Racecards
14:55 Fakenham
Hunting Is Thriving E.b.f. 'nh' Novices' Hurdle (qualifier) (Class 3)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
Gansey (IRE)
62- Form 31-17
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
made all, clear 2 out, blundered badly when 6 lengths clear last, recovered well, stayed on
- Form 67-554
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up, ridden and weakened 7th
- Form 1-33
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
mid-division, ridden 7th, weakened next
- Form 151-35
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey S Durack
chased winner until 7th, riddenand kept on one pace
- Form 2-47278
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer R Rowe
- Jockey D Elsworth
close up, chased winner 7th, ridden and kept on one pace
- Form 106
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey D F O'Regan
held up in rear, ridden and some headway 3 out, never dangerous
Rock Wren
49- Form 4-48P2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Mrs P Robeson
- Jockey S P Jones
held up in rear, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out
Shampers
16- Form 8-42904
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer B N Pollock
- Jockey T Messenger
in touch, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, behind and pulled up 2 out
Lucky Pearl
595- Form 0/004-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer O Brennan
- Jockey E Whillans
raced in last place, reminders 5th, ridden next and soon behind, pulled up after 4 out
In depth
Verdict
There are some nice types in this contest, Gansey may emerge as the best of them today but Rathmulen and Georgian King may threaten. It's by no means a three horse race with By George, Rock Wren and Johnny Bisset all having shown enough ability to make them of interest but By George and Johnny Bisset may prefer a stiffer test and Rock Wren may not be up to this task. Rathmulen is an Irish point winner who has been brought along steadily by his patient handler and he may need more time whilst the well regarded Georgian King may benefit from this first experience of hurdling. Gansey has a penalty to carry having won at Plumpton in November before being outclassed in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham. He's been off since and retains a Cheltenham entry so something may have been amiss that day and Gansey may be able to get back on track today.
Formwatch
Gansey (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden when mistake 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 8, 18l behind Nenuphar Collonges (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec.
By George (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, hit 3rd, lost place and under pressure 4 out, kept on approaching last, 4th of 11, 26l behind Turbulance (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Georgian King 11-2 (11-9) In touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 16, 8l behind Kingston Lane (11-2) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gs in Nov.
Johnny Bissett (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Mid-division, blundered 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 13, 30l behind Crescent Island (11-4) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Lord Appellare (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, 8th of 12, 31l behind Theatre Dance (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Rathmulen (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden and effort 3 out, one pace, 6th of 14, 24l behind Shining Gale (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh mdn hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Rock Wren 100-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 6th, outpaced before 3 out, headway approaching last, ran on, not reach winner, 2nd of 16, 2l behind One Gulp (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Shampers 125-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway when hampered 2 out, ridden last, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 8l behind Crofters Lad (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Jan.
Lucky Pearl 33-1 (10-1) Led for 4f, kept on same pace final 2f, 4th of 8, 19l behind Jim The Gent (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (6) gf in Jun '06.