Racecards
13:05 Wetherby
Star Sports Cheltenham Preview Night - 4th March Novices' Chase (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £5,800 added
- Winner: £3,769
- 2nd: £1,107
- 3rd: £553
- 4th: £277
- Form 3211-F1
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer S Shirley-Beavan
- Jockey F Keniry
chased leader to 4th, reminders after 7th, soon lost place, weakened before 5 out
- Form U4-P103
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
behind, headway 10th, went 3rd from 5 out, weakened 3 out
- Form 3641/0-1
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 4th, weakened before last
- Form 940-267
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey F Davis
in rear, blundered 2nd, weakened 6 out
- Form 26P42-6
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Miss C Dyson
- Jockey Gerald Quinn
in touch, lost place before 5th, reminders after 7th, soon behind
- Form 22/2141
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey B P Harding
held up towards rear, headway 4 out and soon went 3rd, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on to lead towards finish
- Form 110F-32
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
led, ridden before last, kept on and headed towards finish
In depth
Verdict
POOLE MASTER was the best of these over hurdles and made a promising start to his chasing career when runner-up to Real Milan at Carlisle. He'll improve for that experience and is preferred to Saphir River, who scored on his chasing bow at Uttoxeter but has been below par in a couple of subsequent starts over 3m. Ballybriggan won over timber on his reappearance at Haydock and will be in the mix if taking to fences but this is tougher than the chase won at Catterick by Rapidolyte De Ladalka last week. Fourjacks has won a couple of novice hurdles and is another to note on his first start over fences.
Formwatch
Rapidolyte De Ladalka (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden 4 out, challenged 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Catterick 3m 1f beg chase (4) hvy beating See What Happens (11-0) by 8l, 6 ran.
Saphir River (FR) 15-8 (11-6) Held up tracking leading trio, headway 9th, went 3rd after next, went 2nd before 12th, not fluent 2 out, no chance with winner when weakened to 3rd last, 3rd of 5, 38l behind Rival D'estruval (11-6) at Kelso 2m 7f nov chs (2) sft in Dec.
Ballybriggan (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Always prominent, led after last, stayed on well (4 hurdles omitted), won at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec beating Swiss Art (10-0) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Bandanaman (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, 7th of 8, well behind Micro Mission (11-3) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Burnthill (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Led until before 5th, ridden 8th, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind Whistling Senator (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Fourjacks 5-4fav (11-5) Close up and raced wide down back straight, reminder 6th, reminder after 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, kept on well, driven out, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Three White Socks (10-13) by 4l, 8 ran.
Poole Master 5-6fav (11-0) With leader, led 2nd, headed before 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 3, 6l behind Real Milan (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 5f beg chs (3) hvy in Dec.