Racecards
14:20 Fakenham
Racing To School Are Here Today 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Winner: £4,549
- 2nd: £1,336
- 3rd: £668
- 4th: £334
- Form 2331-31
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer H J Evans
- Jockey L Treadwell
held up on outside, went 2nd after 6th, led before not fluent 2 out, clear approaching last, comfortably
- Form 2/F6F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Noel Williams
- Jockey L P Aspell
jumped left and not always fluent, in rear, behind from 2nd, remote 3rd after 2 out
- Form 4723
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer J R Jenkins
- Jockey James Davies
tracked leaders, ridden 6th, weakened before 3 out
- Form 742-304
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
took keen hold, led, pecked 4th, headed after 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 2111-12
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey S Bowen
led until 1st, tracked leader, led again after 6th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
Verdict
Hollies Pearl won a Listed bumper at Aintree in April to complete a hat-trick then made a successful start over hurdles at Chepstow. She didn't appear to quite last out 2m5f at Warwick though her jumping could have been better and takes a big drop in trip. DEXCITE was placed in two very competitive four-year-old handicaps before finding Grade 3 company too hot at Cheltenham. He ran better there in December and looks to have the scope for better things. Prince Of Steal, a winning point-to-pointer in Ireland, came here for a 2m4f maiden hurdle in December and just managed to hang on after leading at the last. He has a penalty which won't aid his cause against better opposition. Bingo D'olivate was in second place when falling at the last at Huntingdon and he's now fallen twice there but French import Dalkadam is interesting as he ran well for a long way on his UK debut over a longer trip at Doncaster.
Formwatch
Prince Of Steal (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden after 2 out, stayed on to lead narrowly last, held on under pressure flat, won at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Dec beating What A Moment (11-0) by nk, 7 ran.
Bingo D'Olivate (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden after 3 out, 3rd and one pace 2 out, no chance with leader, left close 2nd when fell last, at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Dalkadam (FR) 7-2 (11-6) Tracked leader, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 9, 21 3/4l behind Baoulet Delaroque (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Jan.
Dexcite (FR) 9-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, mistake 3rd, closed 2 out, outpaced before last, no impression on leaders, 4th of 9, 11l behind North Hill Harvey (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec.
Hollies Pearl 2-5fav (11-5) Went left and not fluent 1st, pressed leader, led after 3 out, hard pressed next, driven between last 2, headed narrowly last, ridden and one pace flat, well held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Rene's Girl (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.