Racecards
14:10 Cheltenham
Club 16-24 Adrian Maguire Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (Class E)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Form 02651F-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey P Robson
slight lead and set fast pace headed after 4 out weakened quickly
- Form 215102-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey R Biddlecombe
pressed leader, led after 4 out, drew clear approaching last, ran on strongly
- Form P31F11
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J O'Shea
- Jockey Gary Richards
held up, still plenty to do from 2 out, strong run flat to take 2nd near finish but no chance with winner
- Form 2216-2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer C Von Der Recke
- Jockey J E Moore
pulled hard in touch, headway to track leaders from 3rd, chased winner approaching 3 out, led brielfy between last two, wandered under pressure, no extra flat
Perouse
173- Form 1/0211-0
- Age 5
- Weight 10-3
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Mr R M P McNally
held up, headway from 4, close up when hit 3 out soon weakened
- Form 161124
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey Christian Williams
held up, headway from 4th, close up when hit 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
Saorsie
18- Form 533222
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer J Fox
- Jockey Dave Crosse
mistake 3rd and always behind
- Form 5242U6
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey A Day
took keen hold and held up in rear, headway 4 out, one pace and no chance when slightly hampered flat
- Form 425321
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
chased leading pair, mistake 3rd, weakened and behind from next, soon tailed off
- Form 0-214
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey James Davies
tailed off and behind, some headway under pressure 3 out soon beaten
In depth
Verdict
A race named after one of the great jockeys of the modern era, Adrian Maguire, can go to Mistanoora, who just gets our vote ahead of Translucid. The selection looked very good when winning a decent novice event at Sandown in February and has run well in very good company since, including here in May. This is his first attempt in handicap company but he could be a good prospect for the season. Translucid, from the Christian von der Recke stable - and the German-based handler has a good record with his raiders to these shores - was also decent as a novice. He ended last season with a good sixth in a Cheltenham handicap and looks the type to win his share of contest this season. The French Furze is very useful on his day but the downside to his chances is that he carries topweight and has a 218-day absence to overcome. However, he can also run fresh. Val de Fleury comes here in very good heart but now races off a mark of 121, which will make life tougher. He is a pound worse off today with Saorsie for the short head he beat him at Newton Abbot in September. Overall, that is not exceptional form so, with the bottom six, including Saorsie, racing from just out of the handicap (excluding riders' allowances), and with Pelouse looking nothing out of the ordinary based on what he has so far achieved, we will look to the top end of the wieghts for our selection. Mistanoora, who could well pay to follow this year whatever happens today, could be the one and, accordingly, gets our vote, but it was a close call with Translucid.