Racecards
16:45 Taunton
Cheltenham Gold Cup Lunch 18th March Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race) (Class 5)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 104y
- Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £4,999 added
- Winner: £2,722
- 2nd: £1,254
- 3rd: £627
- 4th: £314
- Form 1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey Caoilin Quinn
made all, went clear over 10f out, hung left entering back straight, reduced lead when hung left inside final furlong, driven out to hold on but unchallenged
Bertie Blue
36- Form 75
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey Thomas Bellamy
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders over 4f out, went 2nd 2f out, switched right final 110 yards, kept on, always held
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Miss Sarah Robinson
- Jockey M G Nolan
always behind, lost touch 6f out, tailed off
- Form 7
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer B Lund
- Jockey Ben Godfrey
held up in rear, headway out wide chasing leaders over 5f out, went 2nd turning in, soon ridden and hung right, lost 2nd 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 87
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer G Harris
- Jockey Conor Ring
off the pace and never closer than mid-division
- Form 19
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
tracked winner until 9f out, chased leaders, weakened final 2f
- Form 6
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer B Lund
- Jockey Shane Quinlan
held up in 4th, lost place 6f out, soon behind, tailed off
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
off the pace towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and plugged on final 2f, never going pace to get involved
- Form 43
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey Miss Heidi Stevens
raced keenly in 3rd on inside, went 2nd 9f out until home turn, 3rd and one pace final furlong
Vengeance
54- Form 3
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer T Lacey
- Jockey Stan Sheppard
unruly lining up, towards rear most of way
In depth
Verdict
Vengeance looked one-paced at Ffos Las and Presenting Nelly is penalised for winning at Uttoxeter in the autumn. Pocket Too took a step forward when third at Wincanton, however, and Fakenham winner Gallopade shouldn’t be underestimated. HORIZON DOVE is by a leading NH sire and out of a winning hurdler who was placed in a Cheltenham bumper on her debut under Rules. Fergal O’Brien’s newcomer could be the answer to this finale.
Formwatch
Gallopade 10-1 (11-4) Keen raced wide, disputed lead until led 9f out, clear inside final furlong, comfortable, won at Fakenham 2m (5) gd in Nov beating Sea The Clouds (11-4) by 7l, 7 ran.
Bertie Blue 66-1 (11-6) In rear of midfield, off the pace when ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 13, 14 1/2l behind Ballyglass (11-6) at Southwell 2m mdn (5) gs in Jan.
Brucie Bonus Indian Haven gelding out of Magical Wonderland.
Exmoor Forest (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Veered left and reluctant, lost many lengths, always in rear, tailed off, 7th of 10, dist behind Firestream (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f (5) gs in Jan.
Lord Bill (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Twrds rr, 9th 1/2way, rdn in 5th aftr 3out, drpd to 6th 2out, no ex from bef last, ko bhnd, 7th of 12, 15 1/2l behind Off To A Flyer (11-11) at Lingstown 3m mdn gs in Nov.
Presenting Nelly 10-1 (11-0) In rear of mid-division, ridden under 3f out, no impression from under 2f out, 9th of 13, 12 1/4l behind Malina Jamila (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m lst (1) gd in Dec.
Prince Mtm (IRE) 125-1 (11-4) Mid-division, some headway 4f out, no impression, 6th of 10, 23l behind Tchoupinminzac (11-8) at Ludlow 1m 6f (4) sft in Jan.
Horizon Dove (FR) Walk In The Park M out of Fairytale Theatre.
Pocket Too 8-1 (10-12) Led at steady pace, ridden and increased tempo 3f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on gamely, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Mr Sundancer (10-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f (5) gd in Dec.
Vengeance 3-1 (10-7) Led 3f, tracked leader, slightly hampered halfway, pushed along and lost 2nd over 5f out, chased leaders, pushed along turning in, outpaced 3f out, kept on again in modest 3rd inside final 2f, 3rd of 6, 7 1/2l behind Blue Hop (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m (5) hvy in Dec.