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14:35 Cheltenham

Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle (Class A)

  • 6 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 4f 110y
  • Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 0.70s
  • 6 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Crystal d'Ainay (FR)

Evs

    2
    Silk -

    Hardy Eustace (IRE)

    3/1

      1
      Silk - Red, yellow epaulets

      The French Furze (IRE)

      14
      22/1
      • Form F-01105
      • Age 10
      • Weight 11-8

      held up, headway 5th, ridden to chase leader 2 out, one pace

      2
      Silk - Yellow, Dark Blue star, armlets and star on cap

      Crystal d'Ainay (FR)

      24
      Evs
      • Form 212-212
      • Age 5
      • Weight 11-4

      held up, headway 4 out, ridden to lead approaching last, hung left under pressure, but kept on

      3
      Silk - Light Blue, Yellow hoop, White sleeves, Light Blue and White striped cap

      Hardy Eustace (IRE)

      26
      3/1
      • Form 1215-20
      • Age 7
      • Weight 11-4

      tracked leader, disputed lead 3 out, ridden to lead next, headed approaching last, switched right flat, no extra

      4
      Silk - ORANGE, BLACK spots on sleeves, WHITE cap

      Grey Abbey (IRE)

      357
      40/1
      • Form 14/453P-
      • Age 10
      • Weight 11-0

      led, ridden when headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened

      5
      Silk - ROYAL BLUE, ORANGE hoop, ORANGE sleeves, ROYAL BLUE armlets, quartered cap

      Redemption

      14
      5/1
      • Form UP1F1U
      • Age 9
      • Weight 11-0

      tracked leaders, slow jump 6th, disputed lead 3 out, ridden next, weakened soon after

      6
      Silk - Emerald green, scarlet hooped sleeves and cap

      Tarxien

      23
      10/1
      • Form 21F2-3F
      • Age 10
      • Weight 11-0

      held up reminders 4th, effort 6th, lost place and outpaced from 7th

      Previous results

      2003
      Silk -

      Classified (IRE)

      8/11
      • Age 7
      • Weight 11-8

      2002
      Silk -

      Kates Charm (IRE)

      3/1
      • Age 9
      • Weight 11-3

      2001
      Silk -

      Lady Rebecca

      7/1
      • Age 9
      • Weight 11-3

      In depth

      Verdict

      This should lie between Crystal d'Ainay and Hardy Eustace, with preference for the former but, with no pace guaranteed in such a small field, the selection may not be one to take a short price about. Hardy Eustace has yet to recapture the sort of form that saw him win the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle here last year but cannot be dismissed lightly. The French Furze has been a great servant to connections over the years but may struggle under his penalty to give weight away all round. Grey Abbey is likely to be using this as a pipe opener before returning to chasing on his debut for Howard Johnson, while neither Redemption or Tarxien, both better known as chasers these days, look good enough if the race is truly run. That being the case, this really should go to Crystal d'Ainay. Alan King's gelding was outstayed by Jonjo O'Neill's Sh Boom on his first start over three miles here on New Year's Eve and should be suited by the return to today's trip. Crystal d'Ainay is the obvious choice.