Racecards
16:10 Leicester
Dick Saunders Novices' Hunters' Chase (Class 6)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £2,500 added
- Winner: £1,560
- 2nd: £484
- 3rd: £242
- 4th: £121
- Form 9-433F0
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer Mrs L Jefford
- Jockey Miss Leanda Tickle
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway on inside 8th, lost place 10th, weakened before 2 out
- Form 2111P-3
- Age 8
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer A Ralph
- Jockey Mr T Weston
chased leaders, shaken up after 4 out, closed 2 out, 1 1/2 lengths 2nd flat, switched right inside final 100 yards, stayed on well, led close home
- Form 13P4U-5
- Age 8
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer S Flook
- Jockey Mr D Mansell
chased leaders on outside, lost place 9th, well beaten from 4 out
- Form 22112-1
- Age 7
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Mrs S Crow
- Jockey Mr P Gerety
held up towards rear, closed 2nd, led going well 2 out, ridden and edged left when 1 1/2 lengths clear flat, headed close home
Posh Trip
18- Form P7S-584
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Lady R Blandford
- Jockey Archie Bellamy
tracked leader, led 4th, headed after 6th, lost place after 11th, well beaten 4 out
- Form 43323-3
- Age 8
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer G H Jones
- Jockey James Nixon
in rear, struggling 7th, well behind when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 1200-43
- Age 6
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Mrs S Fryer
- Jockey Miss Gina Andrews
led until 4th, led after 6th, headed 2 out, no extra last
- Form 1111/21
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer J J O'Shea
- Jockey Mr Tom David
chased leaders, bad mistake 2nd, went 2nd 11th, every chance 2 out, 3rd and one pace flat, no extra final 100 yards
Verdict
FOLLOWING DREAMS made mistakes before unseating his rider on his debut under Rules at Cheltenham last year but jumped a lot better when third at Stratford a year later. He's won seven of his 16 starts between the flags and Tom Weston is an accomplished amateur who can steer him to victory in this. Mr Mercurial is another with a good record in point-to-points. Sheila Crow's seven-year-old has more scope than Woodview Prince so rates the danger. Schindler's Prince may be the pick of the remainder.
Formwatch
Delta Borget (FR) 12-1 (12-0) Eff 14; wknd app 3 out; to, 10th of 14, well behind Welstonedruid (12-3) at Silverton 3m ptp gs in Jan.
Following Dreams (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 2 out, ridden and no impression last, weakened into 3rd close home, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Theatre Queen (11-3) at Stratford 3m 4f nov hts chs (2) gs in May.
Gentle Duke 6-1 (12-0) (cp) prom til wknd qckly 3 out, 5th of 10, 41l behind What About Will (12-0) at Silverton 3m ptp gs in Jan.
Mr Mercurial (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) (stdy hdwy 8; qcknd to ld aft 2 out; rdn out, won at Royal Artillery 3m ptp gd in Jan beating Legal Legend (12-0) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Posh Trip 40-1 (12-5) Led 2-5 & 11 til hdd aft nxt; ev ch 16; wknd 3 out (lkd to fin 3rd), last of 4, 18l behind Dabinett Moon (11-12) at Heythrop 3m ptp gd in Jan.
The de Thaix (FR) 3-1 (12-0) Led til hdd 3 out; wknd app last, 3rd of 11, 18l behind Western Goose (11-7) at Radnor & West Hereford 3m ptp gd in May.
Troufion (FR) 7-1 (12-0) Led til hdd 2 out; kpt on flat, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Play The Ace (12-0) at Waveney Harriers 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Woodview Prince (IRE) 4-7 (12-5) Trckd ldrs; led app 2 out; rdly, won at Jedforest 3m ptp gs in Jan beating Cave Hunter (12-5) by 6l, 5 ran.
Schindler's Prince (IRE) 12-1 (12-5) (cp) held up; hdwy 13; ev ch 3 out; kpt on flat, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Say No (12-5) at Heythrop 3m ptp gd in Jan.