Racecards
16:25 Cheltenham
Showcase Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Form 254P5-2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, pushed along 3out, some headway approaching last, never in contention
- Form 612862
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 133
in touch, raced keenly, lost place after 7th, hit 2 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on well under pressure flat
Distiller (IRE)
175- Form 503210-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
prominent, weakened 3 out, mistake last
- Form 132P/11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer J L Spearing
- Jockey W Marston
in touch, raced keenly, ridden and not quicken after 2 out, not fluent last, idled flat
Ameeq (USA)
21- Form 75-312F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
towards rear, jumped left 3 out, always behind
Picot de Say
37- Form 224P-14
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer C Roberts
- Jockey Jack Doyle
held up in rear, headway from 3 out, dispute in 2nd last, weakened final 100 yards
Sangfroid
175- Form 4722F1-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey D A Jacob
mid-division, headway 6th, outpaced after 2out, not fluent last, edged left and stayed on flat
Factotum
91- Form 23-115
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, switched left and headway approaching last, stayed on strongly flat to take 2nd towards finish, not troubled winner
- Form 0/2155-0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
blundered and unseated rider 2nd
- Form 322315
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey C Poste
held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway approaching 3out, hit 2out, beaten when hit last, weakened
- Form F6108-8
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
took keen hold in mid-division, headway 6th, chased winner and not fluent 3out, not fluent last, no impression when lost 2nd towards finish
- Form 325513
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer Mrs E Slack
- Jockey Tjade Collier
led to 6th, ridden after 3out, gradually faded approaching last
- Form 525-11
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Jedd O'Keeffe
- Jockey R Thornton
prominent, ridden and not much room after 7th, weakend 2 out
- Form 233212
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 115
tracked leader, took good hold, led 6th, ridden and edged right flat, stayed on well (no time taken)
Verdict
This looks a really competitive handicap on paper but the jockey booking of Robert Thornton on Jed O'Keeffe's MOONWALKING catches the eye and with that one looking well treated on his handicap bow we give him our confidence ahead of Rajeh and Ameeq should be a decent value play for a place. Winning his last two starts in novice company the selection just got up to beat a subsequent winner rated 115 on his last success so given he is off that rating here he looks fairly treated. He's been kept fit with a few spins on the level but now back in this sphere he can run a big race. Rajeh took a year off from jumping to run a useful looking flat campaign last season but since returning to life over hurdles he's won both starts while showing a progressive profile and as long as that continues he show improvement he can overcome his latest ratings rise. Cloone Stream is an interesting raider from Ireland after a good run in defeat last time but Moonwalking looks the best treated here and can score on his first attempt in these ranks.
Formwatch
Naiad du Misselot (FR) 1-3fav (10-12) Led up towards rear, headway 9th and prominent, went 2nd approaching 3 out, effort approaching last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Harry Flashman (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f nov stks (4) gd in May.
Cloone Stream (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Mid-division, progress on inner when hampered 3 out, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, went 2nd when not fluent last, rider dropped whip run-in, kept on well, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Baily Rock (10-6) at Gowran Park 3m hcp hdl gf.
Distiller (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Mid-division, short of room and lost place on bend after 3rd, reminder 6th, weakened 3 out, 11th of 15, 38l behind Sangfroid (10-3) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Rajeh (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, raced keenly, ridden after 2 out, went 2nd after last, stayed on under pressure to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Sep beating Pepporoni Pete (10-4) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Ameeq (USA) 12-1 (10-4) Held up, badly hampered and brought down 5th, in a race won by Treaty Flyer (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sep, 17 ran.
Picot de Say 50-1 (10-0) Held up, headway 4th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 13, 6l behind Cootehill (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Jul.
Sangfroid 12-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from next, strong run from last, led near finish, won at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr beating Callisto Moon (10-8) by 1l, 15 ran.
Factotum 4-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, hit 5th, headway next, ridden 8th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 10, 27l behind English City (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Jul.
Keki Buku (FR) 5-1fav (11-7) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 18th of 25, well behind Montana Slim (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-123 sft in Apr.
Pepporoni Pete (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden after next, weakened well before 2 out, 5th of 8, 21l behind Rockiteer (10-9) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 17, 18l behind Treaty Flyer (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sep.
Woody Valentine (USA) 11-2 (11-9) Held up in touch, headway and effort 2 out, ridden after last, kept on under pressure flat, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Snowy (10-13) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Moonwalking 9-4fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, every chance 2 out, led flat, kept on, won at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May beating Always Bold (10-7) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Right Option (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3rd, every chance approaching last, weakened flat, 2nd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Dead Or Alive (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Aug.