16:10 Taunton

Tuesday 8 February 2022

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening 11th March Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 44.60s

1^st

Marettimo

811-4

22/1

T: W G M TurnerJ: Thomas Doggrell (7)

Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 5th, went 2nd after 4 out, led next, clear when went left 2 out, awkward last, stayed on well op 14/1

2^nd

5 ½

Pola Chance

610-8

8/1

T: N J HawkeJ: David Noonan

Chased leader, led 3rd, headed 3out, lost 2nd briefly before next, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner op 10/1

3^rd

2 ¼

Majestic Merlin

711-5

18/5

T: P Hobbs & J WhiteJ: Sean Houlihan

Chased leaders on inside, every chance when hit 3 out, went 2nd briefly before next, ridden and one pace in 3rd before the last op 4/1 tchd 7/2

4^th

nse

Eros

811-3

6/1

T: K WoollacottJ: Ben Godfrey (3)

Chased leaders, lost place 7th, towards rear, rallied out wide 3 out, 5th and no impression when hung right before the last, kept on well run-in, almost snatched modest 3rd tchd 11/2

5^th

1 ¼

Folly Gate

711-8

15/2

T: Mrs J WilliamsJ: Chester Williams (3)

Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders approaching 4 out, plugged on in modest 5th run-in op 5/1

6^th

1 ¾

Danny Park

610-4

125/1

T: M YoungJ: James Best

Led until 3rd, lost 2nd 5th, went 2nd again after 7th until weakened before 3 out

7^th

Fitz The Brief

610-0

50/1

T: R DickinJ: Benjamin Poste

Held up in rear, never involved tchd 40/1

Also Ran

Bold Conduct

811-12

5/2f

T: C L TizzardJ: Brendan Powell

Held up in mid-division, headway out wide chasing leaders when hit 10th, weakening when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next op 11/4

Streets Of Fire

811-2

16/1

T: Jean-Rene AuvrayJ: Hugh Nugent (5)

Chased leaders, went 2nd 5th until after 7th, chased leaders, weakened quickly next, soon towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out op 18/1

Dr Oakley

810-5

11/1

T: Henry OliverJ: James Davies

Last pair, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out op 10/1 tchd 9/1

Miss Harriett

610-1

8/1

T: P GundryJ: Charlie Hammond

Held up in last trio, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out op 10/1

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£26.50Pl:£5.60, £2.70, £1.50EX:£231.70Trifecta:£1,964.90Tricast:£796.72SF:£190.04Swingers:£30.20, £14.20, £6.30

Forecasts

Bold Conduct (5/2), Majestic Merlin (18/5), Eros (6/1), Folly Gate (15/2), Pola Chance (8/1), Miss Harriett (8/1), Dr Oakley (11/1), Streets Of Fire (16/1), Marettimo (22/1), Fitz The Brief (50/1), Danny Park (125/1)

The most interesting of these is BOLD CONDUCT, who was successful on his sole start between the flags and looked set to take a hand in the finish before running out of steam when third in a Wincanton novice hurdle last time. The combination of this drop back in trip, better ground and switch to fences could bring about significant improvement. Majestic Merlin is clear second choice ahead of Eros.

BOLD CONDUCT (IRE)
MAJESTIC MERLIN
EROS (FR)

Prize Money

1st: £3,594.002nd: £1,656.003rd: £828.004th: £414.005th: £350.006th: £350.007th: £350.008th: £350.00