17:30 Cheltenham

Tuesday 13 March 2018

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

Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed)

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 5m 28.80s

1^st

Mister Whitaker

611-2

11/1

T: M R ChannonJ: B S Hughes

Held up in touch in mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden to chase front pair approaching last, stayed on strongly to challenge inside final 100 yards, led post op 6/1 tchd 11/2

2^nd

Rather Be

711-8

15/2

T: N J HendersonJ: J McGrath

Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, driven to challenge between last 2, ridden after last, led flat, stayed on under pressure when hard pressed inside final 100 yards, headed post op 11/1

3^rd

3 ¼

Rocklander

911-7

16/1

T: T R GeorgeJ: Adrian Heskin

Pressed leader, led 3rd, ridden when hard pressed after 2 out, headed flat, kept on until no extra in 3rd inside final 100 yards

4^th

Barney Dwan

811-8

15/2

T: F O'BrienJ: N D Fehily

Prominent, pressed leader after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, one pace before last, well held in 4th flat op 9/1

5^th

3 ½

Ibis Du Rheu

711-6

20/1

T: P F NichollsJ: Sam Twiston-Davies

Tracked leaders, driven and effort after 3 out, ridden after next, one pace when blundered and pecked last, well held flat op 20/1

6^th

Jameson

611-5

25/1

T: N & W Twiston-DaviesJ: Thomas Bellamy

Mid-division, driven after 3 out, ridden and kept on under pressure from last, never troubled leaders op 50/1

7^th

Kayf Adventure

711-3

25/1

T: P Hobbs & J WhiteJ: R Johnson

Held up towards rear, slightly hampered 9th, outpaced after 3 out, ridden after next, plugged on flat, never theatened leaders op 33/1

8^th

1 ½

Any Second Now

611-10

6/1f

T: T M WalshJ: Mark Walsh

Mid-division, close up on outside after 7th, ridden after 3 out, one pace and no impression before next, weakened flat tchd 11/2

9^th

Ballyhill

711-3

14/1

T: N & W Twiston-DaviesJ: Jamie Bargary (3)

Led to 3rd, tracked leaders, blundered 5 out, lost place 3 out, soon weakened

10^th

Western Miller

711-6

33/1

T: C E LongsdonJ: J J Burke

Mid-division, tracked leaders 7th, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened last op 66/1

11^th

Testify

711-10

11/1

T: D McCain JnrJ: W T Kennedy

In touch, pressed leader from 4th, hit and lost place 4 out, soon pushed along, weakened from next tchd 10/1

Also Ran

Tycoon Prince

811-9

16/1

T: G ElliottJ: Jack Kennedy

Mid-division, blundered badly and lost place 4 out, not recover and pulled up before next op 16/1

Le Rocher

811-9

25/1

T: Nick WilliamsJ: T Scudamore

Tracked leaders, blundered and lost place 7th, towards rear when hampered and brought down 9th op 16/1

Demi Sang

511-9

14/1

T: W P MullinsJ: B J Geraghty

Mid-division, lost place 8th, behind from 11th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before next op 16/1

Conrad Hastings

711-8

25/1

T: H De BromheadJ: D Robinson (5)

Mistake 3rd, always in rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next

De Plotting Shed

811-8

5/1

T: G ElliottJ: D N Russell

Mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon outpaced and beaten, pulled up before next op 8/1

Report To Base

611-4

16/1

T: Evan WilliamsJ: Adam Wedge

Chased leaders to 3rd, mid-division, fell 9th tchd 12/1

Livelovelaugh

811-4

14/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Ruby Walsh

Held up behind, fell 6th tchd 9/1

Markov

811-3

25/1

T: B PaulingJ: D A Jacob

Mistake 1st, soon towards rear on outside, lost touch and pulled up after 7th op 50/1

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Non-Runners

Divine Spear²⁷

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: N J Henderson J: Non Runner

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£5.60Pl:£1.80, £2.90, £5.80, £2.00EX:£90.10Trifecta:£4,310.50Tricast:£1,870.66SF:£74.58Swingers:£12.40, £56.50, £88.20

Forecasts

De Plotting Shed (5/1), Any Second Now (6/1), Rather Be (15/2), Barney Dwan (15/2), Divine Spear (10/1), Mister Whitaker (11/1), Testify (11/1), Ballyhill (14/1), Livelovelaugh (14/1), Demi Sang (14/1), Rocklander (16/1), Report To Base (16/1), Tycoon Prince (16/1), Ibis Du Rheu (20/1), Jameson (25/1), Kayf Adventure (25/1), Markov (25/1), Le Rocher (25/1), Conrad Hastings (25/1), Western Miller (33/1)

A hot contest on paper and plenty will go into this fancying their chances, presenting a real conundrum. Only one favourite has won this in the past decade, though with a biggest-priced winner at 16/1 there have been no major shocks. Much of the build-up has focused on De Plotting Shed, who may prove to be as well-handicapped as some pundits have suggested, though the suggestion is KAYF ADVENTURE. Philip Hobbs' seven-year-old has been improving all season and he might have slipped under the radar with one or two other 'talking horses' in the line-up. Mister Whitaker, Any Second Now and Barney Dwan are all feared in opposition.

Kayf Adventure
Any Second Now
Mister Whitaker

Previous Winners

2017

Tully East

Weight: 11-8 |Age: 7

J: D F O'Regan | T: A Fleming

8/1

Prize Money

1st: £39,865.002nd: £14,959.003rd: £7,490.004th: £3,731.005th: £1,876.006th: £938.00