Racecards
15:30 Cheltenham
Yorkshire Bank Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 110y
- Going: Good-Good to Soft.
- Surface: Turf
- Form 1-11942
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 133
chased leaders, ridden 5th, soon weakened
- Form 112-0F7
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
tracked leader, led 3rd, still travelling when headed 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2
- Form 7/11P-P1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey R Thornton
chased leaders until 6th, soon behind
- Form F31121
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey A P McCoy
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, weakened after 3 out, well behind when pulled up before last
- Form 092-230
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer H S Howe
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
held up in rear, headway after 5th, tracking leaders going easily 2 out, ridden and found nil between last 2
- Form 237-203
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
in touch, ridden 6th, mistake next and soon weakened
- Form 13-3421
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
held up in mid-division, mistake 6th, ridden to chase leaders from 2 out, still pressing leaders when ridden and blundered last, weakened run-in
Floreana (GER)
157- Form 3122-P3
- Age 5
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
behind most of way
- Form 1730-16
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer Miss S Smith
- Jockey D A Jacob
led to 3rd, tracked leader to 7th, went 2nd again 3 out, slight lead on inside 2 out, hard pressed last, driven and kept on gamely run-in
- Form 231033
- Age 5
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 111
held up, effort 7th, weakening when mistake 2 out
- Form 3-31P1U
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B P Harding
behind, struggling 7th, well behind when pulled up before last
Blaeberry
22- Form 2P4213
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey S Curling
held up in rear, ridden 5th, mistake next, headway 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
Jontys'lass
26- Form 631F32
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer A Crook
- Jockey D C Costello
held up in mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, chased winner between last 2, upsides and every chance last, kept on under pressure run-in, just held
- Form 151541
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 104
held up, ridden 5th, weakened next
- Form 3-2231
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer R H Alner
- Jockey P J Brennan
took keen hold in mid-division, hampered on bend after 4th, never in contention after
Reem Two
71- Form 254313
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Mr G Tumelty
chased leaders on outer, driven after 3 out, stayed on one pace from 2 out, no extra run-in
In depth
Verdict
Ile Maurice and Tony McCoy can land the spoils at the expense of Penneyrose Bay, Zaffaran Express and Novacella. Plenty of in-form mares line up here, none more so than the Ferdy Murphy-trained Ile Maurice who has won three of her last four starts, including on her return from a break at Bangor last month. she would have been an ideal type for the mares' final at Newbury but did not qualify as she had been in action on the Flat in France, but compensation awaits here. Penneyrose Bay may have needed her return at Stratford and should give a good account but may need it softer, while Zaffaran Express looks the best of the Nicky Richards pair on recent evidence. Robert Alner also saddles two, with Novacella slightly preferred, but they and the rest will have to step up a gear to stop Ile Maurice from collecting.
Formwatch
Penneyrose Bay 85-40fav (10-7) Led, blundered 2nd, soon headed, hit 4th, ridden from 11th, stayed on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Smart Savannah (11-0) at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (3) gs in Mar.
Inch Pride (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Always prominent, led 6th, ridden after 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 7th of 30, 10l behind Sky's The Limit (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Ile Maurice (FR) 6-1 (10-2) Made all, clear approaching 2 out, ridden out, won at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar beating Cloudy Lane (10-12) by 2l, 11 ran.
Zaffaran Express (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, mistake 3 out, led approaching last, edged left flat, ran on well, won at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (4) gf in Jan beating Precious Mystery (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Golden Bay 11-2 (11-2) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 11, 32l behind Ranelagh Gray (10-6) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Blaeberry 12-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, close up when not fluent 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 15, 5l behind McBain (11-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Novacella (FR) 9-4fav (10-13) Held up, headway 5th, outpaced 8th, rallied before last, led flat, ran on, won at Warwick 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (4) gf in Mar beating Di's Dilemma (9-12) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Rowlands Dream (IRE) 8-13fav (11-2) Made all, ridden after 2 out, not fluent last, drifted left flat, driven out, won at Taunton 2m 3f mrs mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Little Venus (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.