Racecards
14:00 Cheltenham
Unicoin Starter Homes Novices' Chase (Class B)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Form 22111F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
chased clear leader approach 3rd to 7th, switched left to lead approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
Mercato (FR)
289- Form 521055-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer J Best
- Jockey M Bradburne
chased clear leader to approaching 3rd, went 2nd again 7th, soon closed on leader, led approaching 10th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra, flat
Tikram
46- Form 4360-32
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up, mistake 1st, pushed along 7th, disputing 2nd when hit and stumbled on landing 4 out and lost about 6 lengths, rallied approaching last, took 2nd flat, not trouble winner
Lirta (FR)
215- Form 225F-22
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
led and soon clear, headed and quickly dropped to last approaching 10th, weakened quickly, tailed off
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Santenay, Lirta and Tikram look the ones to concentrate on in this novices chase with the confident vote going to Santenay. The gelding from the Paul Nicholls yard was begging to close on the leaders when falling at the top of the hill in a race won by Got One Too, if his confidence has not been effected he will be hard to beat. Lirta is another that could go well as this French bred gelding has shown fair form in France but it is hard to know how he will cope with these stiff fences on this his first run in Britain Tikram was second behind Puntal last time but again he may find one or two to good. Of the remainder L'Aventura looks the stable second string on jockey bookings so we are happy to stick with Santenay.