16:50 Cheltenham

Friday 17 March 2017

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

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:52 | Winning time: 4m 55.80s

1^st

Champagne Classic

611-3

12/1

T: G ElliottJ: J J Slevin

In touch in mid-division on outside, effort after 3 out, challenged next, soon led, driven and stayed on well flat op 20/1

2^nd

2 ¼

Verni

811-0

25/1

T: P Hobbs & J WhiteJ: Tom Cheesman

Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, every chance before last, stayed on under pressure flat, no impression on winner final 100 yards op 20/1

3^rd

1 ¼

Runfordave

511-5

9/1

T: G ElliottJ: Donagh Meyler

In touch in mid-division, effort before 2 out, challenging for 2nd on home turn, unable to quicken last, stayed on final 100 yards op 8/1 tchd 10/1 in a place

4^th

Coo Star Sivola

511-3

13/2

T: Nick WilliamsJ: Lizzie Kelly

Led, ridden and headed after 2 out, kept on under pressure flat op 15/2

5^th

Thomas Campbell

511-2

20/1

T: N J HendersonJ: Ned Curtis

Held up towards rear on outside, pushed along after 3 out, closed next, soon slightly outpaced, not clear run and switched right before last, stayed on flat

6^th

1 ¾

Born Survivor

611-8

33/1

T: D SkeltonJ: Bridget Andrews

Held up in mid-division, headway after 3 out, travelling strongly before 2 out, driven approaching last, no extra final 50 yards op 28/1

7^th

No Comment

611-2

15/2

T: P Hobbs & J WhiteJ: C Gethings

Held up in rear, headway after 2 out, tracking leaders on stands side before last, no extra flat tchd 7/1

8^th

Battleford

611-0

9/2f

T: W P MullinsJ: A W Short (5)

Held up rear of mid-division, stayed on approaching last, never going pace to get involved op 5/1 tchd 4/1

9^th

1 ¼

Dadsintrouble

711-1

14/1

T: Tim VaughanJ: H Cobden

Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden before 2 out, 8th and fading when not fluent last, weakened op 16/1

10^th

Castello Sforza

611-3

11/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Jonathan Moore

Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway before 2 out, tracking leaders on home turn, weakened before last op 10/1 tchd 12/1 in a place

11^th

3 ½

Tommy Silver

511-5

20/1

T: P F NichollsJ: Stan Sheppard

Held up in touch, ridden and lost place after 2 out, weakened before last op 18/1

12^th

Taglietelle

811-10

20/1

T: G ElliottJ: Cian Collins (3)

Held up in mid-division, hampered on inside after 3 out, well beaten after

13^th

Doesyourdogbite

511-2

33/1

T: J & A O'NeillJ: Killian Moore

Pressed leader, not fluent and went right 1st, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened before last

14^th

Massini's Trap

811-3

100/1

T: J NashJ: Kieron Edgar

Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, nudged along after 3 out, never involved op 80/1

15^th

Remiluc

811-4

50/1

T: C GordonJ: Harry Reed (3)

In touch in mid-division on inside, hit 2 out, soon beaten

16^th

2 ¾

Lac Fontana

811-4

20/1

T: P F NichollsJ: Jack Sherwood

Tracked leaders on inside, lost place before 3 out, well beaten next op 16/1

17^th

Pain Au Chocolat

611-2

100/1

T: D SkeltonJ: Mr Lewis Gordon (5)

Held up in rear, behind 4 out

18^th

Dell' Arca

811-3

33/1

T: D PipeJ: David Noonan

Held up in mid-division, not fluent and struggling 3 out, well beaten after

19^th

Ballyhill

611-1

80/1

T: N & W Twiston-DaviesJ: Jamie Bargary

Held up in rear, hampered 2nd, modest progress 2 out, soon weakened

20^th

Catamaran Du Seuil

511-0

33/1

T: Dr R D P NewlandJ: Charlie Hammond (5)

Prominent, ridden and weakened before 2 out, soon behind

Also Ran

Gibralfaro

511-8

50/1

T: A KingJ: Thomas Bellamy

Mid-division, fell 2nd

I Shot The Sheriff

1011-4

20/1

T: A J MartinJ: S A Shortall

Mid-division, took keen hold, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next

Rather Be

611-1

10/1

T: N J HendersonJ: Charlie Deutsch

Held up, badly hampered and unseated rider 2nd op 12/1

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Non-Runners

Protek Des Flos³⁶

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: N J Henderson J: Jack Savage

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£16.70Pl:£3.50, £8.60, £2.50, £2.40EX:£525.10Trifecta:£5,653.30Tricast:£2,854.83SF:£286.74Swingers:£71.40, £23.00, £64.60

Forecasts

Battleford (9/2), Coo Star Sivola (13/2), No Comment (15/2), Runfordave (9/1), Rather Be (10/1), Castello Sforza (11/1), Champagne Classic (12/1), Dadsintrouble (14/1), Thomas Campbell (20/1), Tommy Silver (20/1), Taglietelle (20/1), Lac Fontana (20/1), I Shot The Sheriff (20/1), Protek Des Flos (20/1), Verni (25/1), Born Survivor (33/1), Doesyourdogbite (33/1), Dell' Arca (33/1), Catamaran Du Seuil (33/1), Remiluc (50/1), Gibralfaro (50/1), Ballyhill (80/1), Massini's Trap (100/1), Pain Au Chocolat (100/1)

It goes without saying that this is a competitive heat and it’s made harder by the fact that plenty of them are making their handicap debuts. In past years the race has been dominated by Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins, who between them have taken five of the last six renewals. They each have two representatives this time with Lac Fontana looking to be the best of the Nicholls duo. Mullins saddles two fascinating contenders in Castello Sforza and BATTLEFORD who could be very well handicapped and matches the profile of the previous winners from this yard. No Comment probably carries some of the strongest form into the race and it’s no surprise to see him towards the head of the market off what looks to be a good mark of 137. The trainer of No Comment also has a decent second string in the improving Verni while the strong travelling Champagne Classic and I Shot The Sheriff are two more interesting Irish contenders both capable of travelling well into this race. Runfordave will have his supporters for the Elliott team that are well represented here, although he will just need to brush up his jumping a little.

Battleford
No Comment
Lac Fontana

Prize Money

1st: £37,167.002nd: £14,086.003rd: £6,994.004th: £3,198.005th: £1,606.006th: £962.00