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16:35 Hexham

Sis St. John Lee Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)

  • 5 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 110y
  • Going: Good to Firm
  • Surface: Turf
  • £4,300 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 12.50s
  • Off Time: 16:35:30
  • 5 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Blacktoft (USA)

8/1

    2
    Silk -

    Nocturnal Knight

    85/40

      1
      Silk - Yellow, emerald green star, white sleeves, yellow cap, emerald green star

      Blacktoft (USA)

      59 e D
      8/1
      • Form 351P
      • Age 6
      • Weight 11-5
      • Official Rating 108

      made all, clear until approaching 5th, pushed out

      2
      Silk - Purple, mauve triple diamond, diamonds on sleeves, purple cap, mauve diamond

      Rockys Choice (IRE)

      12 BFD
      8/11
      • Form 8-52211
      • Age 6
      • Weight 11-5
      • Official Rating 114

      prominent, ridden approaching last, kept on same pace

      4
      Silk - LIGHT BLUE, ORANGE epaulets

      Ivestar (IRE)

      519 t
      22/1
      • Age 4
      • Weight 10-12

      tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out

      5
      Silk - WHITE and YELLOW DIAMONDS, yellow sleeves, quartered cap

      Nocturnal Knight

      61
      85/40
      • Form 3286-P0
      • Age 6
      • Weight 10-12
      • Official Rating 97

      tracked winner, not fluent 2 out, ridden approaching last, one pace

      6
      Silk - White, Maroon chevrons, diamonds on sleeves, White cap, Maroon diamond

      Santiago Atitlan

      8
      66/1
      • Form 9
      • Age 7
      • Weight 10-12

      held up in rear, weakened from 2 out

      3
      NR

      Bucephalus (IRE)

      31
      • Form P/000-
      • Age 5
      • Weight 10-12
      • Official Rating 87

      Nonrunner

      Previous results

      2008
      Silk -

      Drever Route (IRE)

      10/1
      • Age 5
      • Weight 10-12

      2007
      Silk -

      Issaquah (IRE)

      9/2
      • Age 5
      • Weight 10-5

      In depth

      Verdict

      James Lambe's Nocturnal Knight has proven to be expensive to follow over hurdles and on the flat and, while he undoubtedly has claims in a relatively weak looking novices' hurdle, it is hard to get away from ROCKYS CHOICE, who can give weight away to his rivals with Blacktoft looking the pick of them. The selection has shown improved form in winning his last two starts in novices' hurdles on heavy ground at Cartmel and fast ground at Plumpton and he can defy the penalties for those successes. Santiago Atitlan was well held on his hurdling debut at Perth last month and of more interest may be Pat Haslam's Ivestar, who is capable on the flat and he could improve for going over hurdles. Stable companion Bucephalus has little going for him and a bigger threat may come from recent Worcester soft ground winner Blacktoft, who should not be inconvenienced by the faster ground today. Tim Vaughan's Rockys Choice has shown progressive form of late though and is hard to oppose.

      Formwatch

      Blacktoft (USA) 11-1 (11-6) Led, headed, mistake 4 out, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out, in a race won by Corum (12-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Aug, 7 ran.

      Rockys Choice (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Held up well in rear, steady headway from sixth, chased leader after 3f out, 1 length down and trying to close on inside when badly hampered last, no impression flat (awarded race), won at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep beating Rockys Choice (11-5) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.

      Ivestar (IRE) 15-2 (8-10) Held up in rear, pushed along and reminders over 5f out, soon beaten, last of 4, well behind Tajweed (8-12) at Redcar 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) sft in May '08 (flat).

      Nocturnal Knight 20-1 (11-7) Soon mid-division, ridden and no impression 4 out, 14th of 21, 33l behind Born High (10-13) at Cork 2m hcp hdl 8Evens09 gd in Aug.

      Santiago Atitlan 50-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 12, 50l behind Mesbaah (10-12) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.

      Bucephalus (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Never better than mid-division, 17th of 24, well behind New Phase (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 5yo mdn hdl gd in Apr.