
- Form 1-121
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
led until 2nd, led next, hung right and headed after 3 out, held when not fluent last, hung right and kept on flat
- Form 113112
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 134
mid-division, mistake 3 out, ridden after 2 out, headway under pressure after final bend, went 3rd last, stayed on well flat, led towards finish
Twig
47- Form 212161
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer B Pauling
- Jockey Beau Morgan
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, edged right flat, headed towards finish
- Form 3/22-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up well in rear, jumped big and slow 1st, headway final bend, shaken up and no impression before last
Final Encore
48- Form 71-2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey D A Jacob
held up in rear, keen early, outpaced after 3 out, well held from after next, mistake last
- Form 23121
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
NonRunner
- Form 32-2121
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer R Bandey
- Jockey Harry Bannister
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
The Carpenter has won both starts over hurdles and there should be plenty more to come while Friday Man just came up short when on a hat-trick in a Listed contest at Limerick when last seen. Fitness shouldn’t be an issue for Gordon Elliott’s raider and Chasing Fire is respected upped in trip despite failing to make an impact in last month’s Supreme Novices’. RED DIRT ROAD was conceding 6lb to the winner and useful third Cuthbert Dibble when second on heavy ground at Leicester two runs ago and was impressive on a quicker surface at Exeter subsequently. A winner between the flags last year, he’ll have no problem with this extra half-mile. Theatre Man has done nothing but improve and shouldn’t be far away but Rock My Way, pulled up in last month’s Albert Bartlett, has to give his rivals 4lb and upwards courtesy of a Grade 2 win here in January.
Formwatch
Rock My Way (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Slight lead on inside until jumped slowly and headed 3rd, chased leaders, ridden and weakened quickly home turn, tailing off when pulled up before the last, at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Blue Hop (IRE) 18-5 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, led last, stayed on well flat, won at Ayr 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Feb beating Saladam (11-9) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Chasing Fire 40-1 (11-7) Prominent, led 3 out, headed just before 2 out, weakened quickly, 12th of 14, 23 1/2l behind Marine Nationale (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Pikar (FR) 6-4 (11-8) Held up in touch, closed to lead 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m 3f (4) gd in Feb beating Henri The Second (11-12) by 4 1/4l, 15 ran.
Red Dirt Road (IRE) 5-4fav (11-11) Made all, led narrowly, pushed along approaching 3 out, asserted before last, kept on well, eased towards finish, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Mar beating Issam (11-9) by 12l, 6 ran.
The Friday Man Evensfav (11-2) Held up in touch, soon 4th, moderate 4th halfway, not fluent 8th and next, closed up approaching straight, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, 2nd after 2 out, no impression on winner after last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Plains Indian (11-2) at Limerick 2m 5f lst (1) sft in Oct.
Twig 4-9fav (11-7) Chased leader, 2 lengths down 3 out, headway to press leader 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well run-in, won at Newbury 2m 5f (4) gd in Mar beating American Sniper (11-12) by 1l, 6 ran.
Chancycourt (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Held up in rear on inside, closed 6f out, stuck alone right to inside off final bend, led over 2f out, 2 lengths clear and driven entering final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Hugos New Horse (10-13) at Worcester 2m (5) sft in Oct.
Final Encore 13-8 (11-2) Prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on after last but no match for winner, 2nd of 10, 13l behind Matterhorn (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) gd in Mar.
Hermino AA (FR) 11-8fav (11-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, closed 2 out, wandered and led last, hung right, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m 3f (4) sft in Mar beating Hauraki Gulf (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Theatre Man (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Made all, pushed along 2 out, clear next, eased towards finish, won at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gs in Mar beating Issuing Authority (11-2) by 5 1/2l, 7 ran.
The Carpenter (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Chased leaders on inside, led 3 out, came clear between last two, very easily, won at Newbury 2m 5f (4) sft in Mar beating Sound And Fury (11-12) by 11l, 12 ran.