Racecards
18:10 Market Rasen
Champagne Lanson Black Label N.v. Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Winner: £2,740
- 2nd: £799
- 3rd: £400
- 4th: £167
- Form 2129
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey Donal Devereux
led, headed narrowly 2 out, 1/2 length down flat, stayed on, held towards finish
- Form 313
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey A P McCoy
always prominent, led narrowly 2 out, driven out
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Joss Saville
- Jockey F Keniry
pulled hard, tracked leaders, went close 2nd after 3rd until 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
- Form U4
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
held up in touch, went 3rd 5th, ridden and no chance with front pair after 3 out
- Form 000/P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M Wigham
- Jockey Mr Richard Collinson
mistake 3rd, always behind, well tailed after 3 out
- Form 474
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
mid-division, not fluent and ridden 3rd, well beaten after 3 out, tailed off
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer M G Quinlan
- Jockey R J Killoran
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake next, ridden and hung left after 5th, went remote 4th before 2 out
Verdict
RUSSIAN GEORGE gets the vote after finishing just half-a-length behind the winner over course and distance last month. Prior to this he had won at Uttoxeter and with the Champion Jockey in the saddle he can return to the winners' enclosure. Royal Entourage has yet to convert the best of his flat ability to the jumps and was eighteen lengths behind the pick in fourth most recently. Heron Bay has held the pick before in a winning run at Aintree, but the selection has progressed since that debut run over timber.
Formwatch
Heron Bay 11-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, never dangerous, 9th of 17, 34l behind Australia Day (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Jul.
Russian George (IRE) 6-4 (11-3) Tracked leaders, chased winner after 3 out until approaching next, still close 3rd last, switched left flat, ran on, 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind Sir Frank (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Galileo Figaro (AUS) Galileo gelding out of Overnight.
Royal Entourage 16-1 (10-5) Held up in 5th, jumped slowly and outpaced 5th, rallied approaching 2 out, weakened before last, hung left flat, 4th of 8, 19l behind Sir Frank (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Topping The Bill 40-1 (10-5) In rear, not fluent 2nd, jumped left next, soon well behind and pulled up, in a race won by Dowd's Destiny (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd, 9 ran.
Jingoism (USA) 9-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 21l behind Cheatingsideoftown (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd.
Martin Scruff (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Towards rear, not much room bend 12f out, well behind final 6f, tailed off, 10th of 14, 44l behind Cock Of The Rock (11-3) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gf in Jun.
High Bird Humphrey 8-1 (10-4) In rear, jumped slowly 4th and 5th, behind and ridden 6th, closed approaching 4 out, went 3rd last, one pace, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Stagecoach Pearl (10-9) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jul.