Racecards
16:55 Cheltenham
Cheltenham Business Club Maiden Hurdle (Class D)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good
Alpine Star
937- Form 30/
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up, well behind and no chance when mistake 2 out
- Form 30-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
always rear, struggling from 4th, tailed off
- Form 6522
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer D Brace
- Jockey Christian Williams
held up, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, driven and stayed on well, run in
- Form 540-32
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in mid-division, smooth headway from 3 out, tracked leaders on bit between last 2, mistake and led last, driven and kept on, run in
- Form PPP-PPP
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
not always fluent, chased leader 2nd to 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form P-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
always rear
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
always in rear, tailed off when blundered 3 out
- Form 14-33
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
chased leaders to 4th, weakened and behind from next
Lirta (FR)
300- Form 25F/224-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
led and soon clear, headed after 2 out, chased leaders under pressure, weakened, run in
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
took keen hold, close up until weakened quickly 3 out
- Form 6-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer R Buckler
- Jockey B Hitchcott
behind, stayed on under pressure approaching last, kept on run in but not reach leaders
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leader until blundered badly 2nd, went 2nd again 4th, led after 2 out, headed last, not pace of winner run in
- Form 2-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N P Littmoden
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up, just in touch when mistake and pulled up 3 out
Queen Soraya
206- Form 1106-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
took keen hold, held up, close up 3 out, weakened from 2 out
In depth
Verdict
Chockdee, Kimono Royal and Lirta are three against the field in this maiden hurdle and the vote goes to Chockdee. The selection was a fair second behind Golano last time out and needs only to run up to that form to score. Kimono Royal rates the main danger on his latest third behind Honest Endeavour. He could easily beat the favourite if it came up testing as the selection barley sees out the trip so he is worth noting in the market. Lirta is from a top yard and is another with place claims but his over all profile leaves him with a little to find. Savannah Bay and Talldark'n'andsome have shown enough ability to suggest they can win a race of this nature and are others that have place claims but in a race where the market should be watched closely for the winner we return to Chockdee.