Racing Live - Cheltenham 13th April 2011
18:01 Well that’s it from Cheltenham, a meeting which could not provide a more stark contrast to the Festival just three weeks ago. Having said that the relatively sparse crowd was treated to some good finishes, so not much else to ask for and the worst of the rain held off. From a now quite damp Cheltenham a very good evening.
17:55 At least the last race gave us a good finish as Paintball and Salontyre battled up the run-in with the former claiming a one length victory. The pair had contrasting races tactically with Salontyre tracking the leader Falcon Island, whilst Paintball was settled mid-division before making progress coming down the hill and despite making a mistake at the second last. Owen Glendower was another up with the pace during the race and he came home third, four lengths behind the front pair. Forty Thirty was doing his best work in the closing stages to cross the line in fourth spot, with the front-running Falcon Island in sixth. The paddock pick, Gilded Age, flattered to deceive, running most of the contest in third or fourth spot before tiring and finishing seventh.
17:36 American Art is a late withdrawal in this race, explains why he did not appear in the parade ring. 17:34 It is not often one says this at Cheltenham but, thankfully, we are coming to our final contest. It has not been the best afternoon’s racing here at Prestbury Park. The raceodds.com Handicap Hurdle over 2m 1f concludes the card and 11 go to post. Marleno is a puller, Falcon Island and Forty Thirty are head shakers. Gilded Age impressed me so much I am going to put my money where my mouth is and that doesn’t happen often. 17:19 Some excitement in the contest, with three of them coming up the hill in close proximity to one another. However it was the favourite backers who cheered most as Balthazar King came home clear of Adams Island and Earth Dream, with Hunt Ball coming home in his own time. Balthazar King virtually made all, only being briefly headed as he took a breather going out on the final circuit. Hunt Ball was the one giving him most to do for most of the contest, that was until he engaged reverse gear coming down the hill. Turning for home it looked as though Earth Dream would be the one to spring a surprise but Richard Johnson always seemed to have enough up his sleeve and as he led the procession up the hill it was Adams Island who came closest, even so only getting within 1½ lengths of the winner. Magical Legend did not seem to be at home this afternoon, putting in some poor jumping in rear before eventually falling at the 8th neither she or Paddy Brennan were any the worse for the fall.
17:01 Unbelievably another five runner contest, this is the squareintheair.com Novices Chase over the extended 3m 1f. Adams Island is pulling hard and a couple of times attempted to duck out back to the pre-parade ring. Magical Legend is jig-jogging around and looks good in herself, as does Earth Dream. The other pair look fine.
16:47 Well he may not have been impressive in the parade ring but he was OK in the race as Paint The Clouds came home the comfortable winner in this three mile contest. Divy set the pace only to drop out tamely coming down the hill, his demise coinciding with Paint The Clouds hitting the front, to be clear as they turned for home. His only danger looked to be the last flight but he cleared that no problem and he powered up the hill for favourite backers. There was a decent battle for minor honours, with Sail And Return beating Prophete de Guye and Phare Isle. Jay J was pulled up in the back straight and it did not look good the way he was standing, however he did walk into the horse ambulance, so the news may be good.
16:25 The Citipost Novices’ Handicap Hurdle is a 3m contest with 14 going to post. Not your usual Cheltenham standard in this one and an uninspiring lot in the parade ring. Paint The Clouds is really fighting his two handlers. Jay J is pulling quite hard. Sail And Return is a bit of a head shaker. Educated Evans is a puller. Vico and Life Of Luso were the best of a poor bunch. 16:10 Well the uneasy favourite Poquelin defied top weight to take the spoils but, boy, did he have to fight for victory. He set off in front under Ruby Walsh but was not allowed to dominate as Holmwood Legend, winner of the Byrne Group Plate, harried him all the way. Neither of them were entirely fluent in their jumping but, critically, Poquelin managed to put in a better jump at the last and that gave him the narrow edge coming up the run-in and he eventually prevailed by half a length. It wasn’t a two horse race by any means and De Boitron was far from disgraced coming home on the quarters of the front pair. Pigeon Island came home in his own time and Copper Bleu was most disappointing although I have just been told by a photographer that Copper Blue seemed to be having trouble breathing as he went past him. 15:52 The Masterson Holdings Silver Trophy Chase a Grade 2 Limited Handicap is next, with five going to post for the 2m 5f contest. If you did not have a race card and know who was running and you came to the paddock to see the runners, you would be pushed to pick out Poquelin as being the stand-out runner in the field. He was the most edgy in the parade ring and he wasn’t the biggest either. Copper Bleu was the better looking bone for me.
