Racecards
20:10 Cheltenham
Brian Babbage Memorial Open Hunters' Chase (Class 6)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 166y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £3,500 added
- Winner: £2,184
- 2nd: £677
- 3rd: £338
- 4th: £169
- Form 12221-
- Age 14
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey Mr N George
in touch, led before 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on towards finish, driven out
- Form 32/51-
- Age 9
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Miss P Robson
- Jockey Mr T Hamilton
held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, went 3rd from and not fluent last, one pace
- Form 54/P6-
- Age 12
- Weight 11-13
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Miss J C Williams
in touch, with leader 8th, led 12th, headed before 2 out, weakened from last
- Form 12276-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-13
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer A B Leyshon
- Jockey Miss R Leyshon
towards rear, hampered 4 out, soon pulled up
- Form /471P-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-13
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Gareth Thomas
- Jockey Mr A Wright
always towards rear, effort 4 out, weakened before 2 out
- Form /3441-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-13
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer S Flook
- Jockey Mr James King
held up in touch, chased leaders before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on
- Form 112/P-
- Age 11
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer Mrs O Jackson
- Jockey Mr L Drowne
led from 2nd, blundered and headed 12th, fell 4 out
Fiasco
32- Form 8RU55-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer A Campbell
- Jockey Mr J Launchbury
in rear, mistake 1st, never dangerous
- Form 3/332-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Miss L J Cabble
- Jockey Mr D Andrews
led to 2nd, lost place halfway, headway before 4 out, went 2nd from 2 out, kept on well towards finish
- Form P2133-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer Mrs L Redman
- Jockey Max Kendrick
tracked leaders, mistake 9th, pushed along before 12th, went 2nd from 13th, every chance 3 out, one pace from last
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Big Fella Thanks was second in a Grade 3 handicap over this course and distance at the start of last year. Despite his advancing years, he's a model of consistency and will make a bold bid to follow up last month's victory at Exeter. FULL JACK should take all the beating, however, if reproducing the form of his handicap win at Carlisle where he quickly shot clear of his rivals from the third-last having travelled sweetly on the bridle throughout. Grandioso won three times over fences for Paul Nicholls and got off the mark for his new yard at Kempton eight days ago so can't be ignored. Foynes Island was just beaten at Taunton last time but needs faster ground.
Formwatch
Big Fella Thanks 9-4fav (12-2) Chased leaders, challenged going well 3 out, soon led, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 3f (6) sft in Mar beating Delta Borget (12-6) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Full Jack (FR) 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led before 4 out, clear before next, unchallenged after, very easily, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Carrigdhoun (11-12) by 12l, 7 ran.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 16-1 (12-2) Mid-divisioon, pushed along when blundered 11th, weakened 13th, 6th of 14, 30l behind Nowurhurlin (12-6) at Warwick 2m 4f (6) sft in Mar.
Bouggietopieces 25-1 (11-7) Led to 12; wknd 14; t.o, 6th of 7, dist behind Blazing Buck (11-0) at Howick 3m gs in Apr.
Daymar Bay (IRE) 40-1 (12-0) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Aintree 2m 5f (2) sft in Apr.
Grandioso (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Held up, headway 12th, challenged 3 out, led before next, went right last, ridden out, won at Kempton 2m 4f (5) gd in Apr beating Twirling Magnet (12-4) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Barton Stacey (IRE) 7-1 (12-1) (cp) (tt) prom; led 9-13; wknd qckly 15; pu nxt, at Cothelstone 3m sft in Mar.
Fiasco 16-1 (12-0) (tt) led til hdd & wknd qckly 3 out, 5th of 7, 31 3/4l behind Fearless Fantasy (11-7) at Maisemore Park 3m gd in Mar.
Foynes Island (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Led, ridden after 3 out, joined next, not fluent last, kept on under pressure flat, headed narrowly near finish, 2nd of 5, shd behind Benedictus (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f (5) gd in Apr.
Goodnight Vienna (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) Led til hdd aft 2 out; no ex, 3rd of 7, 11 1/2l behind Aikideau (11-0) at Littlewindsor 3m sft in Apr.