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15:30 Cheltenham

888sport Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2)

  • 7 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 7f 199y
  • Going: Good
  • Surface: Turf
  • £60,000 added
  • Winner: £31,218
  • 2nd: £14,352
  • 3rd: £7,176
  • 4th: £3,588
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 3m 50.95s
  • Off Time: 15:31:15
  • 7 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Before Midnight

2/1

    2
    Silk -

    Sky Pirate

    3/1

      1
      Silk - Yellow, Dark Blue triple diamond and armlets

      Sky Pirate

      220 t DCD
      3/1
      • Form 251121-
      • Age 8
      • Weight 11-12
      • Official Rating 159

      mid-division, closed 6th, mistake 8th, chased winner 2 out, no impression flat, no extra towards finish

      2
      Silk - Yellow, Royal Blue braces, Royal Blue sleeves, Yellow stars and stars on cap

      Hatcher (IRE)

      54 BFD
      16/1
      • Form P61-116
      • Age 8
      • Weight 11-3
      • Official Rating 150

      held up in rear, headway on outside from 4 out, went 3rd and not fluent last, no impression on winner, kept on

      3
      Silk - PURPLE, PURPLE and YELLOW check sleeves, quartered cap

      Voix Du Reve (FR)

      177 p D
      10/1
      • Form 422030-
      • Age 9
      • Weight 11-2
      • Official Rating 149

      raced keenly, chased leader from 2nd, jumped right and not fluent 3rd, mistake 8t, weakened after 3 out

      5
      Silk - Dark blue and white diabolo, emerald green and white check sleeves, white cap, red star

      Before Midnight

      201 D
      2/1
      • Form 223211-
      • Age 8
      • Weight 10-3
      • Official Rating 136

      jumped well, made all, drew clear flat, stayed on strongly

      6
      Silk - Royal Blue, Orange hoop and armlets, hooped cap

      Solar Impulse (FR)

      49 p DCD
      18/1
      • Form 11F143
      • Age 11
      • Weight 10-2
      • Official Rating 135

      chased winner until 2nd, lost place 9th, outpaced 4 out, well beaten from 3 out

      7
      Silk - Dark Blue, Pink epaulets, armlets and cap

      Leapaway (IRE)

      40 p D
      7/1
      • Form 54U131
      • Age 9
      • Weight 10-2
      • Official Rating 135

      held up in rear, blundered 9th, mistake 4 out, well beaten from 3 out

      8
      Silk - Dark Blue, Light Blue spots and armlets

      Bathiva (FR)

      40 BFD
      9/2
      • Form 1/12-114
      • Age 7
      • Weight 10-0
      • Official Rating 132

      held up towards rear, hit 2nd, headway from 7th, 2nd final bend until not fluent 2 out, 4th and held last, kept on flat

      4
      NR

      Belargus (FR)

      182 D
      6/1
      • Form F231F1-
      • Age 6
      • Weight 10-5
      • Official Rating 138

      NonRunner

      9
      NR

      Ashutor (FR)

      182 D
      10/1
      • Form 132955-
      • Age 7
      • Weight 10-0
      • Official Rating 132

      NonRunner

      Previous results

      2020
      Silk -

      Rouge Vif (FR)

      5/1
      • Age 6
      • Weight 11-7

      2019
      Silk -

      Saint Calvados (FR)

      5/2
      • Age 6
      • Weight 11-12

      2018
      Silk -

      Modus

      4/1
      • Age 8
      • Weight 11-9

      In depth

      Verdict

      The last three winners of this have all carried a big weight so Sky Pirate has to go on the shortlist having won a Grade 3 at The Festival here in March when last seen. Before Midnight had Ashutor well behind when winning at Chepstow in April but LEAPAWAY could provide the answer to a tricky puzzle. Philip Hobbs’ charge overturned earlier running with Bathiva at Worcester last month and that form has been franked. Hatcher was beaten 15 lengths in this last year when 5lb lower in the weights while Belargus is probably ideally suited by another half-mile.

      Formwatch

      Sky Pirate 14-1 (11-6) Chased leaders on inside, closed going well 3 out, challenged last, soon led and quickened 2 lengths clear, reduced lead towards finish, just held on, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar beating Entoucas (10-11) by shd, 19 ran.

      Hatcher (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, ridden 4 out, weakened quickly, tailed off, virtually pulled up, last of 6, dist behind Tonto's Spirit (10-0) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Aug.

      Voix Du Reve (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Prominent, bumped with rival 1st, a little keen, on terms after 2nd, soon headed, slight mistake 5th, no extra and slightly impeded 3 out, 11th of 19, dist behind Sully D'Oc Aa (10-12) at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding in Apr.

      Before Midnight 6-4fav (10-9) Led until 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd from 6th, led approaching 5 out, bad mistake 4 out, 4 lengths clear 2 out, all out, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Court Royale (10-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.

      Solar Impulse (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Last pair, slow 10th, not fluent 12th, last and outpaced 4 out, well held 2 out, went 3rd last, kept on flat, no impression, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Rhythm Is A Dancer (11-9) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Sep.

      Leapaway (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway 4 out, went 2nd last, stayed on, led towards finish, won at Worcester 2m hcp (2) gd in Sep beating Mercian Prince (11-5) by 1/2l, 5 ran.

      Bathiva (FR) 11-5fav (11-6) Chased leaders, raced keenly, hit 8th, ridden 3 out, no extra 2 out, 4th of 5, 14 3/4l behind Leapaway (11-5) at Worcester 2m hcp (2) gd in Sep.

      Belargus (FR) 16-5 (11-0) Patiently ridden in 6th, good headway tracking leaders before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on to lead and flashed tail briefly run-in, gamely, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Falco Blitz (11-10) by 4l, 8 ran.

      Ashutor (FR) 18-1 (11-5) Held up in last pair, good headway out wide chasing leaders before 2 out, weakened and lost places towards finish, 5th of 8, 12 3/4l behind Belargus (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.