18:55 Cheltenham 27 Oct 2023
Skybet Novices' Hurdle
Grade 2 | Registered As The Sharp Novices' Hurdle | GBB Race | Class 1 | 4YO plus
Winner £28,475 - 8 ran
made all, not fluent 5th, briefly pressed for lead 2 out, soon ridden, a length ahead approaching last, stayed on well run-in
held up in midfield, slightly squeezed before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed into 3rd approaching last, kept on into 2nd close home but no match for winner near finish
prominent, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace approaching last, stayed into 3rd close home
held up in midfield, reached for 2 out, soon ridden, chased leader approaching last, swerved right close home and weakened into 4th
took keen hold, held up in rear, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, no impression approaching last, kept on one pace run-in
close up in touch, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, no impression approaching last
held up in rear, in touch with leaders 2 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
never really travelling, midfield in touch, jumped right 3rd, soon in last, ridden before 5th, pulled up before 3 out
Expert Analysis
A few good horses have contested this over the years, but the form has seldom measured up to true Grade 2 standard and that may be the case again this year with it taking place a couple of weeks earlier than usual. The overall time was a fair bit slower than the opener on the card, but there was rain in between and the late sectionals here (55.14s final 4f for 104.2% finishing speed) suggest it was a reasonable test on the day.
LOOKAWAY (h134 here and previously) had the best form going into this, if not quite as much obvious potential as some others, and put his experience to good use, making all and jumping well bar an error at the fifth, pinging the last and ridden to hold on readily. A likeable type, he is every bit as good at 20f as 16f.
KAMSINAS (h131+ here, 122+ previously) improved from his Worcester win despite things not panning out perfectly and is likely to progress again. He raced in mid to rear, closed a bit when short of room and briefly losing his place after 3 out then stayed on pretty well. He should stay at least 20f.
IDY WOOD (h128 here, 110+ previously) achieved fairly useful form at just the second time of asking over hurdles and may go on again, jumping well up with the pace until outpaced between the last 2, going left at the last and one paced.
WILLIETHEBUILDER (h126 here, 120+ previously) improved from his Uttoxeter win, if perhaps not quite as much as might have been anticipated, in mid-field and closing when making a mistake 2 out, still a big threat approaching the last but hanging right (probably through inexperience) and no extra thereafter.
TOTO TOO (h122 here and previously) looked to need more of a test in matching the form of his Navan win, taking a while to settle then outpaced after 4 out and only really getting going again on the run-in.
ACT OF AUTHORITY (h120 here, 121+ previously) was quite close up for a long way but one paced from 2 out, running to a similar level as when winning at Bangor the time before.
PARADE AWAY (h120 here, 116+ previously)
ENTHUSED (h0 here, 121 previously)
Future Form
| Type | Stats | Type | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | 45 runs, 11 wins (6 horses), 9 placed, 25 unplaced | Next time out | 8 runs, 3 wins, 4 placed, 1 unplaced |
| Class analysis | 3 runs up in class, 0 wins, 1 placed, 2 unplaced | Ratings check | Highest winning OR: 137; Highest placed OR: 137 |
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Good | 8 | Fennor Cross | 5 | 11 2 | - | 113331 | 23 days | J McConnell | Simon Torrens | 3/ 1 | 4:00.04 | |
| 2021 | Good | 3 | I Like To Move It | 4 | 11 3 | - | 1129-11 | 22 days | N Twiston-Davies (1 miles) | Sam Twiston-Davies | 4/ 6 | 3:59.96 | |
| 2020 | Soft | 6 | For Pleasure | 5 | 11 0 | - | 731114 | 28 days | A Hales (67 miles) | Harry Bannister | 14/ 1 | 4:13.96 | |
| 2019 | Soft | 5 | Hang In There | 5 | 11 0 | - | 342-U1 | 26 days | E Lavelle (44 miles) | Adam Wedge | 6/ 1 | 4:11.70 | |
| 2018 | Good | 5 | Elixir De Nutz | 4 | 11 0 | - | 16-F2 | 23 days | C Tizzard (83 miles) | Harry Cobden | 5/ 1 | 3:51.80 | |
| 2017 | Soft | 5 | Slate House | 5 | 11 0 | - | 51-1 | 23 days | C Tizzard (83 miles) | Harry Cobden | 5/ 2 | 4:09.60 | |
| 2016 | Soft | 6 | Moon Racer | 7 | 11 4 | - | 111-21 | 52 days | D Pipe (100 miles) | Tom Scudamore | 9/ 4 | 4:08.20 | |
| 2015 | Good to Soft | 5 | Altior | 5 | 11 7 | - | 13-611 | 15 days | N Henderson (51 miles) | Nico De Boinville | 2/ 1 | 4:07.30 | |
| 2014 | Soft | 6 | Vyta Du Roc | 5 | 11 7 | - | 53-11 | 155 days | N Henderson (51 miles) | B J Geraghty | 3/ 1 | 4:06.70 | |
| 2013 | Good | 4 | The Liquidator | 5 | 11 4 | - | 22141-1 | 18 days | D Pipe (100 miles) | Tom Scudamore | 6/ 4 | 4:05.50 | |
| 2012 | Good to Soft | 8 | Dodging Bullets | 4 | 11 7 | - | 11246-1 | 27 days | P Nicholls (69 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 5/ 4 | 4:28.10 | |
| 2011 | Good | 9 | Steps To Freedom | 5 | 11 7 | - | 122411 | 29 days | J Harrington | Robbie Power | 11/ 8 | 3:59.50 | |
| 2010 | Good | 7 | Cue Card | 4 | 11 7 | - | 11-1 | 19 days | C Tizzard (83 miles) | J Tizzard | 8/ 13 | 3:57.80 | |
| 2009 | Good to Soft | 8 | Loosen My Load | 5 | 11 7 | - | 1112 | 40 days | H De Bromhead | A Lynch | 5/ 2 | 4:17.40 | |
| 2008 | Soft | 9 | Golan Way | 4 | 11 7 | - | 455-111 | 152 days | Miss S West (132 miles) | J Goldstein | 8/ 1 | 4:12.40 | |
| 2007 | Good | 9 | I'msingingtheblues | 5 | 11 4 | - | 31-1 | 19 days | P Nicholls (69 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 14/ 1 | 3:57.70 | |
| 2006 | Good | 9 | Moon Over Miami | 5 | 11 4 | - | 48-1122 | 13 days | C Mann (45 miles) | Noel Fehily | 16/ 1 | 4:02.80 | |
| 2005 | Good to Soft | 10 | Boychuk | 4 | 11 0 | - | 9111 | 24 days | P Hobbs & J White (90 miles) | Richard Johnson | 8/ 1 | 4:01.60 | |
| 2004 | Good | 9 | Marcel | 4 | 11 7 | - | 311111 | 20 days | M Pipe (100 miles) | Timmy Murphy | 5/ 1 | 4:02.40 | |
| 2003 | Good to Firm | 7 | Self Defense | 6 | 11 0 | - | 43324P | 223 days | E Lavelle (44 miles) | F Keniry | 2/ 1 | 4:02.00 |