Racecards
14:50 Cheltenham
Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (Class 2)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 3m 6f 37y
- Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £25,000 added
- Winner: £15,640
- 2nd: £4,620
- 3rd: £2,310
- 4th: £1,155
- Form 213144
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 159
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ms K Walsh
held up towards rear, modest 6th 25th, jumped left and bumped rival 27th, soon well behind
- Form 28D1-0P
- Age 14
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders, pushed along after 24th, 2nd 27th until 4 out, 3rd and no extra from 2 out
- Form 51P-5P0
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Mr J J Codd
always behind
- Form 170911
- Age 12
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
tracked leader, led 16th, headed next, pecked 21st, led 23rd, carried right by loose horse after 27th, driven before last, headed flat, no impression towards finish
- Form P3-6410
- Age 11
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Jack Sherwood
tracked leaders, lost place 7th, pushed along 19th, behind from next, bumped 27th, well beaten after
- Form 254P-96
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P Griffin
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
soon tailed off, mistake 4th, pulled up before 18th
- Form 151P92
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer R Hobson
- Jockey Jamie Bargary
led, not fluent 8th, headed 16th, led next, headed 23rd, mistake 27th, no extra 3 out
- Form F3-0PP0
- Age 9
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer M Hourigan
- Jockey Jonathan Moore
struggling 6th, well behind 10th, pulled up before 24th
- Form U4P-503
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
chased leaders, disputing 2nd when mistake and unseated rider 26th
- Form F-24735
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer E Clayeux
- Jockey Felix de Giles
mid-division, mistake 17th, left 4th 26th, closed after next, 2nd 4 out, led flat, stayed on
In depth
Verdict
Cantlow handled these fences with aplomb in November and ran out an easy winner. Only 4lb higher, he’ll be fancied to complete a cross-country hat-trick but he only had six lengths to spare over staying-on stablemate AUVERGNAT at Punchestown earlier and the latter is now 13lb better off plus Rachael Blackmore’s claim - he may be the value. Valadom has handled these unique fences in the past and could have each-way claims while Any Currency is a standing dish over track and trip and, though not getting any younger, should give a good account. Rocky Creek won the London Grand National two runs ago but ran no sort of race on a return visit to Sandown. Alelchi Inois has won at Grade 2 and Grade 3 level but stamina may be an issue.
Formwatch
Alelchi Inois (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Held up, pushed along after 3 out, soon no impression in 4th, slight mistake last, one pace, 4th of 5, 22 1/4l behind Champagne West (11-2) at Tramore 2m 5f lst (1) Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Any Currency (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, lost place 12th, tailed off 15th, pulled up after, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Cause Of Causes (USA) 50-1 (11-9) Towards rear, pushed along briefly 8th, impeded 9th, no impression before straight, 14th of 28, dist behind Noble Endeavor (11-3) at Leopardstown 3m Yielding in Dec.
Cantlow (IRE) 13-8fav (11-2) Chased leaders, 2nd 7th, led 18th, clear from 2 out, pushed out, easily, won at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gf in Dec beating Bless The Wings (11-12) by 9l, 7 ran.
Rocky Creek (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Chased leaders until not fluent and lost place 9th, towards rear and struggling 13th, tailed off, 11th of 16, dist behind Pete The Feat (10-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Fago (FR) 50-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, slight mistake 4th, 4th halfway, slight mistake 7th, no extra in 5th after 3 out, weakened, last of 6, dist behind Arctic Skipper (11-1) at Navan 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Valadom (FR) 2-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, 3 lengths down last, kept on same pace, well held flat, 2nd of 4, 3 1/4l behind The Bay Oak (11-2) at Catterick 3m 1f (4) gs in Jan.
The Job Is Right 50-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, closer in 10th and slight mistake 2 out, soon no extra and weakened, 19th of 25, 34 1/2l behind Electric Concorde (10-11) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Auvergnat (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, progress into 6th at 16th, slight mistake 7 out, ridden in 5th after 3 out, no impression in 4th 2 out, 3rd last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 13, 5 1/2l behind Cantlow (11-9) at Punchestown 3m sft in Nov.
Urgent De Gregaine (FR) (11-3) 5th of 9, 18l behind at Lyon-Parilly 2m 3f hvy in Nov.