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15:00 Musselburgh

John Smith's Race Extra Smooth Novices' Chase (Class 3)

  • 6 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 4f
  • Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £10,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 2.80s
  • Off Time: 15:00:30
  • 6 Ran
1
Silk - RED and WHITE (quartered), RED sleeves
4/5
  • Form 431-112
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-8

tracked leaders, hit 9th, smooth headway to track leader approaching 4 out, every chance next, ridden and led 2 out, quickened under pressure flat

2
Silk - Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap
3/1
  • Form 1060-11
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-8

keen and mid-division, close up and blundered 4 out, ridden next, in 3rd and held when fell 2 out

3
Silk - Orange, Light Green and White hooped sleeves, White cap, Orange star
10/3
  • Form 100-123
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 135

led, ridden after 4 out, joined next, headed 2 out, driven and not quicken flat

4
Silk - Black, Yellow triple diamond, Black sleeves, Yellow stars, Black cap, Yellow diamond
12/1
  • Form 24P-513
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-4

tracked leader, close up and still going well when fell 5 out

5
Silk - BLACK, EMERALD GREEN hoop, armlets and cap
100/1
  • Form 647327/
  • Age 10
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 97

always behind, lost touch 10th

6
Silk - Dark Blue, Yellow hollow box, Dark Blue sleeves, Yellow spots, Yellow cap
250/1
  • Form 0-565P6
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 83

towards rear, lost place 8th, left poor 3rd 2 out

In depth

Verdict

A fascinating Novices' Chase and it is hard to split three; in the end the pin comes down on KALAHARI KING but only on the condition that the ground stays quick. Ferdy Murphy's gelding bumped into a good one last time out at Haydock in the form of Doctor David where he had a tough task conceding 4lb to the gelding on ground too soft. The step up in trip today shouldn't be a problem and whilst Arkle aspirations may be aiming a bit high, the gelding is fancied to win this. Astarador is a fellow course winner and Howard Johnson's gelding is expected to appreciate the step up in trip as he seemed to find things happening a bit too quickly last time behind Araldur and Free World at Sandown. Hernando's Boy is a course and distance winner but he has a bit of work on to turn the tables on Palomar who beat him last time and re-opposes today. The step up in trip may be in his favour however, whereas Palomar has a little to prove on that front and he is a solitary pound worse off at the weights today. An intriguing clash, where Kalahari King can reign supreme.

Formwatch

Kalahari King (FR) 10-11fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, blundered 7th, chased winner 4 out, 10 lengths down in 2nd when jumped badly left and blundered last, 2nd of 5, 17l behind Doctor David (11-4) at Haydock 2m nov chs (3) sft in Dec.

Palomar (USA) 9-4fav (11-4) Held up, prominent 7th, challenging when left in lead 2 out, very easily, won at Catterick 2m nov chs (3) gs in Dec beating Double Vodka (10-7) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.

Astarador (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Led until approaching 3rd, tracked leading pair, not fluent 7th, blundered 9th, struggled 4 out, hit 3 out and next, stayed on to take poor 3rd near finish, 3rd of 5, 36l behind Araldur (11-2) at Sandown 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.

Hernando's Boy 6-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, led 5th, headed 3 out, one pace when hampered next, 3rd of 10, 19l behind Palomar (11-4) at Catterick 2m nov chs (3) gs in Dec.

Uptown Lad (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) In touch, blundered 6th, soon lost place, 7th of 13, 38l behind Brooklyn Brownie (10-11) at Hexham 2m beg chs (4) gd in May '06.

Waterski 18-1 (9-12) Led to 4th, reminders after 6th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, well behind Political Paddy (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.