15:10
DragonBet Backing Our Opinion At Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle
Class 4, 2m104y, Hurdle, 4yo+, Rated 0-110, 7 runners
Winning time 4m 2.92s
- Going
- Good
- Surface
- Turf
- Jumps
- 9 hurdles
Result
Micheal Nolan
Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
Settled at the back early - made progress from 3 out - pushed along with plenty to find before 2 out - shifted right approaching last and hampered a touch there - found a gap between horses to hit the front inside the final furlong - driven out and stayed on gamely to the line - prevailed under pressure
James Best
Anthony Charlton
Settled midpack early holding hard - clipped heels 5th - closed on pace from 3 out - well placed and fighting for it 2 out - knocked when hitting front last - overtaken close home - stayed on to the line
Chad Bament (7)
Jeremy Scott
Settled in the pack early - clipped a fence 5th - moved into second past halfway - locked in a duel from 3 out to the last - driven along and still in with a shout drifting right at the final fence - stayed on without further improvement to finish third
Rex Dingle
Ben Clarke
Front early - clipped fence 4th - drew alongside leader 3 out - pressed from either flank 2 out - knocked sideways to the right entering the run-in - lost the advantage inside the final furlong and faded close home
Taylor Fisher
Joe Tickle
Settled at back of field early - improved into contention 3 out - closed on front group 2 out - ballooned final fence costing momentum then stayed on without finding enough late to land fifth
Sean Houlihan
Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
Settled in the pack early - crept onto the heels of the front group after 3 out - pressed for effort 2 out but found little before the last - lost ground steadily up the run-in
Jack Tudor
Christian Williams
Settled third early - moved up on the front-runner by the 4th before losing touch from three out - made no headway late and finished seventh
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.