Racecards
14:45 Fakenham
British EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 1y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £12,400 added
- Winner: £8,058
- 2nd: £2,366
- 3rd: £1,183
- 4th: £591
Mill Green
216- Form 54-311
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Ned Curtis
held up, mistake 2nd and 4 out, closed when not fluent 3 out, 3rd after 2 out, stayed on
- Form 35-F21
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer H Whittington
- Jockey G Sheehan
led, not fluent 2nd, not fluent 4 out, soon headed and ridden, lost place after 3 out
- Form 3P3212
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 130
chased leaders on outside, 2nd briefly 3 out, 4th and no extra approaching last
Rapper
29- Form 34631
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
in rear, pushed along after 5th, struggling from 7th
- Form S23
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
tracked leader, led after 4 out, stayed on well, ridden out
- Form 1/45-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up, ridden and brief effort after 3 out, weakened from next
Southern Sam
56- Form 2-23
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey B S Hughes
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden and hung left before last, unable to challenge, stayed on
Witham
10- Form 44/4-8
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Mrs P Sly
- Jockey Kielan Woods
slowly into stride, behind and mistakes, tailed off 7th, pulled up before 3 out
Verdict
PISTOL WHIPPED (NAP) already looks superior to Mill Green, who hasn’t raced since July and has to give 10lb to his stablemate less Ned Curtis’ claim. Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old will almost certainly build on his third at Newbury so looks the one to beat, though this an above-average novices’ hurdle for the track. Rapper appreciated the step up in trip at Ludlow and On The Slopes is also still heading in the right direction. Southern Sam has run well in defeat at Uttoxeter and Ascot and has place claims again and Some Man has had wind surgery since last seen. Khage won a Taunton maiden last month but is taking on much stronger opposition today.
Formwatch
Mill Green 1-5fav (11-6) Took keen hold, always prominent, went 2nd after 6th, led after 7th, clear 2 out, easily, won at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (4) gd in Jul beating Bubble O'Clock (11-0) by 18l, 4 ran.
Khage (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Made all, clear approaching 2 out, went left and hit 6th, went left last, kept on well, unchallenged, won at Taunton 2m mdn (4) gd in Jan beating Le Ligerien (11-5) by 6l, 12 ran.
On The Slopes 5-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 3rd, left in narrow lead 3 out, joined before last, hung right but stayed on run-in headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Greaneteen (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gs in Jan.
Rapper 11-8fav (11-5) Prominent, not fluent 6th, led and not fluent 4 out, headed on last bend and hung left, led again 3 out, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) gd in Jan beating Reve (11-5) by 1l, 13 ran.
Pistol Whipped (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, led before last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, soon dropped to 3rd, 3rd of 20, 3 1/4l behind Rathhill (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Some Man (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Went prominent on outside after 1st, led next, gradually increased pace, headed after 2 out, 5th and beaten last, 5th of 8, 11 1/2l behind Western Ryder (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec.
Southern Sam 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, every chance when rider dropped whip approaching final 2f, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Ask Dillon (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f mdn (3) sft in Dec.
Witham 100-1 (10-9) Raced keenly and jumped left, tracked winner until 1st, chased leaders, mistake 4th, behind and mistake next, tailed off 6th, blundered 3 out, last of 8, dist behind Boldmere (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f (3) gs in Feb.