12.30pm The Ardencote Spa Handicap Chase

The Ardencote Spa Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 4)

TWO MILES ABOUT SIX AND A HALF FURLONGS (2m 6f 125yds)

for five yrs old and upwards, Total race value £9400 Owners Prize Money. Winner £3338; Second £1670; Third £834; Fourth £418; Fifth £280. (Penalty Value £4356.80)

SEE PAGE 38 FOR CONDITIONS OF THIS RACE.

O OWNER T TRAINER B BREEDER S SPONSOR

No./Horse FORM Age st lb Jockey

1 CAWTHORNE LAD (GB) (126) 40/1633- C 6 12 1

Ch g Coach House (IRE) - Upton Seas O Mr Nigel Wilks Br Mr E. A. Brook

T Jonjo O’Neill, Cheltenham S Wasdell Group

LIGHT GREEN, DARK GREEN hoops, WHITE cap.

TIMEFORM VIEW Latest win in chase here in October. Shaped encouragingly when third in Warwick handicap hurdle when last seen in March and looks of interest back over the larger obstacles. Star Rating####! Official BHA Rating 116 JONJO O’NEILL JR.

2 TEMPLEHILLS (IRE) (28) 510-FP5 CD 11 12 0

B or Br g Kalanisi (IRE) - Sissinghurst Storm (IRE) O Mr N. A. Twiston-Davies Br M. J. Halligan T Nigel Twiston-Davies, Cheltenham S Agetur (UK) Ltd

BLACK, WHITE sleeves, YELLOW cap.

TIMEFORM VIEW Error-prone veteran won over C&D last season but has gone with little encouragement since and can’t be fancied on recent showings. STEWARDS NOTE: Following its run on 19/6/2022 it was reported that the horse hung and jumped left handed. Star Rating###!! Official BHA Rating 115 SAM TWISTON-DAVIES

3 SALLEY GARDENS (IRE) (27) 2112-31 D 6 12 0

B g Yeats (IRE) - Glenlogan (IRE) O Touchwood Racing Br Mr Joe Cashman

T Olly Murphy, Wilmcote S McCoy Contractors

LIGHT BLUE, PURPLE armlets.

TIMEFORM VIEW Has won 4 of his last 7 starts (placed on other 3) and produced a fine round of jumping when winning 3-runner handicap on chase debut at Southwell last month. 3lb rise is lenient and he’s sure to go well again. Star Rating##### Official BHA Rating 115 SEAN BOWEN

4 ETAT MAJOR AULMES (FR) (18) 0P2/2-11 D 8 11 9

B g Della Francesca (USA) - River Gold Aulmes (FR) O Oliver Signy Racing Club Br Mr Emmanuel Bodard T Oliver Signy, Lambourn S Oliver Signy Racing Llp AQUAMARINE and CERISE (quartered), AQUAMARINE sleeves.

TIMEFORM VIEW Arrives seeking a hat-trick after recent wins at Fontwell and Worcester. Already an improved performer over fences and is feared from 7lb higher mark. Star Rating####! Official BHA Rating 110 GAVIN SHEEHAN

5 FRESH NEW DAWN (IRE) (44) 321P-44 10 11 1

Ch g Flemensfirth (USA) - Star Shuil (IRE) O The Dream Big Syndicate

Br R. McCarthy T Olly Murphy, Wilmcote S McCoy Contractors DARK GREEN, LIGHT BLUE star, LIGHT BLUE sleeves, DARK GREEN stars, DARK GREEN cap, LIGHT BLUE stars.

TIMEFORM VIEW Won at Market Rasen last term and ran repsectably on reappearance at Perth in May. Below form last time, though, and some of his rivals look more interesting here. Star Rating###!! Official BHA Rating 102 LEWIS STONES (5)

Number of Declared Runners 5..................................................................................................(Exacta)

Tongue Strap worn by No. 2, 3, 5. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 3.

T H E R E S U L T . . .

IST ...................................................... 3RD ...................................................... DISTANCES..................................

2021: DEMON D’AUNOU (FR) 8 11 3 Jonjo O’Neill Jr 5-2 (Jonjo O’Neill) 6 ran

PLAY SMARTER

BETTING FORECAST:

11-8 Salley Gardens (IRE), 5-2 Etat Major Aulmes (FR), 6-1 Cawthorne Lad (GB), 15-2 Fresh New Dawn (IRE), 14-1 Templehills (IRE)

RACE SUMMARY:

SALLEY GARDENS translated his hurdling improvement to fences when a tidy winner on his first chase start and further progress looks likely for Olly Murphy’s six-year-old. Etat Major Aulmes is a serious threat in his bid for a hat-trick, with Cawthorne Lad best of the rest.

1-2-3:

1.SALLEY GARDENS (IRE) 2.ETAT MAJOR AULMES (FR) 3.CAWTHORNE LAD

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A R D E N C O T E S P A

Ardencote Spa generously sponsored this race and will present a memento to the winning owner and award a cash prize of £50 to the stable employee in charge of the best turned out horse.

The Mick Bird (Grandad Birdy) Memorial Novices Handicap Chase.

Mick was a very kind hearted gentleman with a heart of gold, he also had a wicked sense of humour many a time you didn’t know whether he was being serious or having us on. One instance of his humour was while at school he filled the Nuns bloomers up with snow one winters day.

Mick was also an excellent Bricklayer with many of his work still on show in a few pubs around the midlands.

Sports wise Mick always loved his Racing with Stratford being his favourite course, he also Raced Pigeons for a number of years.

Mick was a great family man being Husband to his late wife Joan, Brother to Sister Margret, Dad to Andrew & Susan, Grandfather to Martin & Lynette and Great Grandfather to Luke, Ruth, Beth, Lola, Demi, Zac & Little Millie also to Graham, David & Lorraine.