15:41 One of those races where there was little happening for most of the race , where all the runners seemed to be happy in the positions they had settled. Black Jack Blues was allowed to set the pace, with Tasheba and Kauto Relko following. By contrast the favourite King’s Legacy was settled in rear by Ruby Walsh. As often happens here at Cheltenham the complexion of the race changed as they came down the hill and turning for home it was hard to name the winner and even King’s Legacy was making progress from the rear. Ostland just held a narrow advantage as they straightened up but My Shamwari was poised on his quarters with Black Jack Blues and Kauto Relko still not out of it. Coming to the last Ostland had a narrow advantage but that was to be the last time he led as he was swamped on the run-in. My Shamwari bolted up the hill and although giving chase, King’s Legacy had too much to do and came home five lengths behind the winner. Secret Dancer ran on for third with Ostland holding off Kangaroo Court to finish fourth. 15:19 The rain is still light but it is getting a little more steady now. Race three is the Cheltenham Collection Handicap Hurdle over the extended 2½ miles. Two late non-runners due to the going and Ostland carries 2lb overweight. I have a problem reading my paddock notes as the rain has made my notes run and I struggle to read my writing at the best of times. I did like the look of Black Jack Blues and King’s Legacy. Made In Time was pulling slightly and I have written something about Kangaroo Court but it is now just a smudged blob.
15:02 Not so much of a race but an uncompetitive procession. There isn’t really much need for purple prose, Galaxy Rock made all, “challenged” in the early stages by Regal Approach and latterly by Shammy Buskins, although to say either was a serious danger would be over-egging things. There was a mini-drama at the 13th which proved to be unlucky for Toby Jug, who fell when already in rear. It did look potentially nasty when he first got off and ran off but his worrying action was caused by a slipped saddle, rather than anything more sinister. Indeed his game of “catch me if you can” in front of the stands probably provided more entertainment for the racegoers than the race itself. Galaxy Rock’s eventual winning distance was an eased 14 lengths, with a further 59 lengths back to Regal Approach in third and a country mile back to Ammuntion, who fired blanks this afternoon.
14:38 I think I have just been robbed, £2.30 for a bottle of coke. The rain is now getting steady. Another five runner contest the Rundle And Co Handicap Chase over the unusual distance of the extended 3½ miles. Ammunition is quite a narrow horse but is still the pick. Regal Approach was a bit jig-joggy but did quieten down.
14:27 With a small field it was bound to be a tactical affair. A dawdling start with E Major seemingly going off in front by default. Only the grey Bottman went with him in the early stages whilst the other trio settled a few lengths behind. The pace had not picked up much as they went out on their final circuit, where E Major and Bottman still had the advantage and Global Power was beginning to make some jumping weeors. By the time they reached the top of the hill the field had bunched and Bottman had a slight lead over E Major but the favourite Habbie Simpson was on their quarters. As they freewheeled down the hill Habbie Simpson briefly led abut as they turned for home he bagan to come under pressure as Bottman rallied and Bold Attraction came with a late run. By the last it was clear the favourite was not going to win and as they jumped the last it was clear there would be only one winner as Bold Attraction, under the Cheltenham King, Ruby Walsh, pulled clear to record a 3¼ length victory. Robert Thornton needed binoculars to see the front two as he came home third, with Global Power and the early pacesetter E Major coming home in their own time. The time wasn’t good, 11.2” slow – I suspect more a reflection of the quality than the ground. 14:08 It's just beginning to spit with rain at Cheltenham 14:01 Sorry for the silence but I have been tied up with bits and bobs of the aftermath of Aintree, which hopefully can now be put to bed. Only five line up for the opening Download The Cheltenham App Free Today Novices’ Hurdle, an extended 2m 4f. There is a wind change, the wind has picked up and shifted direction, now almost head-on in the home straight. Coming back to this opener it is one of those races with few clues in the parade ring, they look much of a muchness with no positives or negatives. If the arm was to be twisted then narrow preference would be for Habbie Simpson. 12:27 Good afternoon from Cheltenham where the weather is overcast and a bit chilly after the last few days. There is a modest breeze behind the runners as they come up the home straight. There are currently three non-runners. 09:24 We have our first non-runner, details on the right 08:43 The official going at Cheltenham is Good, Good to Firm in Places. Some light showers are forecast for this afternoon. There are currently no non-runners.
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Non-RunnersThe time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner. SC - Self Certificate Non-runners 14:10 14:45 15:20 15:55 16:30 Results 14:10 Novices Hurdle 2m 4f 110yds
14:45 Handicap Chase 3m 4f 110yds
15:20 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 110yds
15:55 Handicap Chase 2m 5f
16:30 Handicap Hurdle 3m
17:05 Novices' Chase 3m 1f 110yds
17:40 Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f
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