Racecards
14:50 Huntingdon
Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide 2009 Novices' Chase (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £13,000 added
- Form 691321
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer M G Quinlan
- Jockey J E Moore
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, no chance with winner
- Form 20/4P-10
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 123
led, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 211P-31
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey S Thomas
tracked leader, led after 3 out, soon in command, easily
- Form 438156
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer M C Chapman
- Jockey L Vickers
chased leaders to 4th, soon behind, tailed off
- Form 622612
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
held up, hit 4th, went 4th before next, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, went 3rd last
- Form 5U2574
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer A D Brown
- Jockey M Bradburne
held up, not fluent 2nd, not fluent and lost touch 8th
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
PASCO could be hard to peg back at this track and is preferred to Idarah and The Duke's Speech. The selection lines up here rather than in a Grade 2 contest on Friday and his connections' decision to take the easier option ahead of a possible tilt at the Arkle can be rewarded. The form of his Exeter third has worked out well in the main and he was impressive at Newbury; he'll be hard to beat. Idarah is progressing along the right lines and the horse he beat by a neck at Ludlow went on to win well at the weekend whilst the fourth won a modest handicap earlier in the week. Opera De Coeur failed to build on his Ludlow win and has questions to answer whilst The Duke's Speech was firmly put in his place by Chapoturgeon at Doncaster and will have to settle for a minor role. This should be straightforward for Pasco.
Formwatch
Idarah (USA) 6-4jt-fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, 2nd 8th, ridden 3 out, led flat, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) sft in Jan beating Soixante (11-0) by a nk, 9 ran.
Opera de Coeur (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, mistake 6th, struggling from 12th, 12th of 13, well behind Shouldhavehadthat (11-9) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Pasco (SWI) 8-11fav (11-0) Made all, clear after 3rd, hit 6th and 4 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Newbury 2m 1f nov chs (3) gs in Nov beating Isn't That Lucky (11-0) by 13l, 5 ran.
Peak Seasons (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Led to after 4th, chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 15, 15l behind Super Baby (11-4) at Catterick 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Jan.
The Duke's Speech (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Held up in touch, mistake 4 out, went 2nd after next, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Chapoturgeon (10-9) at Doncaster 2m nov chs (2) gs in Jan.
King In Waiting (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Close up until weakened from 5 out, jumped badly right after, 4th of 5, well behind Chapoturgeon (10-9) at Doncaster 2m nov chs (2) gs in Jan.