Racecards
16:50 Newton Abbot
Nick Banks Championship Mares Only Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,600 added
- Form 0-36237
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer Miss S Smith
- Jockey C Bolger
made all, ridden clear approaching last
Athaliah
57- Form 747
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey A P McCoy
mid-division, headway after 7th, effort after 2 out, soon weakened
Banoo (IRE)
22- Form 645-23
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey S Durack
tracked winner, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
- Form 10P0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer J L Spearing
- Jockey L Treadwell
held up, headway 4th, ridden and weakened after 2 out, tailed off
- Form 8-6UPP9
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey Mr N Scholfield
chased leaders until 6th, soon behind, tailed off
- Form 6P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss Sarah Robinson
- Jockey C Honour
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Silver Gora
49- Form 77
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
mid-division until weakened 2 out
- Form 55422
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
mid-division, lost place 4th, headway after 7th, ridden after 2 out, stayed on approaching last
Verdict
Banoo can make sufficient improvement from her debut to get the better of Caoba and Aimigayle. Caoba has narrowly missed out the last twice but she hasn't done anything wrong in defeat and must be respected. However, she has to prove her effectiveness on this faster surface and, while she has plenty of stamina in her pedigree she still has to conclusively prove that she can stay. Aimigayle hasn't won since landing a bumper on debut but she has run numerous good races in defeat and should see out every yard of this trip. However, she was a long way below par when down the field at Doncaster last time and will need to recover from that blip to go close here. Therefore, we're going to side with David Arbuthnot's mare who improved on the form that she showed in bumpers to finish within a length of the winner on her hurdling debut at this track last month. Caoba was second that day over the extended two mile trip but we confidently expect the selection to improve for both the experience and longer trip and Banoo can take revenge.
Formwatch
Aimigayle 13-8fav (10-11) Chased leaders, led 5th, headed after 3 out, weakened from next, 7th of 9, 22l behind Overbranch (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Athaliah 50-1 (11-2) Always behind, 7th of 10, 21l behind Whiteoak (11-8) at Ascot 2m mrs nov hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Banoo (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 4th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on from next, went 3rd last, kept on, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Red Perfection (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f mrs mdn hdl (5) gs in Mar.
Blue Speedwell 66-1 (11-0) Held up, never dangerous, 13th of 16, 36l behind Atomic Winner (10-6) at Huntingdon 2m mrs mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Gemgaballou (IRE) 200-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 4th, weakening when not fluent 6th, tailed off, 9th of 16, well behind Kerry's Girl (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Mums Chatterbox (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) In touch, mistake 7th, hit 3 out, weakening when pulled up 2 out in race won by Tizzy Blue (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Jan, 17 ran.
Rodway Lady (IRE) 125-1 (10-7) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by The Jazz Musician (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nh mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar, 15 ran.
Silver Gora 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 13, 30l behind Call Me A Legend (10-5) at Exeter 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Feb.
Caoba Evensfav (10-7) Tracked leaders, joined leader after 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, took narrow advantage soon after last, headed final stride, 2nd of 11, shd behind Red Perfection (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f mrs mdn hdl (5) gs in Mar.
Celtic Heather (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 4 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened after next, 9th of 17, 33l behind Fretwork (9-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f mrs mdn hdl (4) gd in Feb.