Racecards
16:05 Cheltenham
Lemington Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 3m 1f 110y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Form 1F-2211
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 120
held up in rear, smooth headway from 9th to track leader pair 4 out, led on bit 2 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on well
- Form 551133
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Patrick G Kelly
- Jockey A P McCoy
led, driven, mistake and headed 2 out, soon outpaced and no chance with front pair
- Form 112213
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer P J Gilligan
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in touch, headway from 9th, chased winner from 2 out, went left soon after last, no impression flat
- Form 3R-14
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
keen hold, tracking leaders, went 2nd after 9th, hit 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 2F3623
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer T D McCarthy
- Jockey J E Moore
tracking leader when fell 8th
- Form 66-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey David England
held up in rear, ridden and struggling 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off 9th
- Form 4/S3441-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
chased leaders, mistake 4th and 7th, weakened 9th, tailed off when pulled up before last
In depth
Verdict
If he can run to his chase rating over hurdles then Out The Black looks thrown in here and can take this novices' contest from Gone To Lunch, Life For Rent and King Ali. The selection stays well and is currently rated 124 over fences. If he runs to that level of form on ground that he should handle then he should score at these weights, though he has flopped on two previous tries here so he is not one to put the mortgage on. Gone To Lunch has won a couple of minor novices' hurdles at around this trip and probably looks best of the others if maintaining that upward curve, though he is unproven on the ground. Life For Rent certainly will act with cut and has Ruby Walsh booked. The seven-year-old stays well though strictly speaking he'll need to improve to score. King Ali is another thorough stayer but he would want it faster and preference is for Out The Black.
Formwatch
Gone To Lunch (IRE) 2-1jt-fav (11-2) Held up and behind, mistake 1st, headway after 9th, stayed on to lead close home, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gf beating Alternator (10-12) by 1l, 13 ran.
King Ali (IRE) 11-2jt-fav (11-0) Chased leaders, closer in 3rd before straight, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 18, 3 1/2l behind Contradeal (9-11) at Clonmel 3m hcp hdl 0-116 gf in Sept.
Life For Rent (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, improved into 2nd after 4 out, ridden to challenge after 3 out, no extra from last, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Davorin (11-12) at Navan 2m 6f hdl gf in Sept.
Apollo Creed (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 3f out, soon hung, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 6l behind Simonside (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Sept.
Auditor 14-1 (9-11) Led after 1st, mistake 3 out, soon headed, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 10, 25l behind The Wicketkeeper (11-12) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Cave of The Giant (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, kept on one pace, 3rd of 12, 24l behind Hennessy (11-4) at Lingfield 2m 7f nov hdl (4) sft.
Morgan The Mighty (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Prominent, ridden 9f out, weakened 7f out, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Debauchery (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) hvy in Feb.
Out The Black (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Always prominent, led 12th, ridden 2 out, driven out, won at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr beating Bronzesmith (11-9) by 1/2l, 9 ran.