14:00 Cheltenham
Thursday 13 March 2025
All13:2014:0014:4015:2016:0016:4017:20
Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (Registered As The Golden Miller) (GBB Race)
- 5YO plus | Class 1 | 2m 4f 127y | Good to Soft | 19 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 5m 14.15s
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Very useful hurdler who made a winning return/chase debut at Chepstow in October. Not ideally suited by muddling pace in small-field novice events next 2 starts but then showed what he can do with an emphatic C&D success in a Grade 3 handicap on New Year's Day. One to consider despite a 9 lb hike.
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Very smart novice hurdler last term, placing in Grade 1s at the 3 big spring festivals. Jumped well when making a winning return/chase debut in November and hasn't done much wrong against classy novices since. Good chance he has an even bigger performance in him now venturing into handicap company.
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Reached a smart level over hurdles (Grade 1 winner) for Gordon Elliott and perfect start in this sphere for new connections (€740,000 buy) in 2m Carlisle novice chase in December. However, beaten favourite here and at Windsor since, not finding a great deal at the business end on either occasion.
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Bumper/dual hurdles winner who opened his chase account at the third attempt in a handicap at Leopardstown during the Christmas period. Stamina seemingly stretched upped to 25f on heavy ground at Naas next time and this scenario will be more suitable, albeit he will need to raise his game.
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Useful hurdler but bettered anything he achieved in that sphere when making it third time lucky over fences with a power-packed front-running display in 2½m Naas handicap (heavy) in January. Now finds himself in a tougher race off 15 lb higher but this Irish raider shouldn't be underestimated.
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Winning pointer who was 2-4 over hurdles last season and plenty of promise strong maiden chases at Fairyhouse this winter, third to smart stablemate Majborough on first occasion. Promises to be suited by this stiffer test now pitched into a handicap for the first time and he's strongly considered.
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Dual winner over hurdles who was a good second of 5 in listed novice at Chepstow on chasing debut in October. No joy next 2 starts but then improved when coming home 16 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer in a 7-runner Musselburgh handicap (2½m, good to soft). 8 lb rise could find him out here.
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Quickly made up into a smart hurdler, the highlight being his Galway Hurdle success in August. Promise on first 2 starts in this sphere and, though never a threat at Leopardstown (17f) last time, much better is expected now upped in trip for this handicap chase debut. Also has cheekpieces refitted.
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Useful hurdler who, despite falling on his first 2 starts over fences, is essentially a good jumper, as he demonstrated when fourth of 11 in a Gowran maiden chase (2½m, heavy) last month. Will need to improve on that if he's to play a major role here but better can be expected now handicapping.
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Winner of 3 of his 12 starts over hurdles and bright start in this sphere when ½-length second to The Other Mozzie at Galway in October. However, it's fair to say that he has failed to build on that since, most recently beaten around 10 lengths in the Leopardstown maiden won by Dee Capo.
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Got it together over fences with back-to-back wins at Listowel and Roscommon within the space of 8 days last September. Looked held when falling 2 out on latest chase start at Leopardstown on Boxing Day and, though successful on the Flat since, he looks vulnerable here.
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Made a winning reappearance/chase debut at Galway in October. Beaten a fair way here the following month but back on track in first-time cheekpieces when landing a 2m Naas handicap in good style last time. Much more on his plate off an 11 lb higher mark in this ultra-competitive contest, though.
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Grade 3 hurdles winner last term and far from disgraced when sixth of 21 in the Martin Pipe at this meeting 12 months ago. Below par last time at Gowran but has otherwise made a positive start to life over fences and improvement could be on the way now pitched into a handicap in this sphere.
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Useful winning hurdler who failed to complete on chase debut in November but no problems in the jumping department since, finishing second in novice handicaps at Exeter (19f, heavy) and Newbury (23f, soft). Remains open to improvement as a chaser and could have a part to play.
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Three-time hurdle winner who left his reappearance/chase debut well behind when landing a 5-runner Wetherby handicap (19.5f, good) in November. However, he was subsequently pulled up at Newbury, adding to an in-and-out record. Has subsequently had wind surgery. Cheekpieces also go on.
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Novice hurdle winner during short stint with Fergal O'Brien and has taken well to fences for new yard, making the frame 4 times on the bounce prior to opening chase account in a C&D handicap in January, doing well to survive a last-fence mistake. More will be needed having gone up 6 lb for that.
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Progressive over hurdles last term and on the up in this sphere, too, building on promise of first 3 efforts in this sphere when proving 1½ lengths too good for Pic Roc at Newbury (23f, soft) last month. 5 lb rise fair enough and he should have more to offer.
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Off the mark at fifth attempt over fences in a Kempton handicap on return in November. Below par over the same C&D on Boxing Day but back on the right track equipped with cheekpieces the last twice, latterly scoring in good style at Sandown (2½m, good to soft). More on his plate here up 7 lb.
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Capable of useful form over hurdles, as he demonstrated when third in the 21-runner Coral Cup at the 2024 Festival. Hasn't come close to matching that level of form in 4 starts since switched to fences, though, and it's probably best to look elsewhere.
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Non-Runners
19
Ryan's Rocket47
Weight: 10-6| Age: 7
T: F O'Brien J: Jack Hogan
NR
Forecasts
Firefox (4/1), Springwell Bay (13/2), Caldwell Potter (7/1), Moon D'orange (7/1), Asian Master (15/2), Pic Roc (17/2), Nurburgring (9/1), Lord Of Thunder (12/1), Answer To Kayf (14/1), The Other Mozzie (20/1), What's Up Darling (22/1), Insurrection (25/1), Ryan's Rocket (25/1), Es Perfecto (33/1), San Salvador (40/1), Dee Capo (50/1), Densworth (50/1), O'Moore Park (66/1), Shanbally Kid (66/1), Anyway (125/1)
FIREFOX has lots of good efforts to his name at Graded level over hurdles and fences and can make his class tell now moving into his first handicap. Asian Master and Nurburgring are other Irish-trained runners who brings obvious potential to their handicap chase debuts, while Springwell Bay is one who carries solid handicap form having won a hot race here on New Year's Day.
Prize Money
1st: £64,300.002nd: £29,562.003rd: £14,788.004th: £7,388.005th: £3,700.006th: £1,838.007th: £925.008th: £462.00
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