Racecards
17:00 Cheltenham
Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices' Chase (Class 2)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Winner: £12,512
- 2nd: £3,696
- 3rd: £1,848
- 4th: £924
- Form 083U5-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
prominent behind clear leader, closed to lead 6th, jumped right and hit 4 out, 4 lengths clear when fell 2 out
- Form 723321
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in rear, mistake 6th, well held 4 out, left remote 3rd 2 out, blundered last, dropped to 4th flat
- Form 204-212
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey A E Lynch
chased leaders, some big and slow jumps, lost place 4th, well held 4 out, left remote 2nd 2 out
- Form 342122
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up, headway 6th, mistake 9th, weakened after 3 out, left remote 2nd when fell 2 out
- Form 1/17143-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D A Jacob
prominent behind clear leader, closed when not fluent 6th, went 2nd after 8th, not fluent 3 out, ridden and 4 lengths down when left well clear 2 out
- Form 511PP-4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
led, not fluent 2nd, soon clear, hit 5th, headed next, mistake 7th (water), well held from 4 out, went remote 3rd flat
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Sizing Italy did well to beat Steps To Freedom at Killarney and was then second to the prolific Rebel Fitz at Galway. But BALDER SUCCESS may be good enough to give the Irish raider 3lb having jumped well and won with a bit more in hand than the official margin suggests against decent opposition at Chepstow last week. The Cockney Mackem often flatters to deceive and Gud Day may be out of his depth but Dark Lover should pay his way and there will be more to come from Mr Watson as he gains experience, though would prefer softer going.
Formwatch
Balder Succes (FR) 5-2 (11-4) Jumped well, pressed leader, challenged from 6th, led 5 out, pushed clear before last, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m 3f nov chs (2) gd beating The Romford Pele (11-4) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Gud Day (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Mostly 3rd until challenged 3 out, led next, ridden flat, ran on well, won at Perth 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Sep beating Agricultural (10-11) by 4 1/2l, 4 ran.
Sizing Italy (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, disputed 2nd before 2 out, improved to lead after last, ridden entering straight, headed run-in and no extra, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Rebel Fitz (11-9) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs hvy in Aug.
The Cockney Mackem (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led 2 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Castletown Bridge (10-12) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Sep.
Dark Lover (GER) 7-4fav (11-3) Took keen hold, chased leader, led 3rd until next, pressed leader, led again after 6th, ridden and headed just before 2 out, no chance with winner when dropped to 3rd flat, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Prospect Wells (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Mr Watson (IRE) 4-7fav (11-4) Not always fluent, held up last, reminder after 8th, pushed along and no response before 4 out, eased before 2 out, tailed off, last of 4, 44l behind De Faoithesdream (11-11) at Newton Abbot 2m nov chs (4) gf in Sep.
Earls Quarter (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Waited with, not fluent 1st, closer in 5th before straight, no impression under pressure when fell last, in a race won by Jenari (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Apr '12, 12 ran.