Cheltenham 22 October 2016

Going: Good
 
 
Mostly sunny

Forecast: Mostly sunny
Temperature: 3.5° - 12.8°
Rainfall: none
Wind: 3.7 mph NE

All Racecards within one PDF

Instructions

1

13:50 Cheltenham (Class 2) (4YO plus)

Randox Handicap Chase

3m 1f

Winner £31,280 - 12 ran

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

A competitive handicap kicks off the card with plenty of familiar faces signifying that National Hunt Racing has returned with a bang. Keltus will undoubtedly be popular with the Paul Nicholls yard currently in excellent form but this looks a much tougher assignment than he faced at Fakenham just eight days ago and it may pay to look elsewhere. Henryville performed with credit when fourth behind Potters Cross at Chepstow on his most recent outing but has never truly convinced as being the strongest of stayers at this distance. Coologue has solid claims on his return having had a successful season last year despite only winning once but preference goes to THEATRICAL STAR. Colin Tizzard's charge ran well on his return to fences last time when fourth behind Double Ross in a veterans race at Chepstow earlier in the month and this strong travelling type could well improve further for first-time blinkers. Others worthy of consideration include Racing Pulse, with the Rebecca Curtis yard back in better form, Full Shift, who is an interesting contender stepping up in distance, and Silver Man, who has been hugely consistent since applied with blinkers.

2

14:25 Cheltenham (Class 3) (4YO plus)

Richard Allen, Waters & The Brittons Novices' Hurdle

2m 7f 208y

Winner £6,256 - 7 ran

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

WEST APPROACH showed plenty of promise last season when chasing home Unowhatimeanharry in a Pertemps Qualifier at Exeter having tanked his way through that contest. He finished down the field behind the same rival in the Albert Bartlett before running once more which resulted with a confidence boosting success at Newton Abbot. The son of Westerner is entitled to improve as much as his half-brother Thistlecrack did from his first proper season of racing and a return to 3m should see him at his best. Wholestone won at Warwick on his return to action but needs to improve on his jumping in a better contest so perhaps the main danger could be Three Ways, who ran a solid race in the Persian War when fourth behind El Bandit and looks open to further improvement tackling 3m for the first time.

3

15:00 Cheltenham (Class 2) (4YO only)

Masterson Holdings Hurdle

2m 87y

Winner £21,896 - 6 ran

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

Adrien Du Pont did very little wrong in his juvenile campaign having won the Grade 1 Juvenile Finale on testing ground at Chepstow in January before producing a quality display at Ascot when top weight in a handicap hurdle, disposing of Oceane by six lengths. Paul Nicholls has his string in excellent form but he could just improve for the outing so preference goes to GIBRALFARO, who ran well enough on his return behind the impressive Diego Du Charmil at Chepstow earlier in the month and should improve plenty for the outing. Wolf Of Windlesham and Leoncavallo both merit consideration on their best form last season, while Sceau Royal might just struggle as he appears to lack the scope for improvement that the others do.

4

15:30 Cheltenham (Class 2) (4YO plus)

Randox Health Handicap Chase

1m 7f 199y

Winner £31,280 - 14 ran

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

BOONDOOMA has an excellent record fresh and landed this prize from 5lb lower last year for Dr Newland. The Grand National-winning trainer is capable of readying one and his charge is lightly raced for a nine-year-old. Fox Norton could be suited by the return to a big field having failed to race a field of more than seven for almost two years, while Ultragold looks to be the pick of the Colin Tizzard pair given his consistent profile. Casino Markets has been a revelation for Emma Lavelle over the last few months and deserves maximum respect despite a further 7lb rise in the ratings.

5

16:05 Cheltenham (Class 2) (4YO plus)

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

2m 7f 208y

Winner £12,512 - 14 ran

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

A race that often goes to one towards the bottoms of the weights as those higher up the ratings may be using this as a prep for targets later in the season. ANTEROS appears to have an outstanding each-way chance this afternoon given his course record and his light weight. The son of Milan has made the frame in both of his starts over this C&D, the last of which came back in April when a close second from the same mark as this. He may find one or two too good but should go very well at a decent price. Will O'the West and Top Of The Town could prove to be the main dangers, while Eshtiaal and Golden Doyen also merit respect.

6

16:40 Cheltenham (Class 2) (4YO plus)

Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices' Chase

2m 3f 166y

Winner £12,512 - 4 ran

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

SHANTOU VILLAGE was sent off favourite for the Albert Bartlett on his final start of last season but he pulled-up and failed to give his true running. A break seems to have done Neil Mulholland's charge the world of good, however, and he jumped well for a long way when striking on his fencing bow at Fontwell in August, an effort on which he's expected to build this afternoon. Brother Tedd is entitled to build on his Newton Abbot second last time and is considered the main danger ahead of Qualando, who won the 2015 Fred Winter and now debuts over the larger obstacles.

7

17:15 Cheltenham (Class 3) (4YO to 6YO)

White Christmas Parties At Cheltenham Standard Open NH Flat Race

2m 87y

Winner £6,256 - 16 ran

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

A number of interesting runners go to post in the finale and BRAHMS DE CLERMONT receives what can only be a tentative vote. Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has started the new season in cracking form and his representative couldn't have won much easier first time out at Taunton in April. The penalty is effectively cancelled out with Stan Sheppard's valuable claim and he looks sure to play a leading role. River Wylde was equally as impressive when winning at Warwick towards the end of last season and warrants plenty of respect on his return to action, while Dawstown point-to-point winner Coroner's Report is an interesting addition to the NH game representing the stable that won this race in 2013 and 2015. Woodfort, Flower Ball, Kalanisi Circle, Whatmore and Brillare Momento are others to keep an eye on.

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