Racecards
14:30 Leicester
Mawdsleys Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Firm (Firm places)(Hurdle Soft, Good to Soft places)
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Form 314
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
held up in rear, unseated rider 4th
- Form 4/2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey G Lee
held up in rear, mistake 4th, headway on bit and hampered 3 out, led next, hit last, ran on comfortable
- Form 4-8
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J R Fanshawe
- Jockey A P McCoy
in touch, ridden and hampered 3 out, weakened next
Euro Import
13- Form 6/0
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey S Durack
mid-division, ridden and weakened before 3 out
- Form 5-00P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey James Davies
close up, ridden and 3rd when fell 3 out
Khumbu
186- Form 50-1
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey W Marston
held up mid-division, good headway from 4 out, ridden 2 out, weakened after last
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Jean-Rene Auvray
- Jockey V Slattery
in touch, ridden and weakened soon after 4 out
- Form 4
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs Savinja Braem
- Jockey A Thornton
tracked leader, led 3 out, headed next, weakened last
- Form U31-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey A O'keeffe
led, jumped left 1st, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened next
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey W T Kennedy
close up, ridden 3 out, mistake last, kept on flat
Wood Fern (UAE)
332- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey P Aspell
held up mid-division, ridden and weakened before 3 out
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey M Batchelor
in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened before next
- Form 318-6
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
held up towards rear, smooth headway 3 out, every chance when hit 2 out, one pace flat
In depth
Verdict
Blue Bajan was good on the flat and can take this before being upped in class; Zamboozle and No More Tom are obvious dangers. Andrew Turnell's five-year-old gelding was second in a decent race at Ascot last time out and with this race looking easier, this 100+ rated flat performer should be hard to beat. Zamboozle won well at Huntingdon two starts back before finding a Listed Kempton contest too hot to handle; he is capable of better today but may struggle to give weight away all round. There are several interesting flat recruits, including Zalzaar, Wood Fern, and Strong Survivor who all need market checks, whilst Conkering should run better than last time although he may not have the stamina for hurdling. Khumbu makes his hurdling debut and should not be cast aside without a glance, whilst No More Tom is a winning point-to-pointer and deserves respect although further will suit in time. Blue Bajan is a class act and can reward favourite backers.
Formwatch
Zamboozle (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Behind, mistake 2nd, left poor 4th and slightly hampered 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 8, well behind Deep Purple (11-8) at Kempton 2m lst nov hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Blue Bajan (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind County Zen (11-0) at Ascot 2m hdl (2) gd in Nov.
Conkering (USA) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake and weakened 3 out, 8th of 17, 41l behind Zebra Crossing (10-12) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Euro Import 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, last of 10, 49l behind Just Amazing (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Hemington 100-1 (10-12) In rear, jumped slowly 5th, behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Carruthers (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
Khumbu 12-1 (11-3) won at Hereford 2m 1f mdn nhf (6) gf in Jun beating Piper Hayes (11-3) by 6l, 15 ran.
King of Diamonds 66-1 (11-0) Keen and always in rear, 13th of 15, well behind Planet of Sound (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Martimix (FR) 3-1 (8-9) Some late headway, 5th of 12 behind Kenim (8-7) at Ghlin 1m stks std in October.
No More Tom (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Gng str til led 4 out; clr when pckd nxt, won at Weston Park 3m ptp sft in Jan beating Drive On Driver (11-7) by 12l, 10 ran.
Startengo (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Soon chasing leader, every chance 3 out, soon weakened, 17th of 18, 46l behind Prince Taime (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Strong Survivor (USA) 9-2 (9-5) Held up in touch, ridden 4f out, weakening when hung left over 1f out, 5th of 8, 9l behind Bank On Benny (9-9) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct (Flat).
Wood Fern (UAE) 6-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, weakened 2f out, last of 9, 22l behind Atlantic Gamble (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Jan (Flat).
Zalzaar (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Held up behind leaders, ridden along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 11, 13l behind Rickety Bridge (11-0) at W'hampton 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol in Nov (Flat).
Zahra's Place 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, hard ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 6th of 15, 22l behind Voice of Reason (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Nov.