Racecards
12:45 Cheltenham
Lloyds Tsb Asset Finance Novices' Handicap Chase (Class D)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
Helvetius
12- Form 20-5125
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer P Ritchens
- Jockey R Greene
in touch, lost place 10th, kept on again one pace from 3 out
- Form 2553-02
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey J P McNamara
held up towards rear, headway 10th, rdna nd weakening when bad mistake and sprawled landing 3 ou,t behind when mistake next, soon eased, pulled up before last
- Form P225-12
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in touch, headway approaching 6th, led on inside 2 out, driven out flat
Paymaster (NZ)
140- Form 3155-2P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
held up towards rear until fell 8th
Ricko (NZ)
25- Form 4F211F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey R Thornton
led after 3rd, headed after 9th, pushed along approaching 3 out, beaten when mistake next
- Form 422-311
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
in touch, headway to join leader 8th, led after next, jumped right 3 out, ridden an headed next, weakened flat
- Form 105622
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
held up in rear, mistake 7th and 8th, tailed off from next
Rufius (IRE)
31- Form 5240-21
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer P Kelsall
- Jockey C Llewellyn
held up and behind, headway approaching 11th, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on one pace flat
- Form P6332-P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-4
held up towards rear, tailed off when bad mistake 11th
- Form 6U-2412
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
prominent, pushed along and lost place approaching 9th, weakening wk bad mistake next, soon tailed off
- Form 633-3P1
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Mrs M Reveley
- Jockey A Dempsey
held up, niggled along briefly after 5th, never on terms (wore cheek pieces)
- Form P-62P24
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer J R Cornwall
- Jockey S Curran
led to after 3rd, stayed prominent, joined leader again 8th to after next, ridden and weakened approaching 12th
In depth
Verdict
A competitive opener on a good card, the second day of Cheltenham's October meeting. Helvetius is probably vulnerable off top weight. Cape Stormer, formerly with Henrietta Knight, should strip fitter for his last run and the stable is in good form. Paymaster, Henrietta Knight's entry, took time to acclimatise after coming over from New Zealand, where he won on the Flat. He has scope but may need his seasonal bow. Ricko has won from this mark and fell, when looking held, chasing his hat-trick last time. He should run well. Glinger is also in good form and is seeking a third straight win, but is up eight pounds for the last of his wins. Irish raider Glynn Dingle is lightly raced but hasn't shown enough to claim the selection. Rufius is on a retrieving mission , having been unlucky in a similar race over course and distance two years ago. He is racing from eight-pounds higher now but will not be without his supporters. Left Bank hails from Mary Reveley's yard and comes here seven-pounds higher than for his Wetherby win. He too will have his followers. It's tricky and the TEAMtalk selection, Rufius, is not made with a great deal of confidence.