Racecards
13:30 Cheltenham
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £135,000 added
- Winner: £75,964
- 2nd: £28,620
- 3rd: £14,324
- 4th: £7,155
- Form 12-3124
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
tracked leading pair until 4 out, chased leaders, wide and weakened home turn
- Form U/1-1141
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D E Mullins
jumped right at times, led until narrowly headed 4 out, chased leader, in front again next, went badly right and hampered rival 2 out, headed turning in, chased easy winner until the last, ridden and one pace in 3rd run-in
- Form 332-111
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr P W Mullins
bit keen, held up in 6th, closer on inside at 5th, pushed along chasing leaders before 2 out, followed winner through on inside home turn, went 2nd at the last, no chance with winner
- Form 2/1U11
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer B Connell
- Jockey M J M O'Sullivan
held up in 5th, smooth headway tracking leaders before 3 out, pushed along turning in, weakened before the last
- Form 31-111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
tracked leader, led narrowly 4 out, headed next, every chance when bumped and hit 2 out, lost 2nd home turn, weakened turning in, lost remote 5th post
- Form F1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey M P Walsh
held up off the pace in 7th, never involved, mistake last
- Form 1-11
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey P Townend
bit keen tracking leaders on inside, went 3rd 4 out, smooth headway on inside home turn, led turning in, 5 lengths clear when went right at the last, stayed on strongly, easily
- Form 22-1151
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
off the pace in last trio, some headway on heels of leaders before 2 out, soon outpaced, plugged on in remote 5th post
- Form 4-3F226
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up in last pair on inside, never involved
Persian Time
25- Form 2-12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
always in rear, tailed off 3 out, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before the last
Verdict
Hermes Allen won the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury in a canter when last seen and holds Marble Sands on that run. But the last 19 winners of that contest to have run here subsequently have all been beaten. The Willie Mullins’ legions are out in force again with the unbeaten Impaire Et Passe the one to have attracted most ante-post support having easily landed the odds in a Grade 2 at Punchestown in January. However, we prefer the tough GAELIC WARRIOR, so unlucky when the subject of a massive gamble in the Boodles here last year. Odds-on and successful in all three starts this campaign, he should relish the extra distance today. Champ Kiely made all in a Grade 1 at Naas last time so is clearly no slouch with Good Land also successful at the highest level at Punchestown last month. Persian Time is improving with experience and may prove the pick of the remainder.
Formwatch
American Mike (IRE) 11-8fav (11-9) Led, not fluent 2nd, headed when not fluent and ridden 3 out, no impression on winner after 2 out, 3rd after last, no impression run-in, 4th close home, 4th of 5, 7 3/4l behind Hunters Yarn (11-9) at Navan 2m lst (1) Good - Yielding in Feb.
Champ Kiely (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Made all, jumped slightly right at 1st, travelled well over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on well, won at Naas 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan beating Irish Point (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Gaelic Warrior (GER) 10-11fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, soon 3rd, not fluent 1st, 2nd travelling well entering straight, soon led and went on, pushed along in 2 lengths lead when jumped right last, ridden out and kept on well, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp Yielding in Feb beating Nibiru (10-5) by 3 3/4l, 17 ran.
Good Land (FR) 3-1fav (11-10) Always prominent, 2nd from halfway, led travelling well 2 out, pushed along before last, ridden and stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 6f (1) Yielding in Feb beating Absolute Notions (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Hermes Allen (FR) 11-10fav (11-7) Raced on inside, led until before 4th, chased clear leader, closer home turn, led before 3 out, soon in command, switched right to outside run-in, very easily, won at Newbury 2m 5f (1) sft in Dec beating You Wear It Well (11-0) by 4 3/4l, 12 ran.
Ho My Lord (FR) 1-3fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, headway to dispute lead travelling well 3 out, led next, soon pushed along and went clear, stayed on well under hands and heels run-in, easily, won at Navan 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Feb beating Banjaxed (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 15 ran.
Impaire Et Passe (FR) 1-3fav (11-4) Disputed lead, headed before 4th, improved to lead travelling well entering straight, pushed along before last, stayed on strongly run-in, easily, won at Punchestown 2m (1) hvy in Jan beating The Model Kingdom (10-11) by 6 1/2l, 5 ran.
Marble Sands (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, chased leader 3 out, pushed along and every chance when hit next, ridden to lead when hit and went right at last, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) gd in Feb beating Rare Edition (11-8) by 2 3/4l, 4 ran.
Master Chewy (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway on inside chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden after next, 4th and no impression when hit last, weakened and lost two places run-in, 6th of 16, 15 3/4l behind Aucunrisque (11-4) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Persian Time 7-2 (11-10) Mid-division, headway into 3rd home turn, pushed along after 2 out, kept on, ridden run-in, no match for winner, 2nd of 7, 9 1/2l behind Springwell Bay (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f (2) gd in Feb.