| Course: CHELTENHAM | Race date:01/01/06 | Race time:3:20 | Runners:13 |
| Race distance:2m5f | Going:Good To Soft | Winners time:5m 13.90s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fondmort | Mick Fitzgerald | N J Henderson | 11-12 | 10 | 165 | 152 | 100/30F | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | ||
| Too Forward | Timmy Murphy | M Pitman | 10-9 | 10 | 146 | 135 | 17/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | ¾ | |
| Made In Japan | Richard Johnson | P J Hobbs | 10-12 | 6 | 147 | 138 | 9/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | 2 | |
| Redemption | Carl Llewellyn | N A Twiston-Davies | 10-8 | 11 | 145 | 134 | 8/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | 1¾ | |
| Limerick Boy | Sam Thomas | Miss Venetia Williams | 11-3 | 8 | 137 | 143 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 14 | |
| Le Passing | Christian Williams | P F Nicholls | 11-6 | 7 | 134 | 146 | 13/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 6 | |
| Iris Royal | Andrew Tinkler | N J Henderson | 10-13 | 10 | 125 | 139 | 12/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | 3 | |
| Whereareyounow | Tony Evans | N A Twiston-Davies | 10-0 | 9 | 110 | 126 | 14/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 9 | ¾ | |
| See You Sometime | Andrew Thornton | J W Mullins | 11-2 | 11 | 105 | 142 | 33/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 10 | 20 | |
| Noisetine | P C O´Neill | Miss Venetia Williams | 10-6 | 8 | 92 | 137 | 20/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 11 | 8 | |
| Alexanderthegreat | Keith Mercer | Ferdy Murphy | 10-0 | 8 | 74 | 126 | 33/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 12 | 7 | |
| Quazar | Noel Fehily | Jonjo O´Neill | 11-0 | 8 | 0 | 140 | 40/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | PU |
One particular fence had proved FONDMORT's undoing here in December when this fine old stager was brought down when still going strongly. A real Cheltenham favourite, who had already won a Paddy Power Gold Cup and Tripleprint Gold Cup, he was ridden more prominently than usual, and the tactics worked a treat. Kicked on at just the right time by Mick Fitzgerald, he was as gutsy as ever, just lasting home after being in front for quite some time. He will return here for another course and distance race at the end of the month, while the Ryanair Chase, in which he was a short-head second last season, is his Festival target. He will make them all go.
Too Forward has come into his own since dropped back in trip, and he ran best ever race to finish second. An easy 3m would not be a problem to him, and he is on an upward curve.
Made In Japan has not really achieved a great deal since winning the Triumph Hurdle, but this was a fine effort. Connections had not been sure whether the step up in trip would be a help or hindrance, but the Hobbs inmate was doing his best work late having slightly lost his place at a crucial stage.
The removal of fences should have been a godsend for Redemption, but the error-prone gelding still managed to clout what was the third last, just as he was closing. He still came back on the bridle, but he then got tired, not for the first time running as if this trip on the New Course stretches his stamina.
Limerick Boy ran a cracker on his seasonal reappearance, going like a winner for a long way, only to run out of puff. He will come on for this race and should have a successful spring.
The luckless Le Passing, who was so cruelly caught on the line here in December, went well for a long way, but may have been feeling the effects of his previous visit. He still finished in front of Iris Royal, who dropped out down the hill, and Kandjar d'Allier, who was a long way off his Paddy Power third form.
Whereareyounow deserves a mention, as he did catch the eye for much of the race and hinted that he may yet have another day in the sun to come. [LM]
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