Racecards
12:50 Leicester
Widmerpool Novices' Hurdle (Div 1) (Class 4)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £2,900 added
- Winner: £1,886
- 2nd: £554
- 3rd: £277
- 4th: £138
- Form 6P/13
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey D Elsworth
held up behind, headway and in touch 4th, challenged 3 out, led approaching next, headed last, ridden and kept on same pace, no impression with winner flat
- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Bailey
- Jockey A Thornton
tracked leaders, reminder after 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened next
- Form 078
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
in rear, struggling from 4th, never dangerous
Credit Swap
94- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up mid-division, headway 3 out, challenged next, led last, ridden and stayed on well flat
- Form 05
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer S C Burrough
- Jockey Nathan Sweeney
mid-division on inside, outpaced 3 out, no impression from next
Desert Cry (IRE)
108- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
raced keenly, tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, 3rd and one pace when mistake next, weakened last
- Form 2110/60-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Bailey
- Jockey S Thomas
mid-division, lost place after 4 out, soon beaten
Gtaab
64- Form 65
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey D F O'Regan
tracked leader, lost place 3 out, soon switched left and weakened
- Form 0-2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
behind, headway 3 out, effort to chase leaders next, 3rd and held when mistake last
Sablazo (FR)
14- Form 5-6897
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey Benjamin Poste
chased leaders to before 3 out, soon weakened
- Form P5-0
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
chased leaders, outpaced when mistake and pecked 3 out, weakened from next
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
led, headed approaching 2 out, kept on same, no impression approaching last
In depth
Verdict
Credit Swap, winner of the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on his latest start on the Flat, is an obvious starting point. He's now joined a leading NH yard but you would have to worry about his stamina over 2m on rain-softened ground. A better bet today could be Donald McCain's recent acquisition DESERT CRY, who was a prolific winner on the level in Italy and a consistent sort over middle-distances in decent company in France last summer. Break The Chain's Southwell win hasn't worked out but he is probably open to more improvement than Folkestone third Alarazi and Dance For Julie, well beaten on the all-weather recently after a break.
Formwatch
Alarazi (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, soon chased leading pair, 3rd and no impression when mistake last, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Extremely So (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Break The Chain 16-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, went 2nd after 3 out, led and mistake 2 out, clear when not fluent last, ridden out, won at Southwell 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Well Hello There (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Body Gold (ARG) 40-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, pulled hard, mistake 1st, jumped slowly next, behind when mistake 7th, mistake 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Front Of House (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Credit Swap 14-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, towards rear far side, headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct beating Steele Tango (9-4) by 3/4l, 35 ran (flat).
Cridda Boy 66-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear and pulled hard, ridden 3 out, never dangerous, 5th of 12, 38l behind If I Had Him (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Desert Cry (IRE) (9-2) 5th of 18, 2l behind Saga Dream (8-7) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f hcp gs in Sep (flat).
Golden Dream (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place after 5th, 13th of 18, well behind Sandynow (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec '09.
Gtaab 66-1 (10-12) Led narrowly, headed 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression, 5th of 13, 9l behind Iolith (10-12) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Marching Song (USA) 4-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 3f out on inner, challenged and every chance over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Batonnier (10-12) at Fontwell 1m 6f NH flat (6) gd in May.
Sablazo (FR) 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division, lost place 7f out, ridden and struggling over 4f out, 7th of 8, 43l behind Advisor (11-0) at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Valid Point (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Always in last trio, tailed off 4 out, last of 15, well behind Arthurian Legend (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Dance For Julie (IRE) 2-1fav (10-5) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, bumped 1st, led approaching 4th, drew clear after 3 out, mistake last, ran on well, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (3) gd in Jul beating Sansili (10-7) by 14l, 15 ran.