15:30 Cheltenham

Friday 16 March 2018

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)

  • 5YO plus  |   Class 1  |   3m 2f 70y  |   Soft (Heavy in places)  |   15 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:30  |   Winning time: 7m 2.9s
1st
Horse silk
11
4/1
T: C L TizzardJ: R Johnson
Led but pressed by runner-up throughout, ridden after 3 out, headed narrowly 2 out, led again last, went 2 lengths clear 100 yards out, stayed on well, drawing further away when edged right towards finish tchd 11/2
2nd
Horse silk
4 ½
9
7/2f
T: N J HendersonJ: N de Boinville
Pressed winner throughout, took narrow lead traveling better than rival 2 out, shaken up and headed last, ridden and edged right about 150 yards out, soon 2 lengths down and held, no extra close home
3rd
Horse silk
4
2
25/1
T: A J MartinJ: B J Geraghty
Mid-division, headway 18th, disputing 5th 4 out, effort to press for 3rd when not fluent 3 out, no impression on front pair 2 out, went 10 lengths 3rd last, stayed on to close final 100 yards but no impression tchd 40/1
4th
Horse silk
4
14
8/1
T: N MeadeJ: S W Flanagan
Mid-division on inside, headway 17th, 3rd 4 out, not fluent 3 out, beaten when not fluent 2 out, lost 3rd last, stayed on same pace op 10/1 tchd 11/1
5th
Horse silk
8
5
911-10
20/1
T: W P MullinsJ: Mr P W Mullins
Tracked leaders, mistake 13th, hit 18th, 4th 4 out, mistake and pressed for 3rd 3 out, 5th and beaten when mistake 2 out, weakened
6th
Horse silk
18
4
10/1
T: B EllisonJ: Danny Cook
Tracked leaders, pushed along after 14th, struggling to hold place after, well behind 18th, plugged on past some beaten horses from 3 out but no chance
7th
Horse silk
1 ½
17
50/1
T: Nick WilliamsJ: Lizzie Kelly
Held up in rear, hit 1st, hampered next, disputing 9th 4 out, no impression, well beaten from 3 out op 66/1
8th
Horse silk
7
7
911-10
14/1
T: J P O'BrienJ: Mr Derek O'Connor
Held up in rear, disputing 9th 4 out, slightly hampered and well beaten 3 out op 16/1
9th
Horse silk
18
1
811-10
25/1
T: H FryJ: N D Fehily
Chased leaders on outside, not fluent 3rd, mistake 5th, disputing 5th 4 out, weakened next tchd 28/1

Also Ran

F
Horse silk
3
711-10
25/1
T: W P MullinsJ: D E Mullins
Held up, fell 2nd op 28/1
PU
Horse silk
8
8/1
T: W P MullinsJ: P Townend
Mistakes in rear, well beaten from 18th, pulled up before last op 9/1
PU
Horse silk
12
811-10
5/1
T: Mrs J HarringtonJ: R M Power
Tracked leaders, hit 13th, struggling to hold place from 15th, towards rear when hit 18th, pulled up before 4 out tchd 5/1
PU
Horse silk
13
1011-10
33/1
T: G ElliottJ: J W Kennedy
Held up in mid-division, 8th 4 out, no impression after, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before last
PU
Horse silk
15
50/1
T: P F NichollsJ: Sam Twiston-Davies
In touch on outside, lost place before 6th, driven and struggling towards rear 17th, pulled up before 4 out
F
Horse silk
18
12/1
T: W P MullinsJ: D J Mullins
Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 18th, not fluent 4 out, soon pushed along, travelling better and 6 lengths 6th when fell 3 out op 20/1

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Non-Runners

10
Horse silk
Minella Rocco40
Weight: 11-10|  Age: 8
T: Jonjo & A O'Neill  J: M P Walsh
NR
16
Horse silk
Shantou Flyer3
Weight: 11-10|  Age: 8
T: R Hobson  J: James Bowen
NR
6
Horse silk
Double Shuffle80
Weight: 11-10|  Age: 8
T: T R George  J: Adrian Heskin
NR

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£5.30Pl:£1.90, £2.50, £9.10EX:£22.90Trifecta:£1,519.00Tricast:£609.33SF:£23.21Swingers:£4.50, £34.90, £25.40

Forecasts

Might Bite (7/2), Native River (4/1), Our Duke (5/1), Road To Respect (8/1), Killultagh Vic (8/1), Definitly Red (10/1), Total Recall (12/1), Edwulf (14/1), Djakadam (20/1), Minella Rocco (20/1), Anibale Fly (25/1), American (25/1), Bachasson (25/1), Outlander (33/1), Double Shuffle (33/1), Tea For Two (50/1), Saphir Du Rheu (50/1), Shantou Flyer (100/1)

Verdict

Might Bite returns to the scene of his famous win here and while he hasn't always looked straightforward, his issues have seemingly been ironed out of late. However, it might be worth chancing the improving DEFINITELY RED. Brian Ellison's runner has suffered his fair share of bad luck in his career, badly hampered in both the Grand National and the Charlie Hall subsequently but he was foot perfect here last time when landing a Grade 2 and we may not have seen the best of him yet. Our Duke is another with claims. His form was boosted by Presenting Percy on Wednesday and gives last year's winning trainer/jockey combination a sporting chance of landing consecutive renewals.
  1. Definitly Red
  2. Might Bite
  3. Our Duke

Previous Winners

2017
Sizing John
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 7
7/1

Prize Money

1st: £369,822.002nd: £138,773.003rd: £69,484.004th: £34,612.005th: £17,403.006th: £8,702.00

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