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Racecards

13:30 Cheltenham

Paddypower.Com Hurdle (Intermediate Handicap Hurdle Race) (Class C)

  • 9 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 5f
  • Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 13.90s
  • 9 Ran
1
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, EMERALD GREEN sleeves, WHITE cap, EMERALD GREEN spots
9/4
  • Form 13/11-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-12

held up, headway on outside approaching 7th, weakened quickly approaching 3 out, no chance when bad mistake last, tailed off

4
Silk - Red, White epaulets, Emerald Green sleeves, White armlets and cap
4/1
  • Form 424-211
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4

held up, headway approaching 3 out, still going well after next, ridden to chase winner approaching last, ran on well near finish

5
Silk - Grey, Yellow hoop, sleeves and cap
  • Form 563-240
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-1

in touch, headway 6th, pushed along approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last

6
Silk - Royal Blue, Emerald Green stars, Royal Blue sleeves, Emerald Green diamonds
14/1
  • Form 2615-15
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-11

led 1st, prominent, led again 7th, ridden and headed just after 2 out, weakened last

7
Silk - BEIGE and EMERALD GREEN check, BEIGE sleeves
14/1
  • Form 3/114F0-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-9

keen and led after 2nd, headed 7th, ridden after 3 out, still every chance 2 out, weakened quickly approaching last

8
Silk - Yellow, red diamond, diamonds on sleeves, yellow cap, red diamond
  • Form 6P035-3
  • Age 4
  • Weight 10-9

held up, struggling 7th, soon weakened

9
Silk - Yellow, Dark Blue chevron, Dark Blue and Yellow diabolo on sleeves, Red cap
  • Form 422D31
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-4

held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden approaching last, stayed on one pace flat

10
Silk - BLACK and YELLOW DIABOLO, yellow sleeves, white cap, yellow star
10/3
  • Form 4034-13
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-3

held up in touch, headway 7th, led just after 2 out, kept on flat, all out

11
Silk - Red, Dark Green diamond, Light Blue sleeves, Dark Green and Red quartered cap
100/1
  • Form 543310-
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-0

led briefly 2nd, prominent until weakened 6th, tailed off

2
NR
  • Form U12200-
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-12

Nonrunner

3
NR
  • Form 141-
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-9

Nonrunner

In depth

Verdict

The Biker won both his starts in comfortable fashion last term and could be anything but does not appear to have been let in lightly on a mark of 127 for his handicap debut and we prefer to side with East Tycoon, who gets the verdict over Calling Brave. The last mentioned is better than he showed in competitive handicaps at the Festival and at Aintree's Grand National meeting last term and cannot be dismissed lightly with the stable of Nicky Henderson in such good form. However, East Tycoon looked a gelding of some potential when winning at Doncaster last term and again at Stratford in March. He missed the Triumph Hurdle and now makes his first appearance over timber since that Stratford success but should strip fitter for a recent run on the flat and is taken to begin making up for lost time. The Biker is an obvious danger but is difficult to evaluate and of more interest could be Peter Bowen's Mr Ed, who showed progressive form on the flat last term and has carried that over to the winter game. The Philip Hobbs-trained Christopher is worthy of a mention but has a long absence to overcome, while Blue Away, who is fit from the flat, looks to be the best of the Irish runners. East Tycoon remains unexposed as a hurdler though and gets the vote.