Racecards
13:55 Ayr
Purvis Marquees Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Class 2)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £15,000 added
- Form 3136
- Age 4
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
made all, ran on strongly, driven out
- Form 697612
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Mrs L B Normile
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
in rear, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on to chase winner flat, no impression
- Form F2210
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
chased winner, ridden and hit 3 out, no extra when lost 2nd flat
- Form P0212
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer M A Barnes
- Jockey M J McAlister
chased leaders and mistakes, pushed along 4th, weakened 3 out
- Form 1242
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
chased leaders, weakened 3 out, blundered next
In depth
Verdict
Poquelin is taken to make up for his Triumph defeat, with Pouvoir expected to be his only serious rival. Prior to finishing sixth behind Katchit in the Triumph Hurdle, Poquelin had shown fair form over timber, including a defeat of the useful Liberate at Kempton. For one reason or another, his jumping let him down at Cheltenham, and as long as he handles the fast ground today, must surely put in an improved performance. The Triumph winner Katchit's stable is represented by Pouvoir who also bids to put a poor Festival run behind him, having finished well down the field behind Gaspara in the Fred Winter. His form is not quite as good as that of Poquelin, but he should almost certainly finish second at least. The other three that line up here have all got winning form, but not to the level required to beat either of the two principals, with preference for Poquelin.
Formwatch
Poquelin (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Jumped poorly in rear, headway on inside and kept on from 2 out, not reach leaders, 6th of 23, 24l behind Katchit (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
English City (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Held up behind, headway 3 out, ridden, stayed on well approaching last, just held, 2nd of 16, hd behind Calculaite (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Pouvoir (FR) 9-2jt-fav (10-10) Mid-division, headway approaching 4th, hit 5th, chased winner approaching 3 out, lost 2nd when not fluent last, weakened flat, 10th of 24, 17l behind Gaspara (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Soubriquet (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, hit 4 out, ridden and chased winner from next, kept on one pace from last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Nelson du Ronceray (11-9) at Ayr 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar.
Storm Prospect 12-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway on outside approaching 6, left close 2nd last, stayed on, 2nd of 14, nk behind Wizard of Us (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar.