Racecards
15:40 Ascot
Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Form 211124
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Rachael Green
held up, hit 8th and 9th, headway and not fluent 3 out, led 2 out, mistake last and soon headed, no extra
- Form 551184
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
chased leaders, driven along after 8th, slightly outpaced 3 out, stayed on after 2 out, led soon after last, ridden out
- Form 70-07P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer J G Portman
- Jockey S P Jones
in touch, driven after 5th, weakened 9th
- Form 4325
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey R McGrath
held up, headway after 8th, led briefly and hit 3 out, soon ridden, held when hit next
- Form 342-FF4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey T Doyle
held up, outpaced approaching 9th, behind and pulled up before last
- Form 6
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
chased leaders until weakened approaching 9th, pulled up before 3 out
Velvet Dove
132- Form 2-11256
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Mrs Pauline Adams
- Jockey A O'keeffe
led, hit 3 out, soon ridden, headed and hit 2 out, weakened last
In depth
Verdict
Fountain Crumble should prove too strong for her rivals today and she is nominated over Celtic Carisma and Pia Jane. The selection was a fair fourth behind Rowley Hill on heavy ground at Warwick last time and with faster ground expected to see her in a much better light we think this Paul Nicholls-trained 6-year-old can get her head in front. Celtic Carisma certainly has her ground today but she was disappointing at Musselburgh when last seen out and she does have an absence to overcome today so she may be best watched. Pia Jane led for a long way on his debut in a bumper at Folkestone and he showed he does have ability that day. This quicker ground will suit and as he is sure to have been well-schooled for his his hurdling bow he has to enter calculations. Saratogane is from a top yard and is the other to consider, but she looks to have a little to find today and we will return to Fountain Crumble as our idea of the winner.
Formwatch
Fountain Crumble 6-1 (9-7) Held up rear, headway approaching 7th, ridden after 3 out to chase leaders, switched left 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 11, 5l behind Rowley Hill (10-1) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Saratogane (FR) 11-1 (11-10) Held up, ridden 7th, stayed on from 3 out, 4th of 9, 16l behind Xila Fontenailles (10-3) at Warwick 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (4) gd.
Back In Vogue 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division until weakened after 7th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Special Envoy (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Celtic Carisma 3-1fav (10-7) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 5th of 15, 37l behind Merrymaker (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Lady Wilde (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway into modest 4th after 3 out, never troubled leaders, 4th of 14, 24l behind Eden Linty (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f mrs mdn hdl (4) sft.
Pia Jane (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Set moderate gallop, quickened pace 6f out, ridden and headed well over 1f out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 11l behind Fiddling Again (11-0) at Fakenham 2m mrs nhf (4) gs in Feb.
Velvet Dove 9-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden 3 out, mistake when weakening 2 out, 6th of 16, well behind Labelthou (11-3) at Towcester 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Two Shillings 40-1 (10-8) Prominent until weakened over 7f out, last of 13, well behind Pangbourne (11-11) at Folkestone 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Feb '06.