Racecards
16:15 Cheltenham
Wragge & Co Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class A )
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Soft
- Form 1111
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer A Chaille-Chaille
- Jockey C Pieux
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, upsides 2 out, weakened and mistake last
- Form 111
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
in touch when sprawled on landing 3 out, no chance after
- Form 14214
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
in touch until weakened before 3 out
- Form 12F14
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey B J Crowley
held up in rear, stayed on after 2 out, took 3rd run-in but not reach leaders
- Form 111
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P C Haslam
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked leaders, ridden and upsides 2 out, 1 length down and held when mistake last, no chance with winner but kept on for clear 2nd
- Form 1010
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer M C Chapman
- Jockey A C Coyle
behind most of way
Akilak (IRE)
BF- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey G Lee
held up, smooth headway after 3 out, travelling strongly between horses to challenge between last, led before last, drew clear run-in
- Form 40154
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
in touch, behind from 5th, tailed off when mistake 3 out
- Form 433432
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey Christian Williams
behind, kept on under pressure from after 2 out, never dangerous
- Form 124B
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey P Hide
towards rear, hit 5th, some headway approaching 2 out
- Form 36
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J A B Old
- Jockey C Llewellyn
chased leaders until weakened quickly before 3 out
- Form 024
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer S C Burrough
- Jockey Mr W P Kavanagh
always behind
- Form 231
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey A Dobbin
always in rear, soon tailed off, pulled up before last
Zalda
14- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
chased leader, hit 5th and lost place, soon well behind
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
prominent, led after 5th, headed before last, weakened run-in
In depth
Verdict
We start as we began with an excellent race and, from a shortlist of Miss Academy, Yankeedoodledandy, Zalda, Danaw and Bonbon Rose, we will side with Danaw. Miss Academy created a very favourable impression when scoring at Newcastle on her debut and we will find out how good she is today. Zalda did the same when scoring on her Kempton debut and is another to consider in this hot heat. New Entic was just touched off by Yankeedoodledandy at Huntingdon and then ran fourth behind Salut St Cloud in a Graded Lingfield race, but we feel others will have his measure today. Biscar Two improved to finish second to Phar Bleu in Grade 1 race at Chepstow last time, although the going was deep on that occasion and the form might flatter him. Salut St Cloud was behind him on that occasion. Napolitain disappointed on desperate ground at Uttoxeter last time but had earlier looked decent so might fare better on this better going, although he was put in his place over course and distance by Yankeedoodledandy when they met here. Finally, Danaw, already a Grade 3 winner in France, and fellow French raider, Bonbon Rose, are sure to play a leading part in this contest, and further interest is added by the Howard Johnson newcomer Akilak, who was just touched off in a valuable 10-furlong Curragh handicap when last seen on the track. In summary, then, Yankeedoodledandy represents the best of the British form and is given plenty of respect, while Miss Academy and Zalda are also well respected on the basis of their sole runs to date. However, the feeling is that the French pair are also useful and, in a very good race, it is Danaw who is given the call.