Racecards
13:25 Chepstow
Royal British Legion Poppy Persian War Novices' Hurdle (Gr2) (Class A)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- Form 432549-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey T Doyle
chased leaders until ridden and weakened 7th, tailed off
Gungadu
244- Form 31/11-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Christian Williams
led, ridden and headed 3 out, hanging left, weakened after 2 out
- Form 054-45
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
behind, ridden along 4th, effort after 7th, soon weakened, tailed off
- Form 4-1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
always in touch, chased leader from 7th, led 3 out, ridden approaching last, soon headed, weakened
Mokum (FR)
247- Form 486235-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
chased leader to 5th, weakened after 6th, tailed off
Patrixprial
315- Form 32-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer M H Tompkins
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up, headway 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakening when hit last
- Form 218-1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
held up in touch, headway to chase leader 6th, ridden along and outpaced 3 out, rallied 2 out, led after last, driven out
In depth
Verdict
In the opener, Rimsky gets the call ahead of Patrixprial, Massini's Maguire and Biscar Two. A good-class bumper performer, Rimsky got his hurdling career off to a flying start here last time. Ok, this is tougher, but he is the type to progress and should run well over a trip that should suit. Patrixprial proved himself a decent novice last season and, fit from the Flat, should win races this year, while Irish import Massini's Maguire is an interesting runner from the in-form Philip Hobbs stable. Gungadu is probably best watched on his Rules bow but Biscar Two, second in a Grade 2 event on heavy going here last season and then ninth in the Triumph Hurdle, is respected, although the selection, Rimsky, might just have the fitness edge.
Formwatch
Biscar Two (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Behind, some headway under pressure approaching last but no chance, 9th of 23, 23l behind Penzance (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Gungadu (11-7) 3rd of 13, 8l behind King Killone (11-7) at Lemonfield 3m ptp gd in Mar '04.
Letsplay (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Never near leaders, 5th of 15, 26l behind Buena Vista (11-3) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (C) gf in Jun.
Massini's Maguire (IRE) 1-2fav (11-4) Made all, raced wide, ridden and went clear from before straight, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Limerick 2m 2f nhf gs in May beating The Looney Bishop (11-0) by 12l, 8 ran.
Mokum (FR) 9-2 (10-10) Led to before 3rd, stayed close up until outpaced after 5th, headway under pressure before last, kept on run-in, 5th of 8, 8l behind Redi (11-1) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (D) gd in Feb.
Patrixprial 11-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway to join leaders 4th, ridden and every chance 2 out, not quicken, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Salut Saint Cloud (10-12) at Lingfield 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Dec.
Rimsky (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Led, headed 2nd, mistake 3rd, ridden 3 out, led and mistake 2 out, headed last, rallied and led close home, won at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (E) gs beating Desert Quest (10-12) by 1l, 16 ran.