Racecards
17:45 Hereford
Bet On The National At victorchandler.com Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
- Winner: £2,927
- 2nd: £860
- 3rd: £430
- 4th: £215
- Form P4552P
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Nick Mitchell
- Jockey A Thornton
in touch, left tracking leader 2nd until 4th, chased leaders, lost place 8th, soon behind, kept on from last, no impression
- Form 24/2-444
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
led until blundered and unseated rider 2nd
- Form PF2554
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey Jimmy Derham
tracked leader, left in lead 2nd, mistake 6th, headed 4 out, soon ridden, mistake next, led again when mistake 2 out, soon headed and one pace, no impression approaching last
- Form 1-U216P
- Age 10
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer Mrs A E Brooks
- Jockey C Poste
behind, under pressure 8th, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd between last 2, kept on same pace, never on terms
- Form 984863
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey Benjamin Poste
chased leaders, headway to lead 4 out, soon ridden, headed when mistake 2 out, no impression approaching last
- Form 8/5-0453
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer George Baker
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
chased leaders, outpaced in 4th 4 out, chased leading pair and switched outside approaching 2 out, led soon after, ridden and kept on flat
- Form 164P42
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer H J Evans
- Jockey Mr R J Kirk
went left start, raced keenly in touch, went 2nd 4th, lost place before 4 out, weakened last
- Form 04P-FP6
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer B Ryall
- Jockey Gerard Tumelty
behind, outpaced 4 out, headway into 4th approaching 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure, never on terms
- Form 4P/P457
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey Peter Carberry
mistake 1st, behind, lost touch 2nd, soon tailed off, pulled up after 4 out
In depth
Verdict
Most of these are unlikely to deliver too much improvement but RIDDLEOFTHESANDS could be an exception. With only nine career races under his belt, the Twiston-Davies charge showed a fair level of ability last time when a respectable fourth to the dramatically-improved Rileyev. He can step up again here with trip, track and ground to suit. Roc De Guye was the only one to make a race of it with Bertenbar here last time and should be competitive again, whilst Coach Lane is impossible to predict these days. Gilt Free could therefore emerge as the main threat, having shown plenty of promise over timber in recent outings.
Formwatch
Coach Lane 9-1 (10-6) Held up, went 4th 7th, ridden 5 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Quipe Me Posted (9-13) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar, 6 ran.
Riddleofthesands (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Disputed lead at strong pace, soon both well clear, led 4th, mistake and headed 8th, rallied 3 out, kept on well under pressure, 4th of 8, 16l behind Rileyev (10-13) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Bushwacker (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, went 4th after 8th, not fluent 10th, chased leading pair approaching 5 out, blundered when weakening 4 out, 4th of 5, well behind Roudoudou Ville (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Carrig An Uisce (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) Mid-division, slithered on landing 10th, ridden and lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Midnight Appeal (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Feb, 12 ran.
Salybia Bay 8-1 (10-9) Held up, headway to chase leading pair 8th, ridden and no impression from 3 out, 3rd of 5, 9l behind January (10-8) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
Gilt Free (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders after next, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Maizy Missile (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
Roc De Guye (FR) 9-2 (10-11) Took keen hold, held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 4th, went 2nd 4 out, no impression from 2 out, hit last, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Bertenbar (11-0) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Mar.
This Way (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Prominent, jumped right throughout, mistake 8th, slow 11th, soon lost place, tailed off from next, 6th of 7, well behind Midnight Appeal (11-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Showtime Annie 28-1 (9-7) In rear, pecked 1st, mistake 3rd, ridden after next, behind 5th, 7th of 15, 34l behind Meridiem (10-11) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.