Racecards
16:20 Newcastle
Close Brothers Business Finance Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Soft-Good to Soft in places home straight.
- Surface: Turf
- £4,800 added
- Winner: £3,119
- 2nd: £916
- 3rd: £458
- 4th: £229
Wild Card
139- Form 34/2-13
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
chased leaders, led 3 out, headed approaching next, kept on same pace
- Form 1-U322U
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey Lucy Alexander
tracked leader, not fluent 1st, slow 6th, led approaching 2 out, drew clear before last, ran on strongly
- Form 5P7-65
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
led until 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied after next, kept on under pressure
Blue Bellini
19- Form 6
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer C Grant
- Jockey D F O'Regan
held up in touch, jumped slowly 1st and 6th, weakened before 4 out, soon tailed off, moderate 4th
Verdict
Frankie's Promise was in fine form in bumpers a year ago, winning at Ayr and Perth. He has unseated his rider twice in five starts over timber and jumped moderately in the remaining three though he hasn't been beaten far in any. If he improves his jumping he'll go close though WILD CARD has to be the one to be on. He was attempting to concede weight all round at Wetherby last time following his victory for Henry Daly at Towcester. That was his first start for Donald McCain and only his fifth career run so there should be more to come. Native Spa was beaten out of sight over 3m2f at Catterick on his debut over hurdles while Blue Bellini showed very little in a Kelso bumper last month.
Formwatch
Wild Card 10-3 (11-5) Led, mistake 3rd, challenged and mistake 3 out, ridden before 2 out, headed before last, weakened run-in, 3rd of 13, 11l behind Three Kingdoms (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Frankie's Promise (IRE) 15-8 (11-2) In touch when blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Titus Bolt (11-2) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb, 8 ran.
Native Spa (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Chased leader, led 4th, headed before 6th, led again 7th, headed 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, well behind The Last Samuri (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Blue Bellini 16-1 (11-2) Towards rear, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 12, 26l behind Knocklayde Express (10-13) at Kelso 2m mrs N H flat (6) gs in Feb.