Racecards
12:55 Cheltenham
Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class D)
- 23 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Form 245-182
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, driven out
- Form 42-26
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Mr J E Moore
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden and every chance approaching last, weakened flat
- Form 326411
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 715
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey B J Geraghty
mid-division, ridden and not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
- Form 221
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer C Von Der Recke
- Jockey A P McCoy
keen hold, prominent, led 4th until after 3 out, ridden to lead briefly again after 2 out, weakened last
- Form 12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
mid-division, ridden and headway 2 out, stayed on well flat
- Form 512
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, ridden and headway 2 out, stayed on
- Form F2P4-42
- Age 10
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer D R Gandolfo
- Jockey A Thornton
mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden next, weakened last
Dollar Law
35- Form 433
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer R Price
- Jockey V Slattery
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden and every chance last, no extra towards finish
- Form 2438-92
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey P Hide
prominent, mistake and lost place 2nd, soon behind
- Form 525231
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
mid-division, effort approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 87-6421
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer P Winkworth
- Jockey L P Aspell
behind, ridden and headway 2 out, kept on but never nearer
- Form 123257
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer Miss K Marks
- Jockey L Cummins
behind, ridden 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never nearer
Aquiline
42- Form 276-2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer John Harris
- Jockey M Foley
chased leaders until 6th
Bravo
30- Form 4-84
- Age 5
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer J Mackie
- Jockey T J Phelan
mid-division, never nearer
- Form 06-30
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
always behind
Hakim (NZ)
12- Form 2-P35
- Age 9
- Weight 10-1
- Trainer J Spearing
- Jockey H Oliver
held up, never dangerous
Kings To Open
429- Form 025-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-1
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey B Hitchcott
behind from 5th
- Form 0/49
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer D Carroll
- Jockey P J Brennan
keen, prominent, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 4556
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
prominent, mistake and lost place 4th, soon behind
Verdict
A competitive start to the Cheltenham card with 23 largely unexposed runners lining up in this handicap hurdle. Topweight Keltic Bard lost no caste in defeat behind the useful Double Honour at Huntingdon last week but looks plenty high enough in the weights at present, as does Chief Cashier who has to race off an 8lb higher mark than when beating Sharpaten is a weaker race than this at Wincanton last time. Red Sun, who ran well here in October when third to Grave Doubts improved on that effort when successful at Doncaster last month but a 7lb rise gives him more to do. The Philip Hobbs-trained Jahash looks to be better over hurdles than he was on the flat but has been done few favours on his handicap debut off a mark of 110, while useful flat horse Dumaran, who won well at Warwick last month before disappointing in better company at Ascot, can race off just a 5lb higher mark. Cho Polu has claims of reversing Warwick running with Andrew Balding's horse on these revised terms, while the booking of promising amateur Jamie Moore catches the eye on Lanzarote sixth Gin Palace. The lightly raced Ever Present, from Alan King's stable, and Aquiline of a lightweight 10st 4lb are others to consider but the one that makes most appeal is Translucid. Christian Von Der Recke's gelding showed promise on his hurdling debut behind Porak at Ascot and duly opened his account when beating 21 rivals at Warwick. A decent second on the all-weather back in Germany since then confirms his current well-being and, off a mark of 113, he can take advantage of what looks a handy weight.