Racecards
15:00 Cheltenham
Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Classic Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £17,085
- 2nd: £6,411
- 3rd: £3,210
- 4th: £1,599
- Form 25-111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey A P McCoy
disputed 2nd, effort towards stands side rail before last, ridden and switched left flat, rallied to lead narrowly towards finish
- Form 18-111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer M Bradstock
- Jockey Matthew Batchelor
led, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair flat
- Form 61-111
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
disputed 2nd, effort to challenge on inside between last 2, led before last, ridden flat, kept on, headed narrowly towards finish
- Form 1-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
tracked leaders in 4th, effort on outside 2 out, one pace bwteen last 2, weakened last
- Form 31313
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up 5th and last in touch, pushed along 3 out, weakened after next
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
THE NEW ONE won a Listed bumper here on New Year's Day last year and a Grade 2 at Aintree in April. He had a fight on his hands against Village Vic on his second start over timber here but that rival is very useful and he's won his two other races in a canter. He can remain unbeaten over timber though Coneygree is a huge threat. He's also unbeaten in three starts over timber and, as two of those were in Grade 2's on this track, it will take a major performance to beat him. At Fishers Cross has won his last three over hurdles including a handicap here last month while Whisper gained plenty of admirers when ploughing through the mud for an easy victory at Ffos Las.
Formwatch
At Fishers Cross (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Held up in touch, headway on outside 2 out, soon challenged, led before last, ridden and held on flat, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec beating Inish Island (10-9) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Coneygree 11-10fav (11-7) Made all, came towards stands side rail before last, soon pressed, ridden and stayed on strongly to forge clear flat, won at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Dec beating Aerial (11-0) by 6l, 7 ran.
The New One (IRE) 1-2fav (11-7) Prominent, led after 6th, drawing clear when not fluent 3 out, stayed on well, easily, won at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft beating Mickie (10-11) by 16l, 7 ran.
Whisper (FR) 4-6fav (10-12) Settled in rear but in touch, headway 3 out, every chance next, led after last, ran on strongly, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating The Jugopolist (10-5) by 6l, 8 ran.
Fiddlers Bid 15-8fav (11-0) Led, pressed from 3 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Ballytober (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f NH mdn hdl (3) hvy in Dec.