Cheltenham 19 October 2012

Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
 
 

All Racecards within one PDF

Instructions

1

14:10 Cheltenham (Class 2) (4YO plus)

Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle

2m 5f

Winner £10,635 - 9 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

THE NEW ONE could land the opener for local trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies. A successful bumper campaign last term included a Grade 2 success at the Aintree Festival and he couldn't have won any easier on his hurdling bow at Newton Abbot 18 days ago. With the extra couple of furlongs today not a concern, he looks sure to play a leading role. Village Vic, another hurdling debutant, was some 17-lengths behind the selection in the Champion Bumper here in March but he is 13lb better off at these weights and the greater stamina test can only help. The Jugopolist and Special Account add further spice to the race.

2

14:45 Cheltenham (Class 2) (4YO plus)

Squareintheair.com Novices' Chase

2m 4f

Winner £10,635 - 7 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

Paul Nicholls has saddled the last couple of winners of this contest and many will fancy Domtaline, who is unbeaten in both starts over fences to date, to complete the hat-trick, but GO ALL THE WAY looks the one to beat. From his very first start in a bumper at Punchestown (when trained by John Kiely), the son of Milan looked well above average and it was impossible not be impressed with his two chase wins at Killarney. Having run well, finishing fourth, in the Champion Bumper here last year, he clearly handles the undulations of Prestbury Park and must go very close today with a clear round of jumping. The 2010 Coral Cup winner Carlito Brigante sports cheekpieces for the first time and cannot be ruled out.

3

15:20 Cheltenham (Class 2) (4YO plus)

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (series Qualifier)

3m

Winner £10,010 - 20 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

SIVOLA DE SIVOLA makes most appeal in what looks an ultra competitive handicap. He had a largely progressive profile prior to finishing down the field in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Festival here in March (when reported to have finished distressed) and returning from a 217-day absence isn't much of a concern as he won first time out at Carlisle last season. Irish raider Heaney has the hat-trick firmly in his sights following wins at Bellewstown and Gowran and he must enter calculations, while Fox Appeal, Wiffy Chatsby and Natural Spring are a number of others with claims.

4

15:55 Cheltenham (Class 2) (5YO plus)

Bruton Knowles 150th Anniversary Novices' Chase

3m 110y

Winner £10,635 - 8 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

SEA OF THUNDER is the confident pick here. A 135-rated hurdler (the highest in this line-up), Charles Byrnes' charge would have won a Grade 2 event in that sphere here in December but for falling at the last flight when some six lengths clear and he took no time adapting to fences when scoring readily at Clonmel last month. Providing he can jump with the same slickness over these more demanding obstacles, it's difficult to picture him not being in the thick of the action. Tour Des Champs and Sire Collonges also impressed when winning on their respective chase debuts at Uttoxeter and Fontwell and may give the forecast 'jolly' most to think about.

5

16:30 Cheltenham (Class 3) (4YO plus)

Lemington Maiden Hurdle

2m 110y

Winner £6,256 - 12 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

Landscape wasn't far off Listed level on the Flat in France and warrants plenty of respect having been bought for 70,000 euros into the champion NH stable, while Court Minstrel improved in each of his five bumper appearances and must come into the reckoning first time over timber today. The vote, however, goes to POPULATION. Impressive on his first couple of bumper starts at Ascot, John Ferguson's charge didn't have much luck when bidding the complete the hat-trick in Grade 2 company at Aintree last time (forced wide throughout) and he looks capable of making up into a very useful hurdler this term.

6

17:05 Cheltenham (Class 3) (4YO plus)

Talk To Victor Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase

3m 110y

Winner £5,996 - 17 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

It could pay to side with ROMANESCO representing the trainer/jockey combination who teamed up to win the bumper at Roscommon on Monday. A handy gelding who mixes hurdles with fences and goes on any ground, he did the job nicely over timber at Perth latest and was even more impressive when scoring by 20-lengths on his latest start in this sphere at Ffos Las in May. Whilst another big run looks likely from him, Round Tom and Time For Spring are others to note. The latter is particularly interesting, lining up off a 4lb lower mark than when sixth in the Kim Muir at this year's Festival.

7

17:40 Cheltenham (Class 3) (4YO plus)

Piper-heidsieck National Racecourse Catering Awards Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

2m 110y

Winner £6,256 - 22 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

Probably not a race to get too financially involved in but BRICK RED appears to have a leading chance. The progressive son of Dubawi was impressive when winning his maiden hurdle by six lengths at Uttoxeter in early May and any further improvement should see him play a leading role off a handy racing weight this afternoon. Dark Lover is a fascinating runner on his first start since landing a novices' hurdle at Taunton in February last year and he looks very much one to have onside, especially if the market vibes are positive. Others to throw into the mix are Persian Snow and Zama Zama, who has been bought for 30,000 pounds out of the Nicky Henderson stable.

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