Racecards
13:40 Fontwell Park
Docker Hughes Memorial Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
jumped well, tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, led 3 out, soon well clear, easily
- Form 148
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
chased leaders, chased winner from 3 out, driven and no impression before 2 out
- Form U1B4
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up, headway 5th, weakened before 3 out, hit next
Avalon
22- Form 3
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up in rear, headway into mid-division and hit 6th, outpaced soon after 3 out, stayed on under pressure next, took 3rd early run-in
Bayazid (IRE)
130- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
soon pressed leader, led 5th, headed 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed disputing modest 3rd until weakened run-in
Before Time
15- Form U603
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer Mrs A M Thorpe
- Jockey D Laverty
raced wide, close up, ridden and lost place after 5th, headway and hit 3 out, chased leading pair soon after,3rd and no chance when hit last, soon lost 3rd
- Form 6
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey R Young
held up in rear, headway between last 2, kept on under pressure, run-in
Hereditary
17- Form 86
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs L C Jewell
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in rear, headway into mid-division 5th, weakened and mistake 3 out
- Form P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs A J Hamilton-Fairley
- Jockey J Levins
led to 5th, chased leader until weakened next, soon tailed off
- Form 7332P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer Mrs L C Jewell
- Jockey Christian Williams
chased leaders, ridden after 5th, hit next, soon weakened, tailed off
Patronage
79- Form 5
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey N D Fehily
behind, headway under pressure after 3 out, 6th and no chance when hit 2 out
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer T D McCarthy
- Jockey James Davies
mistake 2nd, always in rear, lost touch after 5th, tailed off 4th
In depth
Verdict
Bayazid is taken to make a winning debut, with Blazing Bailey, Avalon and Flaming Weapon taken to give him most to do. Nicky Henderson did have Afsoun entered up here, but his leading Triumph Hurdle hope is expected to line up elsewhere at the weekend, so it is left to newcomer Bayazid to carry the flag for the Seven Barrows trainer. The ex-French gelding, successful twice over middle distances on the Flat last summer, has been pleasing in his homework, and is an able deputy for Afsoun here, without being in the same league. Blazing Bailey was nothing special for Stuart Wlliams on the level, but duly made a winning start for current connections over today's course-and-distance 17 days ago. Alan King reckons that he is probably not up to Triumph Hurdle class, but he should go well despite a penalty. Great Voltigeur third Avalon will in all probability never recoup the 1,000,000gns he cost as a yearling, and in truth he hardly looked a natural when beaten on his hurdles bow at Ludlow. He will have learnt plenty from that introduction though, and his class should enable him to figure in the finish somewhere. Flaming Weapon has been highly tried since his Plumpton debut success and is worth a mention as well, but we shall take a chance on Bayazid being good enough at the first time of asking.
Formwatch
Blazing Bailey 11-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, led after 3 out, stayed on well, won at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Desert Jim (10-9) by 9l, 13 ran.
Flaming Weapon 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden 4th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 15, 38l behind Blue Shark (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Prime Contender 5-1 (11-6) Raced wide, hit 1st, close up, ridden after 3 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 15, 6l behind Quasimodo (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Avalon 9-2 (10-7) Tracked clear leading pair, outpaced after 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Fabulous Jet (11-5) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Bayazid (IRE) (9-4) Led to halfway, faded from 2f out, 6th of 7, 11l behind Castle Howard (8-13) at Chantilly 1m 7f stk in Sept (Flat).
Before Time 33-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, kept on from 2 out, 3rd of 14, 9l behind Princelet (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Cold Mountain (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, some headway after 6th, 6th of 13, well behind Blazing Bailey (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Hereditary 33-1 (11-2) Behind, stayed on between last 2, never dangerous, 6th of 13, well behind Dear Villez (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Liberty Run (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Rosecliff (10-7) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Jan, 16 ran.
Lord of Adventure (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Sole Agent (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 13 ran.
Patronage 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, blundered 4th, smooth headway to join leaders 3 out, ridden approaching next, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 23l behind Tritonville Lodge (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gd in Nov.
The Chequered Lady 12-1 (8-2) With leader, 4f out, weakened rapidly over 3f out, soon tailed off, last of 6, well behind Without A Trace (8-1) at Windsor 1m 4f stk 0-70 (5) gf in Jul (Flat).