Racecards
16:20 Exeter
Bathwick Tyres Taunton Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,500 added
- Form 433241
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey A P McCoy
led, headed 3 out, weakened home straight
- Form 05311U
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer J D Frost
- Jockey Hadden Frost
held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 92571-2
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
tracked leaders, led 3 out, driven out, just held on
- Form B4
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R J Hodges
- Jockey Ian Popham
held up in rear, weakened home straight
Maggio (FR)
228- Form 440-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey Donal Fahy
chased leader, one pace 2 out
- Form 6-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey D A Jacob
held up, chased leaders approaching 3 out, headway home straight, stayed on towards finish, just held
- Form 741422
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer G F Edwards
- Jockey Christian Williams
Nonrunner
- Form 434F32
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Dean Coleman
Nonrunner
Verdict
A tricky race to call with the obvious one, Cool Friend being passed over due to the ground, and RATHROCKSCOURT is chanced to be up to this standard. Jimmy Frost has had a bit of fun with the six-year-old since he joined him from Ireland, winning twice on fast ground at Newton Abbot before unseating when clear last time. His wins means that he carries a penalty here and the stiff track should help bring his stamina into play, so we just hope that he has the class to do the job. Mumbles Pier was all out to win at Stratford, and while that suggests he may struggle to carry his penalty, the ground will suit here and he may be up to it with the champ's urgings into the bargain. Consulate acts on fast ground but has never won on anything but good, so a drop of rain wouldn't go amiss for him, and Cool Friend looks a classier option. Jeremy Scott's mare looks like being given a try on this quicker ground for the first time and may be up to the job. However, in spite of her profile as an improver, she has never raced on anything faster than good to soft and so has it to prove today. Rathrockscourt is the suggestion.
Formwatch
Mumbles Pier (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Made all, ridden and not fluent 2 out, driven out, won at Stratford 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Sep beating Aohna (10-5) by nk, 7 ran.
Rathrockscourt (IRE) 11-4 (10-13) Pulled hard and soon prominent, led after 2nd, blundered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Pilgrims Lane (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gd in Sep, 7 ran.
Cool Friend (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Took keen hold in touch, steadied into mid-division 2nd, headway approaching 3 out, ridden before 2 out, every chance last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Last Flight (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in May.
Goose Green (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, held up, headway after 3 out, close enough 2 out, no extra before last, 4th of 10, 7l behind Mouseen (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f 4yo mdn stks (5) gf in Aug.
Maggio (FR) 9-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 4f out, 11th of 13, well behind King Red (10-12) at Chepstow 2m mdn NH flat (6) sft in Feb.
Orbital Orchid 7-2fav (10-10) Raced keenly, behind, not fluent, headway approaching 2 out, no further progress, 6th of 11, 28l behind Kijivu (10-7) at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gd in Sep '08.
Consulate (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Tracked leader, effort approaching 3 out, never able to challenge, 2nd of 11, 10l behind Lady Hillingdon (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Penyfan Dawn (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up well in rear, not fluent 5th, headway approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 5l behind William's Wishes (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Sep.