Racecards
16:10 Taunton
Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening 11th March Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 5)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 40y
- Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Winner: £3,594
- 2nd: £1,656
- 3rd: £828
- 4th: £414
- Form 1/6P3
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey Brendan Powell
held up in mid-division, headway out wide chasing leaders when hit 10th, weakening when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next
- Form 55-4242
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer Mrs J Williams
- Jockey Chester Williams
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders approaching 4 out, plugged on in modest 5th run-in
- Form 2P3-336
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
chased leaders on inside, every chance when hit 3 out, went 2nd briefly before next, ridden and one pace in 3rd before the last
- Form 3226/77
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer W G M Turner
- Jockey Thomas Doggrell
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 5th, went 2nd after 4 out, led next, clear when went left 2 out, awkward last, stayed on well
Eros (FR)
21- Form P0-5333
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer K Woollacott
- Jockey Ben Godfrey
chased leaders, lost place 7th, towards rear, rallied out wide 3 out, 5th and no impression when hung right before the last, kept on well run-in, almost snatched modest 3rd
- Form 782563/
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer Jean-Rene Auvray
- Jockey Hugh Nugent
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th until after 7th, chased leaders, weakened quickly next, soon towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 414/046
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey David Noonan
chased leader, led 3rd, headed 3out, lost 2nd briefly before next, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
- Form U1F/6P8
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer Henry Oliver
- Jockey James Davies
last pair, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form RP7-FP0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer M Young
- Jockey James Best
led until 3rd, lost 2nd 5th, went 2nd again after 7th until weakened before 3 out
- Form 93-2820
- Age 6
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer P Gundry
- Jockey Charlie Hammond
held up in last trio, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 64P7F7
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey Benjamin Poste
held up in rear, never involved
In depth
Verdict
EROS has placed in his last three and shown enough overall to suggest he can take advantage of the 12lb, including his rider’s allowance, he receives from chasing debutant Bold Conduct, though the latter is a full brother to winning chaser Speedy Cargo and has the potential to be better over fences than hurdles. Kayley Woollacott's charge is weighted to reverse Warwick running with Folly Gate. Majestic Merlin is back in the right grade and looks the pick of the remainder.
Formwatch
Bold Conduct (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Held up, headway going well under 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden and dropped to 3rd before last, no extra and held flat, 3rd of 9, 18 1/4l behind Unanswered Prayers (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) sft in Jan.
Folly Gate (FR) 8-1 (11-11) Raced in mid-division, ridden and rallied before 2 out, ran on well after final fence, not reach winner, 2nd of 12, 15l behind Templier (10-9) at Warwick 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Majestic Merlin 15-2 (10-0) Led, headed before 2nd, lost place 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 7, 23 1/4l behind Another Crick (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Marettimo (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Keen tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 11, 21 3/4l behind Tara Iti (10-0) at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Eros (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway 11th, every chance 4 out, 3rd and held 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Getmegold (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Streets Of Fire (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Led, joined 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra in 3rd early run-in, 3rd of 17, 2 1/4l behind Goodgirlteresa (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Pola Chance (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Raced in mid-division, ridden and outpaced at 3 out, kept on at 2 out, weakend after final fence, 6th of 12, 22 3/4l behind Templier (10-9) at Warwick 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Dr Oakley (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, ridden and headway 8th, one pace from 3 out, 8th of 14, dist behind Barrakhov (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Danny Park (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) Chasing leaders, jumped left, bumped rival and landed awkwardly 1st, soon back in mid-division, well beaten after 11th, 10th of 12, dist behind Just Don't Know (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jan.
Miss Harriett 7-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, weakened, 13th of 14, dist behind Shutthegate (10-5) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Fitz The Brief (IRE) 18-1 (10-3) Always towards rear, 7th of 9, 37 1/4l behind Rock On Tommy (10-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (5) gs in Dec.