Racecards
14:20 Cheltenham
Cheltenham.co.uk Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Form 5F2F/11
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer C C Bealby
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up in rear, steady headway from 3 out, chased leaders approaching last, stayed on under pressure, went 2nd near finish
- Form 43-2111
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey Miss R Davidson
held up, headway 6th, went 2nd 3 out, challenged next, led before last, ridden and stayed on well run-in
- Form FP29P-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
led, hit 6th, driven and headed before last, no impression and lost 2nd near finish
- Form 4213P9
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 109
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th unti next, ridden 6th, soon weakened, no chance when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
Hills Of Aran
210- Form 235303-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer W K Goldsworthy
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up in touch, hit 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before next
- Form F13112-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th to 3 out, stayed chasing leaders until no extra run-in
Penfull (FR)
386- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
chased leaders to 4th, weakened next, soon struggling, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
A competitive start to the Cheltenham season and Battlecry can perhaps provide the answer, with Ashwell, Officier De Reserve and Middleton Dane the obvious dangers. Battlecry came good in a madien hurdle at Perth last time, staying on strongly to score over this trip and looking good value for the margin of victory. He does handle some cut, and his yard continues to go well so with no penalty he looks capable of following up. Ashwell scored twice in succession at Towcester in the spring and is 4lb higher than the second of those but at these weights he looks to have to find a fair bit more to go in again. Middleton Dene notched up a Perth hat-trick in the summer and is now officially rated 12lb higher than when beginning the third of those. It is entirely possible he could go well but this is a very different track to Perth. Officier De Reserve should be at home with some cut in the ground and reverts to hurdles after running over slightly shorter trips over fences last season. His best form entitles him to lots of respect and a win would be no surprise, but for today we just prefer Battlecry.
Formwatch
Ashwell (IRE) 15-8fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, jumped left last, kept on, won at Towcester 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Jun beating Allez Frank (11-0) by 5l, 10 ran.
Middleton Dene (IRE) 7-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders, headway 7th, ridden 2 out, every chance approaching last, driven to lead flat, won at Perth 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Aug beating Pigeon Island (11-3) by 5l, 10 ran.
Battlecry 1-3fav (11-0) Tracked leader, headway to lead after 4 out, driven clear from 2 out, won at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in Sept beating Funny Thing (10-7) by 6l, 8 ran.
Investment Wings (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, jumped right 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 12, 25l behind Coda Agency (10-12) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (3) gd.
Hills Of Aran 11-4 (11-2) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, chased leaders after 3 out, stayed on, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Carlitos (11-2) at Newbury 2m 5f mdn hdl (3) gs in Mar.
Officier De Reserve (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Made most to 4th, pressed leader, regained lead 6th, definite advantage 8th, blundered 4 out, narrowly headed 3 out, one pace and no chance with winner after, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Maljimar (10-13) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3).
Penfull (FR) (9-13) Raced in 3rd on inside, weakened 2f out, 9th of 13, 16l behind Pallikare (10-3) at 1m 3f 3yo stk in Sept '06 (Flat).