Racecards
15:30 Newbury
E.b.f. Byrne Bros Mares' 'national Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final (Class 1)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £50,000 added
- Form 11-2110
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Felix de Giles
mid-division, hit 5th, headway from 4 out to chase leaders 3 out, one pace and no impression after next
Argento Luna
22- Form 5-12221
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey D Elsworth
held up in rear, headway on inside travelling well, tracked leaders 3 out, close up last, driven and stayed on well flat to lead final stride
Ellen Tilley
15- Form 621121
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Charlie Huxley
chased leaders, ridden and weakened soon after 4 out
- Form 112-421
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, blundered 6th, headway to chase leaders 3 out, every chance and ridden next, stayed on same pace from last
- Form 164-213
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
chased leaders, hit 4th and 4 out, challenging 2 out, led last, hard driven flat, caught final stride
- Form 217-114
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Gerard Tumelty
held up towards rear, ridden when not much room after 4 out, driven and no response next
- Form 8-0491
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey M Bradburne
always behind, ridden and struggling after 4 out, well behind when blundered next, tailed off
- Form 5-133P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey Jack Doyle
held up towards rear, ridden after 4 out, headway to chase leaders before next, ridden and blundered 2 out, weakening when blundered last
- Form 22134
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey James Davies
chased leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
Double Hit
34- Form 2512P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Adrian Lane
led, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened soon after
- Form 24PP-91
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Mr D R Cook
chased leader, led before 3 out, driven and headed 2 out, weakened last
- Form 4-11353
- Age 9
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey Harry Skelton
always towards rear, ridden and struggling 4 out
Rothres (FR)
13- Form 0-00630
- Age 5
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey Matthew Batchelor
always in rear, ridden and struggling 6th, tailed off
Verdict
The imposing CAROLE'S LEGACY is built to carry a big weight like this and sure to find this race more to her liking than at Cheltenham last time she is taken to beat off stiff competition from stablemate Ravello Bay, Dancingwithbubbles and Argento Luna. Personally I couldn't back the last-named with stolen money as she has shown a reluctance to race in the past, but she certainly has ability and she loves to creep into races at the back of a big field before pouncing late on. However we prefer the sister to Mad Max, namely Carole's Legacy. She didn't seem to handle the hill at Prestbury Park last time but she has won her only start here (beat an Alan King inmate, who is represented by three today). Ellen Tilly has a 3lb pull in the weights with Argento Luna for a neck defeat last time, whilst stablemate Dancingwithbubbles is ridden by stable jockey Robert Thornton and is now 7lb better off with the selection on their Ludlow clash. Pure Genius improved to win last time but this is indefinitely tougher, whilst Ravello Bay made little impression last time at Sandown and hopes are resting on the return to this longer trip. A terrific race in store, perhaps as important for paddock value as anything else, but the top prize today can go to Carole's Legacy.
Formwatch
Carole's Legacy 12-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, struggling after 7th, never on terms, 11th of 21, 26l behind Quevega (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) gs.
Argento Luna 7-4fav (11-6) Held up, smooth headway approaching 3 out, in 2nd and going well when jumped left and hit last, soon ridden, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Feb beating Ellen Tilley (11-6) by a nk, 11 ran.
Ellen Tilley 4-7fav (11-3) Mid-division, ridden and headway after 3 out, led 2 out, driven clear from last, won at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) sft beating Rith Bob (10-10) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Dancingwithbubbles (IRE) 4-5fav (11-0) Mid-division, raced keenly, mistake 4th, headway 6th, led 3 out, not fluent final 2, ridden out, won at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Speed Bonnie Boat (11-0) by 2l, 14 ran.
Ravello Bay 7-1 (10-9) Headway under pressure before 2 out, went 3rd flat, never near front pair, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Tanks For That (11-2) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Charmaine Wood 9-2fav (10-8) Held up, outpaced approaching 3 out, 4th of 13, 13l behind Laredo Sound (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Laureate des Loges (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, led after 2 out, clear when not fluent last, won at Bangor 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Pelican Point (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Easter Legend 10-1 (11-9) Towards rear, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Hello Moscow (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
Aussie Deal (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, one pace when hit next, 4th of 12, 21l behind Alfie Sherrin (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Double Hit 10-3 (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened 7th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Dansimar (11-9) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (3) sft in Feb, 13 ran.
Pure Genius (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Made all, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs beating Dance Island (11-5) by 3l, 18 ran.
Luccombe Bay 11-4co-fav (11-0) Chased leaders, driven and outpaced after 4 out, ridden and kept on approaching 2 out, no extra from last, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Tastes Like More (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Rothres (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Chased winner, not fluent 7th, lost 2nd next, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 18, well behind Pure Genius (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Cool Friend (IRE) 5-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 6th, led approaching 3 out, clear 2 out, stayed on, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gd beating Gan On (10-7) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.