Racecards
14:15 Sandown Park
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Celebration Chase (Sponsored By Attheraces) (Class B)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
Cenkos (FR)
22- Form 51-1234
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
led, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden 2 lengths clear last, headed and no extra flat
- Form 5PF562
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer M F Morris
- Jockey B J Geraghty
chased leader to approaching 3 out, soon weakened, lost poor 3rd flat
Geos (FR)
21- Form 331240
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
in rear, jumped slowly 3rd, outpaced from 4 out, last and no chance when fell 2 out, remounted
- Form 2-222F2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, driven and not fluent next, two lengths 2nd approaching last, stayed on under pressure to lead flat, kept on well
- Form 664355
- Age 10
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey N Williamson
held up in 4th, hard ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on to take modest 3rd flat
In depth
Verdict
Cenkos lifted this event twelve months ago and is taken to confirm the placings with Flagship Uberalles while Seebald could prove a bigger danger. The Paul Nicholls-trained Cenkos goes particularly well on this track as he showed when a facile winner of the Tingle Creek on his reappearance in December. The selection confirmed his well being when a creditable third in the Queen Mother Champion Chase when Seebald was a faller and both Geos and Flagship Uberalles were behind. The last named has not looked the force of old and is comfortably held but Seebald was a close second behind Native Upmanship at Aintree last time and will prove a tough opponent once again.