14:35
Oddschecker Handicap Steeple Chase (Premier Handicap) (Registered As The Tom Olliver Handicap Steeple Chase) (GBB Race)
Class 1, 3m3½f, Chase, 4yo+, £47,552, 8 runners
Winning time 7m 17.30s
- Going
- Good
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Resplendent Grey heads our figures on 157 and gets the nod over a stamina-testing 28 furlongs on good ground at Cheltenham, though he is only narrowly ahead of Monbeg Genius on 155, a two-pound gap that leaves little room for error. Monbeg Genius is the chief danger and could easily reverse the placings, while King of Answers on 148 and Double Powerful on 143 sit a fair way back and need to improve to land a blow. In a competitive nine-runner Class 1, this is a slim edge rather than a strong one, but Resplendent Grey is our selection.
Result
Brian Hughes
Mickey Bowen
Up with the pace early - nudged by hands after 4 out - moved into second before 2 out and close to the front - edged ahead at the last - driven on the run-in and strongly threatened near the line - narrowly prevailed to win
Sean Bowen
Olly Murphy
Held up at the back - veered left at the 6th - niggled at 3 out - moved into third 2 out and urged on - kept going strongly on the run-in to challenge the front-runner late - beaten a head in second
Richie McLernon
Neil Mulholland
Made all the running - clouted 17th and blundered 4 out - strongly pressed before 2 out - ridden before the last where error cost the advantage - stayed on at one speed for 3rd
No. 2
7yo, 11-7, OR 143
J: Derek Fox · T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
Derek Fox
Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
towards back early - impeded at 6th - error 11th - urged on 3 out then kept on 2 out - finished 4th without threatening
Adam Wedge
Mrs C. Williams
In the pack early - severely impeded at the 2nd - dropped to the back - back among the field by the 6th - urged after 3 out - failed to quicken - finished 5th
Freddie Gingell
Joe Tizzard
up with the front group - stumbled at the 1st - took second spot 4 out - ridden and slipped back before 2 out then blundered there - faded out of it to finish 6th
Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill
Raced prominent early - came down at the second fence
No. 6
8yo, 11-0, OR 136
J: Sam Twiston-Davies · T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Sam Twiston-Davies
Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
settled in the pack - moved up to third after 2nd - clouted 4th and erred 6th - clumsy at the 16th and dropped back - under urging 4 out and quickly well adrift - pulled up before 3 out
Non-runners: Havaila
Racecard
Sean Bowen
Olly Murphy 9/48
Resplendent Grey has a win and a second in his last five starts, though the latest was a fifth, and he has run on today's going before. Our top-rated runner, he is the one to beat on that profile, with only the 204-day absence to concern.
- Sire
- Walk In The Park (IRE)
- Dam
- Caltra Princess (IRE) by Traditionally
- Owner
- Mrs R J Skan
- Foaled
- 3 Apr 2018
- Stable
- Wilmcote, Warks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 9 wins from 48 runs (19%)
- Trainer running to form
- 56%
- Ratings
- Perf 157
53 days
7yo, 11-7, OR 143 412P-6
J: Derek Fox · T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
Derek Fox
Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore 9/36
King of Answers won four starts back and was second three starts back, and he has run over today's trip and on this going before, while our rating of 148 ranks him third of nine. The main risk is a sixth last time out and a 53-day absence under 161 lb.
- Sire
- Malinas (GER)
- Dam
- Queen Of Questions (IRE) by Bob Back
- Owner
- The Kings Counsel
- Foaled
- 17 Apr 2019
- Stable
- Milnathort, Perth & Kinross
- Trainer last 14 days
- 9 wins from 36 runs (25%)
- Trainer running to form
- 47%
- Ratings
- Perf 148
Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill 5/35
Monbeg Genius is yet to win in his last five, but a third two starts back and a fifth last time out show he's competitive, and he has run over today's trip and going. Our rating of 155 ranks him second of nine; the main risk is a 223-day absence under 160 lb.
