Citipost Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) – Cheltenham

Cheltenham

15:15

Citipost Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Date 2023-04-19

Distance 2m4f56y

Class Class 2

Going Good

Type Hurdle

Surface Turf

Age Band 4yo+

Prize £10,892

Winning Time 4m 53.68s (slow by 3.68s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	The Friday Man (GB) Sean Bowen · Gordon Elliott	9/2	Won
2nd	Twig (GB) Beau Morgan · Ben Pauling	11/1	1.75
3rd	Chasing Fire (GB) Aidan Coleman · Olly Murphy	7/2	4
4th	Red Dirt Road (IRE) Jonjo O'Neill Jr · Jonjo O'Neill	5/2F	1.25
5th	Pikar (FR) Kielan Woods · Dan Skelton	100/30	.75
6th	Chancycourt (IRE) Paddy Brennan · Fergal O'Brien	33/1	14
7th	Blue Hop (IRE) Jack Quinlan · B F Brookhouse	33/1	7.5
8th	Final Encore (GB) Daryl Jacob · Hughie Morrison	80/1	6.5
9th	Rock My Way (IRE) Nick Scholfield · Syd Hosie	11/1	18

Runners (12)

EW Terms: 3 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
3	Chasing Fire Bay J:Aidan Coleman T:Olly Murphy	J:Aidan Coleman T:Olly Murphy	160	—	1-1110	134	143	127	36d	—	—	+12	34.7	0.63/1	5/2 29%
Triple 2m winner; travelled well for a long way in last month's Supreme; up in trip today
NR	The Carpenter Grey J:Nico de Boinville T:Nicky Henderson	J:Nico de Boinville T:Nicky Henderson	160	—	2/11	-	136	125	26d	—	—	-15	11.5	0.56/1	9/4 31%
Impressed when winning easily at Newbury last month and must be considered here
5	Pikar b/br J:Kielan Woods T:Dan Skelton	J:Kielan Woods T:Dan Skelton	160	t	5-1631	132	138	104	54d	—	—	+7	26.2	0.88/1	7/2 22%
Dual novice winner (2m/2m3f) who was placed in Class 2 handicap here in between
6	Red Dirt Road Bay J:Jonjo O'Neill Jr T:Jonjo Oneill	J:Jonjo O'Neill Jr T:Jonjo Oneill	160	—	1-121	130	141	128	40d	—	—	+11	33.9	0.69/1	11/4 27%
Ready winner on last month's handicap debut and likely to be suited by today's longer trip
9	The Friday Man Bay J:Sean Bowen T:Gordon Elliott	J:Sean Bowen T:Gordon Elliott	160	—	113112	139	146	121	178d	—	—	+33	45.8	1.38/1	11/2 15%
3-5 over hurdles; not seen since Listed second in October but has a leading form chance
1	Rock My Way Bay J:Nick Scholfield T:Syd Hosie	J:Nick Scholfield T:Syd Hosie	164	—	3-121P	137	143	121	33d	—	—	+17	26.4	2.25/1	10 10%
Unexposed 5yo who won a C&D Grade 2 in January; ought to be on the premises
NR	Theatre Man Bay J:Harry Bannister T:Richard J Bandey	J:Harry Bannister T:Richard J Bandey	160	—	2-2121	132	142	128	32d	—	—	+17	26.6	1.75/1	8 13%
Impressed when comfortably making all at Kempton last month; commands respect
10	Twig Bay J:Beau Morgan T:Ben Pauling	J:Beau Morgan T:Ben Pauling	160	—	212161	129	139	116	47d	—	—	+34	40	3.25/1	14 7%
Former pointer/hunter chaser; useful hurdle form this season but the oldest runner here
NR	Hermino Aa Bay J:Jamie Moore T:Gary Moore	J:Jamie Moore T:Gary Moore	160	—	23121	129	138	105	28d	—	—	+36	41.5	3.75/1	16 6%
2-4 over hurdles after last month's Warwick win but others have stronger form here
11	Chancycourt Bay J:Paddy Brennan T:Fergal Obrien	J:Paddy Brennan T:Fergal Obrien	156	—	3/22-	-	-	-	546d	—	—	0	3	8.00/1	33 3%
Placed in two points and a bumper in 2021 but this hurdle debut comes after a long absence
2	Blue Hop Bay J:Jack Quinlan T:B F Brookhouse	J:Jack Quinlan T:B F Brookhouse	160	—	15-1	-	121	97	51d	—	—	+8	10.7	9.75/1	40 3%
Won Ayr maiden on hurdle debut; can improve but others have already achieved much more
12	Final Encore Bay J:Daryl Jacob T:Hughie Morrison	J:Daryl Jacob T:Hughie Morrison	156	—	71-2	-	117	58	48d	—	—	+4	5.4	37.25/1	150 1%
No match for winner when second on hurdle debut; needs to take a big step forward here

Horse	bet365	Coral
Chasing Fire	5/2	5/2
The Carpenter	9/4	SP
Pikar	7/2	7/2
Red Dirt Road	11/4	11/4
The Friday Man	11/2	11/2
Rock My Way	10	9
Theatre Man	SP	8
Twig	12	14
Hermino Aa	16	16
Chancycourt	33	33
Blue Hop	40	33
Final Encore	150	66

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

The Friday Man

45.8

OR: 22.3 Form: 19.9 Odds: 3.6

11/2

2nd

Hermino Aa

41.5

OR: 19.8 Form: 20.4 Odds: 1.4

3rd

Twig

OR: 19.8 Form: 18.5 Odds: 1.7

Chasing Fire

34.7

OR: 21 Form: 7 Odds: 6.7

5/2

Red Dirt Road

33.9

OR: 20 Form: 7 Odds: 6.9

11/4

Theatre Man

26.6

OR: 20.5 Form: 3.5 Odds: 2.6

Rock My Way

26.4

OR: 21.8 Form: 2.1 Odds: 2.5

Pikar

26.2

OR: 20.5 Form: 0 Odds: 5.7

7/2

The Carpenter

11.5

OR: 0 Form: 3.5 Odds: 8

9/4

Blue Hop

10.7

OR: 0 Form: 10 Odds: 0.7

Final Encore

5.4

OR: 0 Form: 5 Odds: 0.4

150

Chancycourt

OR: 0 Form: 2.1 Odds: 0.9

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
The Friday Man	139	146	121
Rock My Way	137	143	121
Chasing Fire	134	143	127
Pikar	132	138	104
Theatre Man	132	142	128
Red Dirt Road	130	141	128
Twig	129	139	116
Hermino Aa	129	138	105
The Carpenter	—	136	125
Chancycourt	—	—	—
Blue Hop	—	121	97
Final Encore	—	117	58

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
The Carpenter	26d ago	Fit
Hermino Aa	28d ago	Fit
Theatre Man	32d ago	Fit
Rock My Way	33d ago	Fit
Chasing Fire	36d ago	Fit
Red Dirt Road	40d ago	Fit
Twig	47d ago	Fresh
Final Encore	48d ago	Fresh
Blue Hop	51d ago	Fresh
Pikar	54d ago	Fresh
The Friday Man	178d ago	Long break
Chancycourt	546d ago	Long break