Racecards
12:25 Newbury
bet365 Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,256
- 2nd: £1,848
- 3rd: £924
- 4th: £462
- Form 411
- Age 4
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
made all, clear after 3 out, went slightly left next, very easily
- Form 87
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J G M O'Shea
- Jockey Ciaran McKee
held up well in rear, moved closer 4 out, hit 3 out, went modest 3rd, under pressure and blundered next, soon driven and one pace
Pelmanism
30- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey D C Costello
tracked leading pair, mistake 3rd, pushed along and hit 3 out, weakening when lost 3rd and mistake next, hit last, tailed off
- Form 8-50
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey M Goldstein
tracked winner, pushed along before 3 out, no impression soon after, never any chance with easy winner, hit last, kept on for 2nd
Verdict
VOLNAY DE THAIX faces a simple task as he bids to follow up his easy win at Kempton. Nicky Henderson's French import has frightened away any serious opposition and will start at very short odds. Pelmanism won over 1m1f on the Polytrack but whether he'll stay 2m is debatable. Peak Storm was also a miler on the Flat and has shown little in two hurdle runs, though did finish ahead of The Master Remover at Ludlow last time.
Formwatch
Volnay De Thaix (FR) 15-8fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, clear before last, eased towards finish, won at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Devon Drum (10-12) by 11l, 17 ran.
Peak Storm 14-1 (10-5) Behind, ridden in mid-division 3 out, plugged on from last, 7th of 16, 28l behind Going Concern (10-12) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Pelmanism 17-2 (9-2) Held up, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 12, 4l behind Uncle Dermot (8-9) at Yarmouth 1m hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct (flat).
The Master Remover (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, hampered 4th, modest progress after 6th, weakened before 3 out, 11th of 15, 35l behind Free Thinking (10-2) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.