- Sire
- Shantou (USA)
- Dam
- Ella Watson (IRE) by Supreme Leader
- Owner
- Martin Tedham Wasdell Properties Ltd
- Foaled
- 30 Apr 2016
- Stable
- Cheltenham, Gloucs
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 35 runs (14%)
- Trainer running to form
- 45%
- Ratings
- Perf 155
Richie McLernon
Neil Mulholland 7/29
Double Powerful arrives fresh from a last-time-out win, with a third and a second before that, and he has run on today's going before. The main risk is the 158 lb he must carry, which asks plenty off an official mark of 140.
- Sire
- Ocovango (GB)
- Dam
- Cons Dream (IRE) by Millenary
- Owner
- Equi Ex Incertis Partners
- Foaled
- 26 Apr 2019
- Stable
- Limpley Stoke, Wilts
- Trainer last 14 days
- 7 wins from 29 runs (24%)
- Trainer running to form
- 51%
- Ratings
- Perf 143
204 days, Non-runner
7yo, 11-3, OR 139 36111-
J: Caoilin Quinn · T: Jamie Moore & Josh Moore
Caoilin Quinn
Jamie Moore & Josh Moore 5/32
Havaila arrives on a hat-trick of wins, and he has run over today's trip and going, but a 204-day absence and 157 lb on his back temper the enthusiasm. Our rating of 139 ranks him sixth of nine, so he looks a midfield sort here.
- Sire
- Le Havre (IRE)
- Dam
- Waila (GB) by Notnowcato
- Owner
- Ashley Carr And Steve Ashley
- Foaled
- 18 Mar 2019
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 32 runs (16%)
- Trainer running to form
- 46%
- Ratings
- Perf 139
14 days
8yo, 11-0, OR 136 1P1P-3
J: Sam Twiston-Davies · T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Sam Twiston-Davies
Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies 5/37
Guard The Moon showed he still has ability with a third last time out, and he has won twice in his last five starts, though two pulled-up efforts make him hard to trust. He has run on today's going, returns after 14 days and carries 154 lb off 136, while our rating of 142 ranks him fifth of nine.
- Sire
- Pether's Moon (IRE)
- Dam
- Polly Potter (GB) by Kayf Tara
- Owner
- James Jean Potter Ltd
- Foaled
- 21 Jun 2018
- Stable
- Naunton, Gloucs
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 37 runs (14%)
- Trainer running to form
- 57%
- Ratings
- Perf 142
Adam Wedge
Mrs C. Williams 2/25
Ask Brewster returns after 204 days off, having finished ninth last time out, which makes him hard to fancy, though he won two starts back and four starts back and has run over today's trip and going. Carrying 153 lb off 135, he is ranked seventh of nine on our figures.
- Sire
- Ask (GB)
- Dam
- Latest Instalment (IRE) by Mahler
- Owner
- Midlands Quintet
- Foaled
- 29 Apr 2019
- Stable
- Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 25 runs (8%)
- Trainer running to form
- 31%
- Ratings
- Perf 136
Brian Hughes
Mickey Bowen 4/16
Holokea won last time out, but that was 214 days ago, and an eighth and a pulled up sit among his previous three runs, so he is hard to fancy at the foot of our figures. He has run over today's trip and going and has two seconds earlier in his recent form, though 148 lb is a big ask.
- Sire
- Diamond Boy (FR)
- Dam
- No Plain Jane (IRE) by King's Theatre
- Owner
- Miss Jayne Brace Gwyn Brace
- Foaled
- 1 Jun 2019
- Stable
- Haverfordwest, Pembrokes
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 16 runs (25%)
- Trainer running to form
- 53%
- Ratings
- Perf 133
Freddie Gingell
Joe Tizzard 5/24
Returns after 251 days off, which is a big question, and a seventh and a ninth in the two runs before a second last time out hardly scream consistency. In his favour, he won four and five starts back, has run on today's going and carries 148 lb off 130.
- Sire
- Notnowcato (GB)
- Dam
- Whyyousoserious (IRE) by Morozov
- Owner
- Sax Purdie
- Foaled
- 23 Apr 2019
- Stable
- Milborne Port, Dorset
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 24 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 56%
- Ratings
- Perf 135
- Wind surgery
- w 1
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.