Racecards
13:25 Newbury
John Haine Memorial Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Winner: £3,899
- 2nd: £1,145
- 3rd: £572
- 4th: £286
Centurius
304- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up on outside, not that fluent, headway after 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
- Form 23FF
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer B Pauling
- Jockey N de Boinville
held up in rear, not fluent and behind 3rd, well beaten after, tailed off
Hassle (IRE)
99- Form 4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up in touch, not fluent 5th, effort 3 out, went 3rd and shaken up before 2 out, one pace and no impression when not fluent last
- Form 1-2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey G Sheehan
tracked leader, led after 2nd, headed before 2 out, soon ridden, not fluent last, stayed on same pace flat
- Form 06
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, headway 3 out, pressing for 4th from after 2 out, one pace and no impression in leaders
- Form 10-27
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led before next, edged right before last and flat, stayed on well, drawing clear towards finish
- Form 5607/36
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey Harry Skelton
chased leaders, pushed along after 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
- Form U2
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey C O'Farrell
led until after 2nd, chased leader until 3 out, one pace and no impression on leaders from next
Verdict
HASSLE, who won three times over 1m6f on the Flat, will almost certainly need further than this in time but ran a perfectly respectable race on his hurdling bow at Doncaster when fourth to stablemate Cardinal Walter and will have learned from the experience. He can get the better of King's Tempest though that one, too, ran a race full of promise when getting to within two lengths of the useful Jollyallan at Exeter. Needless Shouting was only beaten a length at Fakenham last time but this is a much stronger race while Rock Of Ages will probably do better in handicaps. Charlie Breekie has fallen in both starts so far over hurdles but showed promise on both occasions and is preferred to newcomer Centurius of the others.
Formwatch
Centurius 16-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, no impression, 6th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Magic Hurricane (8-9) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in May (flat).
Charlie Breekie (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up rear of mid-division, headway chasing leaders 7th, chased leading pair 4 out, pushed along and no impression when fell 2 out, in a race won by Carningli (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb, 12 ran.
Hassle (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) In touch, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, soon ridden to challenge, weakened last, 4th of 18, 11l behind Cardinal Walter (11-0) at Doncaster 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
King's Tempest 11-4 (10-12) Led, pushed along before 3 out, headed 2 out, switched left before last, given every chance briefly flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Jollyallan (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Kingdom (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear and raced wide, headway on outside before 3 out, weakened 3 out, 6th of 8, well behind Slowfoot (11-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Puisque Tu Pars (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Mid-division, went 4th before 3 out, no impression, 7th of 16, 38l behind Warrantor (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Rock of Ages 20-1 (11-2) In touch, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, 6th of 11, 17l behind Mad Jack Mytton (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gd.
Needless Shouting (IRE) 6-4fav (10-7) Keen tracked leader, ridden to lead 2 out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Aviator (11-1) at Fakenham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs.