Racecards
16:10 Ascot
Trisoft 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 2)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £16,000 added
- Winner: £10,010
- 2nd: £2,957
- 3rd: £1,478
- 4th: £739
- Form 11-1113
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey R Johnson
took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 5th, led 4 out, headed after next, weakened after 2 out
- Form 3-2F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey N D Fehily
not fluent 1st, off the pace in 5th, slow 3rd, headway before 2 out, stayed on to 2nd between last 2, never any chance with impressive winner
- Form 933
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey L Treadwell
took keen hold, chased leader, led approaching 4th, headed 4 out, chased leader, led again briefly after 3 out, chased winner but no chance, weakened to 3rd between last 2
- Form 4P56-04
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer P Hedger
- Jockey A Thornton
led at steady pace, headed approaching 4th, lost 2nd before next, soon lost place, tailed off
- Form 370/89
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer M Hill
- Jockey Hadden Frost
sweating, took keen hold in rear, ridden and outpaced before 4 out, never on terms after, tailed off
- Form 111
- Age 4
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
took keen hold, tracking leader, went 2nd 3 out, led on long run to 2 out, soon came readily clear, kept on strongly from last, eased close home, impressive
Verdict
Balder Succes won easily at Plumpton on his UK debut but had little to beat over C&D last month and faces stronger opposition today. Une Artiste's preferred engagement is at Haydock but Hazy Tom will be trying to make amends for his first defeat under Rules when only third to Molotof over C&D in December. That still wasn't a bad effort but Charlie Longsdon's gelding has to concede 8lb here to CAPTAIN SUNSHINE, who looked a very nice prospect when a close second to Black Thunder at Taunton on his hurdles bow and would have almost certainly have won at Kempton subsequently had he not fallen at the last.
Formwatch
Hazy Tom (IRE) 10-11fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden and not fluent when narrowly headed 2 out, chased winner until between last 2, soon no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Molotof (11-7) at Ascot 2m nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Dec.
Captain Sunshine 10-11fav (11-2) Held up in rear, headway and in touch on outside after 4th, led 3 out, ridden between last 2, 1 length clear when fell last, in a race won by The Druids Nephew (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Jan, 10 ran.
Fairy Rath (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Chased leading trio, went 3rd before 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Fourth Estate (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Ice 'n' Easy (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Led to before 2nd, tracked leader, effort on outside after 3 out to before next, soon no impression, 4th of 12, 18l behind Pearl Swan (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Inspector Qics 100-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off, 9th of 16, well behind Carrigmorna King (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Balder Succes (FR) 3-10fav (11-8) Tracked leader, settled 3rd 5th, smooth headway on outside to lead before and went right 2 out, came clear before last, easily, won at Ascot 2m 4yo hdl (3) gs in Jan beating Brilliant Barca (11-1) by 11l, 3 ran.
Une Artiste (FR) (10-5) won at Pau(FR) 2m 1f 4yo hdl fm in Jan beating Une Sainte Du Lys (10-10) by 12l, 16 ran.