Racecards
14:30 Haydock Park
timeform.betfair.com Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Newton Novices' Hurdle) (Listed) (Class 1)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £17,500 added
- Winner: £10,402
- 2nd: £3,896
- 3rd: £1,946
- 4th: £971
- Form 2220-1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey A P McCoy
made all, not fluent 3 out, ridden and hard pressed last, driven out, in command towards finish
- Form 8-1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
took keen hold, tracked winner from 1st, ridden and every chance last, hung left flat, no extra towards finish
Butler (IRE)
48- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey S Thomas
tracked winner until 1st, in touch, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey B S Hughes
held up, went 3rd 4th, challenged going well when hit last, ridden flat, held towards finish
War Poet
76- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D O'Meara
- Jockey D F O'Regan
not fluent and sometimes went right, always in rear, went modest 4th last
Verdict
Having saddled three of the last six winners of this Listed contest, Paul Nicholls will be confident of another success with PLENTY POCKET. He was always going well when opening his account at Ascot last month and is well worth a try at this higher level. Molotof is conceding 2lb to the selection but certainly wasn't winning out of turn at Wincanton and is probably capable of better. Butler, War Poet and Our Joe Mac have all won on the Flat this year and should make their mark over timber. Richard Fahey's gelding had the highest rating of the trio and may do best today.
Formwatch
Molotof (FR) 8-13fav (10-12) Mid-division in touch, not much room bend after 2nd, headway 3 out, went 2nd before next, led approaching last, pushed clear flat, readily, won at Wincanton 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gs beating Balding Banker (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Plenty Pocket (FR) 10-3 (10-12) Held up well in rear, steady smooth headway to track leading pair on bit before last, (normal 2 out), eased into lead entering final furlong, not extended, won at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Zama Zama (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Butler (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Art History (8-9) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gf in Oct (flat).
Our Joe Mac (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 8th of 19, 10l behind Taqleed (9-1) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) gd in Sep (flat).
War Poet 3-1fav (9-10) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and hung left inside final furlong, held on, won at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep beating Persian Peril (9-8) by nk, 12 ran (flat).