Racecards
13:15 Cheltenham
Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 2)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 127y
- Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £27,500 added
- Winner: £17,022
- 2nd: £5,054
- 3rd: £2,527
- 4th: £1,260
- Form 2357-14
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
mid-division, headway 7th, slightly hampered 3 out, close 3rd next, kept on flat
- Form 2-12143
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
led, jumped well, clear 8th until 11th, joined 2 out, headed last, not much room and switched right flat, held by winner, kept on
- Form 2519-21
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 141
chased leaders on outside, in tight to 10th and 11th, not fluent 13th, mistake 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, challenged next, led last, edged left flat, driven out
Azzerti (FR)
36- Form 72-4031
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 137
held up towards rear, slow 3rd, headway to chase leaders when fell 3 out
First Drift
24- Form 112-P12
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer B I Case
- Jockey Max Kendrick
not jump well, 2nd until 4th, lost place 7th, rallied when hampered 3 out, soon beaten, weakened 2 out
- Form 22-2324
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey Chester Williams
mid-division, headway 13th, not much room on bend before 2 out, one pace
- Form 516-656
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey R P McLernon
held up in rear, not fluent 8th, mistake 13th, hampered 3 out, some progress flat, no impression
- Form 220-322
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey James Bowen
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th until mistake 3 out, soon beaten, one pace
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
KILDISART (NAP) had Azzerti and Onefortheroadtom behind when just beaten on his chasing bow at Ascot and then took advantage of favourable weight terms when going one better on the same track. He looks one to follow and can double his tally over the larger obstacles here ahead of the tough Highway One O One and Spiritofthegames, who has also taken well to fences. Enola Gay deserves a change of luck but may have to wait for another day though is still preferred to First Drift and Dentley De Mee at the weights.
Formwatch
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Held up in close 4th, tracked leading pair 7th until 4 out, mistake and weakened next, last of 4, 21l behind La Bague Au Roi (10-8) at Newbury 2m 4f (1) gs in Nov.
Highway One O One (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Led, 3rd and beaten as runners came into view after 4 out, 3rd of 5, 29 1/4l behind Dynamite Dollars (11-7) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Kildisart (IRE) 5-4fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 4th, not fluent 10th, reached for 4 out, ridden to challenge last, soon led, kept on gamely, all out, won at Ascot 2m 5f (2) sft in Dec beating Activial (11-7) by shd, 5 ran.
Azzerti (FR) 11-4 (11-8) Waited with in 5th, closed to tracked leaders 4 out, challenged between horses to lead last, ran on well, ridden out, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Dustin Des Mottes (11-5) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
First Drift 15-8 (11-4) Led until out jumped 4 out, switched left after 3 out, rallied to challenge next, held after last, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Go Long (10-12) at Hereford 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Dentley De Mee (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway on outside 12th, mistake 4 out, weakened before next, 4th of 5, 26 1/2l behind Drovers Lane (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (2) gd in Dec.
Onefortheroadtom 33-1 (10-12) Soon well adrift in last, jumped slowly 6th, tailed when blundered 4 out, last of 6, dist behind Master Dino (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 4f (3) gs in Jan.
Enola Gay (FR) 5-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, went 2nd from halfway, challenged when blundered 4 out, every chance from last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Molineaux (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jan.