Cheltenham 30 January 2016

Going: Heavy
 
 
Mostly sunny

Forecast: Mostly sunny
Temperature: 3.0° - 8.0°
Rainfall: none
Wind: 7.8 mph SW

All Racecards within one PDF

Instructions

1

12:40 Cheltenham (Class 1) (4YO only)

JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Juvenile Hurdle) (Registered As The Finesse Juvenile Hurdle) (Grade 2)

2m 179y

Winner £17,085 - 6 ran

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

A race that looks sure to have an impact of the Triumph Hurdle market, although connections of CLAN DES OBEAUX have previously said that their charge may skip the big one in March. The son of Kapgarde was hugely impressive when making a winning UK debut at Newbury last month, and he looks sure to be suited the conditions today. The form of Wolf Of Windlesham's win here in November has been let down subsequently and he will need to improve to win this. Alan King has taken this race four times in the last nine years and his representative Who Dares Wins has been impressive in two starts already this season. Duke Of Medina could be underestimated by the market but his form is rock solid.

2

13:15 Cheltenham (Class 2) (5YO plus)

Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase

2m 4f 166y

Winner £15,640 - 12 ran

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

The class horse of the race, Un Temps Pour Tout, is handicapped to go well despite having top weight if he can find some improvement upon his first two chase efforts. The likes of Javert, King's Odyssey and Regal Encore are all progressive chasers and feature highly on the shortlist. However, at the top of that list is IMAGINE THE CHAT, whose run behind Javert can be forgiven as his yard were under a cloud at the time and he bounced back in style at Newbury at Christmas. If connections fancy a go at the race at the Festival then he will need to win this race today. Viva Steve arrives here on the back of a career best last time, while Astigos is clearly suited by these conditions and he makes some each-way appeal despite running from out of the handicap.

3

13:50 Cheltenham (Class 1) (5YO plus)

BetBright Trial Chase (Grade 2)

3m 1f 56y

Winner £56,950 - 8 ran

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

DJAKADAM produced a terrific performance to finish second to Coneygree in last year's Gold Cup and although he came up short against Don Cossack at Punchestown, where his Cheltenham exploits perhaps left their mark, he was scintillating on his reappearance in the John Durkan, romping home by 12 lengths from Valseur Lido, over a trip considered short of his optimum, despite being thought to be in need of the run. The presence in this field of Many Clouds, who was beaten four lengths by Don Poli (who is also Gold Cup bound) at Aintree in December, may assist Mullins in trying to establish a Gold Cup pecking order within his battalion, on a formline though the Oliver Sherwood-trained rival (who is being aimed at Aintree, where he bids to defend his Grand National crown). Smad Place, successful in this season's Hennessy, has improved since chasing home Many Clouds in this contest 12 months ago, though he is still expected to come up short against the selection. A bigger danger may be 2014 RSA winner O'Faolains Boy, who continues to rebuild his career after missing all of last season with injury.

4

14:25 Cheltenham (Class 1) (5YO plus)

freebets.com Trophy Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)

2m 4f 166y

Winner £34,170 - 9 ran

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

There are a few of these that will be glad to see the back of Village Vic and those sentiments most definitely apply to Tenor Nivernais, second to the Philip Hobbs-trained chaser in a Grade 3 here on New Year's Day and third in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup two starts back. Venetia Williams' charge boasts sound claims, as does Cheltenham Festival winner Irish Cavalier now dropping back into handicap company, last year's winner and Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase scorer Annacotty and Johns Spirit, who has struggled this season but is now just 1lb higher than his last winning mark. CHAMPAGNE WEST gets the verdict, a lightly-raced dual track and trip scorer who is entitled to have come on plenty for his second-placed effort behind his aforementioned stable companion here last month. He accounted for the reopposing Tenor Nivernais that day and off a 4lb higher mark, a bold performance looks assured.

5

15:00 Cheltenham (Class 1) (4YO plus)

Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Classic Novices' Hurdle)

2m 4f 56y

Winner £17,085 - 8 ran

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

This race very much revolves around the participation of the unbeaten Barters Hill, which is unlikely given his first preference is for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster. If the 150-rated novice is Town Moor bound, his absence presents YANWORTH with a golden opportunity as Alan King's charge steps up his preparation for either the Supreme or Neptune Novices' Hurdle at the Festival here in March. Fourth in the Champion Bumper last year, the striking chestnut has created a deep impression in winning all three of his starts over timber this season and none more so than when cruising to Grade 2 success at Ascot last time. The step up in distance should pose few problems to the son of Norse Dancer and he can maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles at the main expense of Shantou Village, for whom the jockey booking of Ruby Walsh is interesting, and Newbury scorer Charmix.

6

15:35 Cheltenham (Class 1) (5YO plus)

galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2)

2m 7f 213y

Winner £34,170 - 7 ran

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

Camping Ground ran riot in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle over 2m4f here earlier this month and he will have to go close if arriving in the same mood, but it's extremely difficult to look past THISTLECRACK. He signed off last season with a facile Aintree success and a narrow defeat behind Killultagh Vic at Punchestown, and has arguably looked even better in both starts this term, running away with the Long Distance Hurdle and Long Walk Hurdle. Today will tell us if he handles the undulations of Prestbury Park and, if he does, he should have few problems seeing off these rivals. Ptit Zig reverts to hurdles following a disappointing spell over fences and he could prove best of the remainder.

7

16:10 Cheltenham (Class 2) (4YO plus)

Steel Plate And Sections Handicap Hurdle

2m 179y

Winner £16,245 - 9 ran

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

Cheltenian is some way ahead of these rivals on official figures but as a result must concede lumps of weight all round. Despite that, he is fancied to run a big race, but preference is for seasonal/handicap debutant CLEAN SHEET. He displayed a fair level of ability and was progressing nicely before struck with a few niggly injuries, and an opening mark of 135 could prove to be lenient. His stablemate Maestro Royal has a similar profile and any market support for him would be interesting, while Frodon, Champagne At Tara and Solstice Star add further spice to the contest.

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