Skip to content

Racecards

13:20 Cheltenham

Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices' Chase (Registered As The Dipper Novices' Chase) (Grade 2) (Class 1)

  • 4 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 5f
  • Going: Soft, Heavy in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £32,000 added
  • Winner: £18,224
  • 2nd: £6,838
  • 3rd: £3,424
  • 4th: £1,706
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 44.60s
  • Off Time: 13:20:57
  • 4 Ran
1
Silk - Dark Blue and White diabolo, hooped sleeves and cap
5/6
  • Form 12P4-21
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-7

tracked leader, challenged 7th, led 9th, headed after next, led before last, driven and stayed on well flat, always holding rival

2
Silk - Red, emerald green Cross Of Lorraine and sleeves
6/4
  • Form 116-113
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-7
  • Official Rating 147

tracked leaders, went 2nd before last, pecked at fence, stayed on flat, always being held by winner

3
Silk - Light Blue, Pink chevrons, Light Blue sleeves, Light Blue cap, Pink star
10/1
  • Form 2109-9F
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-0

held up in touch in last, not that fluent, headway from after 10th, close 3rd before last, soon beaten, weakened flat

4
Silk - White, Pink stars, White cap, Pink star
  • Form 709-342
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 128

led, not fluent 2nd, hit 9th and headed, led again after next until before last, weakened

In depth

Verdict

Taquin Du Seuil beat OSCAR WHISKY by a neck here in November and while Nicky Henderson's charge, who has since got the better of the smart Wonderful Charm on this course, is now 5lb worse off, he should turn the tables on his younger rival with experience under his belt. Timesawastin has already been beaten in a couple of handicaps and his future lies in that sphere but Close House was still in contention and apparently going well when falling behind the selection on his chasing bow and he could make life interesting getting 7lb if that mishap hasn't affected his confidence.

Formwatch

Oscar Whisky (IRE) 4-5fav (11-0) Made all, often went slightly right, mistake 4 out, pecked 3 out, ridden when pressed before last, kept on flat and always just holding rival, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gd in Dec beating Wonderful Charm (11-8) by 1/2l, 5 ran.

Taquin Du Seuil (FR) 9-4fav (11-2) Took keen hold tracking leading trio, not fluent 7th (water), blundered and stumbled badly 9th, given time to recover, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Hinterland (11-2) at Sandown 2m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.

Close House 14-1 (11-0) Raced in 3rd, not fluent 2nd, closing when fell 4 out, in a race won by Oscar Whisky (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gd in Dec, 5 ran.

Timesawastin (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Led headed 3 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Renard (11-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.