13 Mar 2018 17:30 Cheltenham
Winner: £70,000 (Penalty: £39,865); Distance: 2m 4f 78y; Class: 1; Eligibility: 5YO plus; Going: Soft (Heavy in places).
Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed)
| Place | No (Draw) | Silks | Beaten Distance | Horse | Form/Age | Last Run | Jockey | Trainer/Owner | SP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 20 |   | - | Mister Whitaker (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 2) | 43-3121 / 13 | Jump (45) | B S Hughes | M R Channon Mr T G Leslie | 13/2 | |
| 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 | ||||||||||
| 2nd | 8 |   | HD | Rather Be (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 8) | U18-1U1 / 8 | Jump (25) | J McGrath | N J Henderson Matt & Lauren Morgan | 12/1 | |
| 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 | ||||||||||
| 3rd | 10 |   | 3¼ L | Rocklander (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 7) | 220-1U1 / 12 | Jump (73) | Adrian Heskin | T R George Mr Philip Andrew | 25/1 | |
| pressed leader, led 3rd, ridden when hard pressed after 2 out, headed flat, kept on until no extra in 3rd inside final 100 yards | ||||||||||
| 4th | 7 |   | 8 L | Barney Dwan (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 8) | 427-311 / 11 | Jump (38) | N D Fehily | F O'Brien Matt & Sally Burford | 15/2 | |
| prominent, pressed leader after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, one pace before last, well held in 4th flat | ||||||||||
| 5th | 13 |   | 3½ L | Ibis Du Rheu (FR) (gelding, bay, 11 6) | 8/323P-4 / 10 | Jump (31) | Sam Twiston-Davies | P F Nicholls Mr D W Fox | 25/1 | |
| tracked leaders, driven and effort after 3 out, ridden after next, one pace when blundered and pecked last, well held flat | ||||||||||
| 6th | 14 |   | 2 L | Jameson (GB) (gelding, brown, 11 5) | 2-21244 / 6 | Jump (55) | Thomas Bellamy | N & W Twiston-Davies Walters Plant Hire… | 40/1 | |
| mid-division, driven after 3 out, ridden and kept on under pressure from last, never troubled leaders | ||||||||||
| 7th | 19 |   | SHD | Kayf Adventure (GB) (gelding, bay, 11 3) | 163123 / 11 | Jump (18) | R Johnson | P Hobbs & J White Cheltenham Trail… | 25/1 | |
| held up towards rear, slightly hampered 9th, outpaced after 3 out, ridden after next, plugged on flat, never theatened leaders | ||||||||||
| 8th | 2 |   | 1½ L | Any Second Now (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 10) | 3U-2223 / 13 | Jump (38) | Mark Walsh | T M Walsh John P McManus | 5/1 | |
| mid-division, close up on outside after 7th, ridden after 3 out, one pace and no impression before next, weakened flat | ||||||||||
| 9th | 18 |   | 14 L | Ballyhill (FR) (gelding, bay, 11 3) | 235F10 / 10 | Jump (45) | Jamie Bargary | N & W Twiston-Davies S Such & Cg Paletta | 25/1 | |
| led to 3rd, tracked leaders, blundered 5 out, lost place 3 out, soon weakened | ||||||||||
| 10th | 12 |   | ¾ L | Western Miller (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 6) | 41F224 / 10 | Jump (102) | J J Burke | C E Longsdon The Pantechnicons… | 100/1 | |
| mid-division, tracked leaders 7th, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened last | ||||||||||
| 11th | 1 |   | HD | Testify (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 10) | 129-111 / 8 | Jump (52) | W T Kennedy | D McCain Jnr Mr Trevor Hemmings | 11/1 | |
| in touch, pressed leader from 4th, hit and lost place 4 out, soon pushed along, weakened from next | ||||||||||
| 11 |   | - | Divine Spear (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 6) | 225-112 / 8 | Jump (27) | Non Runner | N J Henderson Middleham Park… | 0/0 | ||
| NonRunner | ||||||||||
| 21 |   | - | Deauville Dancer (IRE) (colt, bay, 11 2) | 241119 / 10 | Flat (578), Jump (87) | Reserve 1 | David Dennis Mr G Brandrick… | |||
| PU | 3 |   | - | Tycoon Prince (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 9) | P/45-21F / 11 | Jump (38) | Jack Kennedy | G Elliott Alan McCaldin | 25/1 | |
| mid-division, blundered badly and lost place 4 out, not recover and pulled up before next | ||||||||||
| BD | 4 |   | - | Le Rocher (FR) (gelding, bay, 11 9) | 071113 / 10 | Jump (30) | T Scudamore | Nick Williams John White & Anne… | 14/1 | |
| tracked leaders, blundered and lost place 7th, towards rear when hampered and brought down 9th | ||||||||||
| PU | 5 |   | - | Demi Sang (FR) (gelding, bay, 11 9) | 131114 / 10 | Jump (38) | B J Geraghty | W P Mullins Rm&T Holdings Limited… | 20/1 | |
| mid-division, lost place 8th, behind from 11th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before next | ||||||||||
| PU | 17 |   | - | Markov (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 3) | 343-11F / 9 | Jump (24) | D A Jacob | B Pauling Mr A R W Marsh | 66/1 | |
| mistake 1st, soon towards rear on outside, lost touch and pulled up after 7th | ||||||||||
| FE | 16 |   | - | Livelovelaugh (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 4) | 043-313 / 11 | Jump (44) | Ruby Walsh | W P Mullins Mrs S Ricci | 10/1 | |
| held up behind, fell 6th | ||||||||||
| FE | 15 |   | - | Report To Base (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 4) | 25-82D1 / 6 | Jump (43) | Adam Wedge | Evan Williams Mr & Mrs William… | 14/1 | |
| chased leaders to 3rd, mid-division, fell 9th | ||||||||||
| PU | 6 |   | - | Conrad Hastings (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 8) | 0-11250 / 10 | Jump (38) | D Robinson | H De Bromhead S C Robinson &… | 66/1 | |
| mistake 3rd, always in rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next | ||||||||||
| PU | 9 |   | - | De Plotting Shed (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 8) | 24-2522 / 10 | Jump (47) | D N Russell | G Elliott Kelly, Beal And… | 11/2 | |
| mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon outpaced and beaten, pulled up before next | ||||||||||
| 22 |   | - | Cobra De Mai (FR) (gelding, bay, 11 1) | 1P1541 / 10 | Flat (1010), Jump (18) | Reserve 2 | D Skelton Mrs Susan Carsberg | |||
