Racecards
14:00 Leicester
European Breeders' Fund 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class 4)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places; Chase: Good)
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Winner: £3,903
- 2nd: £1,146
- 3rd: £573
- 4th: £286
Grafite
34- Form 255F1F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey Charles Greene
held up in rear, headway approaching 6th, went 3rd 2 out, weakened flat
- Form 1-21F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey Felix de Giles
prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
- Form 1-11F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey L P Aspell
took keen hold, mid-division, headway approaching 6th, mistake 3 out, chased winner before next, led flat, headed towards finish
- Form 120-431
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey D F O'Regan
led until 3rd, with leader, led 6th, not fluent 3 out, mistake last, soon ridden and headed narrowly, rallied to regain lead towards finish, edged left close home
- Form 11-103
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 120
held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 2nd, headway after 4th, hung left after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
- Form 35
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey D C Costello
took keen hold, with winner, led 3rd until 6th, weakened 2 out
- Form 644-2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
held up in mid-division, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, 4th and beaten when mistake last, weakened flat
- Form 800
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer J D Frost
- Jockey Hadden Frost
held up in touch, lost place 4th, not fluent next, soon weakened, tailed off
- Form P0/9P-0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Mark Campion
- Jockey Mr John Willey
held up towards rear, headway after 4th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Rivermouth
18- Form 000
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
mid-division, mistake and reminder 4th, soon lost place, weakened approaching 5th, tailed off
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer B Curley
- Jockey Paul Moloney
not fluent in rear, mistake 2nd, lost touch 4th, tailed off when pulled up after 6th
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
prominent, not fluent 2nd or 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Verdict
Time For Spring looked a progressive novice prior to his fall at Plumpton but was never travelling with any purpose at the Sussex track and has a bit to prove now. Grafite and Global Power also failed to complete on their latest starts but both would have claims on their best form in a competitive opener along with unexposed Towcester winner Bottman and Bless The Wings, runner-up on his hurdling debut at Wetherby in November and open to improvement. Mic's Delight got off the mark at Exeter last month and is another to consider, but SAFRAN DE COTTE has been highly tried since winning his first start over hurdles at Bangor. Henry Daly's five-year-old was in the process of running a solid race in a Grade 2 at Warwick last time before stopped in his tracks by a blunder three out and deserves another chance.
Formwatch
Grafite 14-1 (10-1) Behind when brought down 7th, in a race won by Dynaste (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f cond hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Time For Spring (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Led, mistake and headed 9th, rallied and every chance next, weakening when fell last, in a race won by Mister Hyde (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (3) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
Global Power (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway approaching 6th, 6th when fell 8th, in a race won by No Secrets (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 11 ran.
Mic's Delight (IRE) 5-1fav (11-9) Chased leaders, 2nd from 4 out, led 2 out, clear last, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan beating Horsford (11-11) by 7l, 16 ran.
Safran De Cotte (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, headway next, closing when bad mistake 3 out, not recover, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 26l behind Court In Motion (11-7) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Barbatos (FR) 50-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, 5th of 15, 22l behind Bobs Worth (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, went 3rd approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, soon chasing winner, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 14, nk behind Moon Indigo (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Haydens Mount 150-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, tailed off, 15th of 16, well behind Accordintolawrence (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Newgatehopeful 100-1 (10-7) Mistake 1st, in rear, tailed off 5th, 10th of 13, well behind Sahrati (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Rivermouth 66-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, 11th of 17, well behind Trustan Times (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft in Jan.
Speakers Corner Dalakhani gelding out of Abbey Strand.
The Musical Guy (IRE) Lahib gelding out of Orchestral Sport.
Bottman (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, jumped left 2nd, led after 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden and went left last, kept on flat, won at Towcester 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Redbridge Flyer (10-12) by 6l, 14 ran.