Following the final race on day two of The November Meeting, Paddy Power Day, Cheltenham’s Clerk of the Course Simon Claisse reported: "I think we have been fairly lucky today, because we were forecast significantly more rainfall that we have had; that heavy shower after the second race amounted to about three millimetres, which wasn't the seven or eight we might have expected through the afternoon.

 

“So, I am pleased we dodged that one. The forecast is still suggesting that we may get another up to 10 millimetres of rain before racing starts tomorrow, but maybe our good fortune in terms of dodging it today will continue tomorrow - who knows? We will see in the morning.

 

"I am going to leave the ground as it is currently - Soft all over on both the Chase and Hurdle courses, and we will see what the morning brings."

 

Saturday’s Stewards’ Reports

 

12:30pm. JCB TRIUMPH TRIAL JUVENILE HURDLE (Grade 2)

Following the race, the representative of Paul Nicholls reported that HELL RED (FR), which started favourite and was pulled up before the final hurdle, made a respiratory noise.

 

1:05pm. SOUTH WEST SYNDICATE HANDICAP CHASE

Permission was given for ARTHUR’S GIFT (IRE) to go early to post and EQUUS SECRETUS (IRE) wore earplugs throughout the preliminaries which were removed upon arrival at the start. An enquiry was held to establish whether Mr Nick Phillips, the rider of EQUUS SECRETUS (IRE), had failed to pull up and dismount his horse when it appeared to have lost its action behind after making a bad mistake at the water jump on the final circuit. EQUUS SECRETUS (IRE) then proceeded to fall at the fifteenth fence, dislodging Phillips. The rider and the Veterinary Officer were interviewed and recordings of the incident were viewed. The Veterinary Officer reported that, in their opinion, the gelding had appeared to be lame behind having blundered and lost its action at the water jump. The rider was suspended for 10 days, on dates to be notified to him by the Head Office of the British Horseracing Authority and being a 7Ib Claimer, was offered the opportunity to be accompanied in the enquiry but declined. Following the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that WHAT A MOMENT (IRE), placed sixth, lost its right and left-fore shoes and Mr Alex Edwards reported that KILFILUM CROSS (IRE), which started favourite and was pulled up before the final fence, stopped quickly; the Veterinary Officer reported that a post-race examination of the gelding failed to reveal any abnormalities.

 

3:40pm FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH PODCAST NOVICES' STEEPLE CHASE (Grade 2)

The performance of FUSIL RAFFLES (FR), which started favourite and was pulled up, was considered. The representative of Nicky Henderson’s explanation that the gelding was unsuited by the going, which was officially described as Good to Soft in places, which was changed to Soft after this race and would prefer a faster surface. FUSIL RFFLES (FR) was routine tested.

 

2:15pm PADDY POWER GOLD CUP HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3)

Permission was given for KAUTO RIKO (FR) to go early to post and SIMPLY THE BETTS (IRE) wore earplugs throughout the preliminaries which were removed upon arrival at the start. Following the race, Nicky Henderson reported that MISTER FISHER (IRE), which started second-favourite and was pulled up before the second last fence, was unsuited by the going, which was officially described as Soft on this occasion and would prefer a faster surface; the Veterinary Officer reported that the gelding lost its left-fore shoe.

 

2:50pm PADDY POWER GAMES HANDICAP HURDLE (Listed Race)

Mr Sam Lee, the rider of GOLAN FUTURE (IRE), placed third, was suspended for 2 days, on dates to be notified to him by the Head Office of the British Horseracing Authority, for using his whip above the permitted level from after jumping the final hurdle. Being a 7Ib Claimer, Lee was offered the opportunity to be accompanied in the enquiry but declined. Following the race, Tom Scudamore reported that POKER PLAY (FR), unplaced, jumped left-handed and Phil Middleton reported that GOLAN FUTURE (IRE), which started joint-favourite and finished third, was unsuited by the going, which was officially described as Soft a on this occasion and would prefer a faster surface.

 

3:25pm PADDY POWER FIRST MILLIONAIRE QUALIFIER INTERMEDIATE HANDICAP HURDLE

Luca Morgan, the rider of WHATSUPWITHYOU (IRE), placed second, was suspended for 2 days for using his whip above the permitted level from turning into the home straight. Being a 7Ib Claiming Conditional, Morgan was offered the opportunity to be accompanied in the enquiry but declined. Following the race, Nicky Henderson reported that SON OF CAMAS (FR), which started second-favourite and was pulled up, was unsuited by the going, which was officially described as Soft on this occasion and would prefer a faster surface.

 

3:55pm KARNDEAN DESIGNFLOORING MARES' STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE (Listed Race)

Approximately three furlongs out, JERSEY LADY (FR), placed third, shifted slightly right-handed resulting in ISHKHARA LADY, which dead-heated for first place and ALL CLENCHED UP, placed sixth, making contact and bumping on several occasions, but after viewing a recording of the incident, it was found that no riding offence was involved.